Spats and boos at Spurs as Villa progress in Cup
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (left) and Tottenham Hotspur's Joao Palhinha (right) clash after the Emirates FA Cup third round match. Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire.
“You're getting sacked in the morning,” sang Aston Villa's fans to Thomas Frank, but after a rousing second half from his side, with Tottenham coming close to an unlikely comeback, the Spurs manager may have bought himself more time.
Villa won 2-1 to go through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, but the spirit shown by Spurs in the second-half augurs well for Frank, whose side were booed off at the break after a dreadful first half performance that ultimately cost them the game.
Emiliano Buendia had put Villa ahead in the 22nd minute of a half which looked like men against boys, and when Rogers scored in the third minute of stoppage time, it looked grim for Spurs.
But they showed the sort of spirit that has been lacking in recent weeks to halve the deficit when Wilson Odobert made it 2-1 in the 54th minute and Spurs had the lion's share of chances to equalise, as well as having two goals ruled out for offside.
It all made for a cracking cup tie on a chilly evening that proved once again that Villa are among the best sides in the land and Spurs are desperately seeking a break. There was more bad news for Frank's injury-hit squad when top-scorer Richarlison limped off with a hamstring injury that could keep him out for several weeks, but one bright spot when Dominic Solanke returned in the closing minutes for his first appearance since August.
There is still unrest at Tottenham and a long way to go for Frank to turn things around, but there were signs in the second-half that all is not hopeless. Xavi Simons started to show his qualities, and Tottenham's young French forwards Odobert and Mathys Tel looked dangerous. Tottenham's new ownership structure still needs to spend big in this transfer window if they are to avoid flirting with relegation again, but the team's second-half display gave some cause for optimism.
But it was a different story in the first 45 minutes, as Villa found it far too easy to slice through Tottenham's defence. Buendia's opener was a case in point. Youri Tielemans, on as a 9th minute substitute after Boubacar Kamara was injured early on, started the move in the centre-circle, and after quick passes between John McGinn and Donyell Malen, Buendia had the simple task of shooting high into the net from close range.
Villa's second was just as simple. Malen cut in from the right and Buendia backheeled the ball into the path of Rogers, who steered a low shot into the far corner.
Spurs were booed off at the break, but at least showed the sort of fight that their fans demand, and Odobert scored an excellent goal with a low drive into the far corner of goal after Randal Kolo Muani won the ball. Simons went close twice, only to be denied by a brilliant save from stand-in keeper Marco Bizot and the Dutch midfielder had a goal ruled out for offside, as did Kolo Muani. Joao Palhinha had a goalbound shot superbly blocked by Pau Torres, while at the opposite end of the pitch, Pedro Porro's goal-line clearance prevented Buendia from scoring again.
Tempers flared as some heavy challenges went in from both sides, with referee Craig Pawson losing control, and at the final whistle there was a mass confrontation of players in front of the Villa fans. But it was the away supporters celebrating as Unai Emery's team march on, while Frank has to turn his attention to domestic matters, with crucial games coming up against relegation candidaters West Ham and Burnley.
Vicario 6, Porro 6, Danso 6, Van de Ven 7, Davies 6; Pahlinha 7, Gray 6; Odobert 7 (Solanke 83), Simons 7, Tel 6 (Scarlett 73); Richarlison 5 (Kolo Muani 30).
Bizot 7; Cash 6 (Garcia 78), Konsa 7, Pau Torres 6, Maatsen 6 (Digne 78); Bogarde 6, Kamara 6 (Tielemans 9); McGinn 7 (Sancho 64), Buendia 7, Rogers 8; Malen 7 (Watkins 64)
Craig Pawson 5
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