Aston Villa ease past Spurs in FA Cup with Ange Postecoglou under increasing pressure
ROGER THAT: Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Porro reacts after Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers scores his side's second goal. Rogers has 17 goal involvements this season. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Aston Villa delivered a comfortable win over Tottenham in the FA Cup, with Ange Postecoglou looking under more pressure with every passing game.
It was a fast start to the game, with Jacob Ramsey powering Villa ahead just two minutes into the tie. And it was a true howler from Antonin Kinsky. The move started with a brilliant run through the middle of the pitch from Morgan Rogers who played in Ramsey. The 23-year-old put his effort straight at the keeper, but Kinsky fumbled it into the net. It was a nightmare start for the Czech Republic international and Ange Postecoglou, and it didn't get any better for Spurs after that.
With the Lilywhites in dire form and the season crumbling before their eyes, this was the last thing they needed. And in truth, an individual mistake like that cannot be attributed to Postecoglou. The Australian is under immense scrutiny, with 20 losses in the 45 matches before today, and his anguish was clear to see as his new recruit let in a tame effort before fans had even reached their seats and settled in.
The first half of the game was simply a case of Villa peppering the Tottenham goal. Debutant Donyell Malen came close, whilst Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey also tried their luck. The midlands side had 11 shots in the first half, compared to just three from Spurs.
Tottenham's first foray into the Villa half came when Mikey Moore drove down the wing and teed up Son Heung-min, who hit the ball straight at Emiliano Martinez from four yards out. It was an inexcusable miss from the Korean, who has had a tough season.
Spurs started the second half brightly, but it was game over in the 65th minute when Malen put in a cross near the byline, Pedro Porro failed to clear it, and the ball fell to Rogers who from two yards out gladly dispatched it.
Rogers was the standout man today, and now has 17 goal involvements this season. Thomas Tuchel will surely be looking at the 22-year-old for his upcoming March England squad selection.
And the celebration for Villa fans was doubled when two debutants, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, entered the pitch just a minute later.
Both were bright, without having any real moments of note.
Villa looked to have the game wrapped up at 2-0 in the 90th minute, but a late goal from Mathys Tel caused some last-minute unrest. The Frenchman got himself on the end of a brilliant cross from Dejan Kulusevski and delivered an athletic finish to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
Martinez 6; Garcia 7; Konsa 6 (Bogarde 26, 6); Kamara 6; Digne 6 (Maatsen 81, 6); McGinn 7; Tielemans 7; Bailey 7 (Asensio 67, 6); Ramsey 8; Malen 7 (Rashford 67, 6); Rogers 8.
Kinsky 4; Porro 5; Danso 5; Gray 6; Spence 6; Bergvall 6; Bentancur 5 (Sarr 72, 5); Moore 6 (Bissouma 46, 5); Kulusevski 5; Son 5; Tel 5.
Anthony Taylor 7
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