Behold the brand new steely, ever-so-slightly extra pragmatic model of Angeball. From choosing the highly effective runs of Pape Matar Sarr in midfield, to discovering the best motivational phrases when all appeared misplaced at half-time, this was a very good day for Tottenham’s romanticist of a supervisor. Ange Postecoglou’s tactical decisions had been proper, his substitutions labored and the margin of victory was not more than Spurs deserved after they made gentle of their newest set-piece wobble and overwhelmed Aston Villa with a stirring second-half show.
It had seemed ominous when Villa, who missed the possibility to go third, smuggled a lead by way of Morgan Rogers. By the tip, although, Spurs had been working riot, James Maddison coming off the bench so as to add the fourth in added time. Brennan Johnson had scored the equaliser and a contact of sophistication from Dejan Kulusevski had despatched Dominic Solanke by way of to attain the primary of two quickfire targets. Unai Emery, who had succeeded in squeezing the life out of Spurs within the first half, merely watched in disbelief.
It quickly grew to become clear that looking questions had been going to be requested about how a lot Spurs might grind. Postecoglou had adjusted his ways accordingly, Maddison sacrificed for the double bolt of Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield, however the circumstances had been way more suited to Villa at first.
Spurs had been restricted to hopeful efforts from distance and the group’s nervousness was palpable. Everybody might see what Villa needed to do. They had been resolute of their refusal to play into Spurs’ fingers. There was no signal of Villa’s signature excessive line and the sight of Emery repeatedly telling his gamers to be managed together with his urgent indicated that the Spaniard’s plan was centred round denying Son Heung-min and Johnson area to run clear on the flanks.
It was as much as Spurs to reply, to seek out totally different angles in assault, and the half performed out in predictable style. There was a sudden shift after half-hour, Villa igniting out of nowhere, a pointy alternate of passes giving Jacob Ramsey room to jink previous Pedro Porro and unload a shot that went behind for a nook.
Cue panic. Cue Austin MacPhee, Villa’s set-piece coach getting as much as ship a stream of directions. The primary ball was cleared but it surely got here again to Lucas Digne. He lifted in a excessive cross, Amadou Onana headed in opposition to the woodwork and Spurs nearly managed to scramble the ball behind.
The strain was too nice. This time Villa pressed at an apparent weak spot, crowding Guglielmo Vicario, Rogers pinning the goalkeeper to his line. Moments later Rogers was slamming the ball in from a yard out, the possibility coming his means after Digne’s inswinging supply had come off Porro and virtually gone in off Bentancur.
There was not a lot conviction on Spurs’ appeals for a foul on Vicario. They knew it was delicate. The concession unnerved them and so they might have fallen additional behind, just for Ollie Watkins to scuff an inviting probability.
It was a pivotal miss. Spurs had been out early for the second half, and so they had been a extra intense, extra decided proposition. With the tempo up a notch, they levelled within the 49th minute, Son’s cross from the left a factor of vicious magnificence, Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa taken out of the sport as Johnson arrived on the far submit to transform.
Emery urged calm. By now, although, the motion was frenetic. Solanke had an opportunity to make it 2-1 however Emiliano Martínez saved nicely. Porro was booked for scything down Watkins. Cristian Romero injured himself within the means of cleansing out Rogers with a daft problem.
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With Radu Dragusin deputising for the injured Micky van de Ven, Spurs performed with their second-choice centre-back pairing after Ben Davies got here on for Romero. Emery would quickly introduce Jhon Durán on for a limping Rogers. Postecoglou had earlier introduced on Richarlison for Son, who didn’t look significantly impressed with the concept he was being protected after his latest hamstring points.
However whereas Son sat on the bench shaking his head and muttering to himself, Spurs discovered a second wind. Because the minutes ticked away, and as Villa’s legs grew heavy, Davies stepped out to make a strong problem on Watkins. Then Sarr drove ahead, linking with Johnson earlier than Kuluseveski flummoxed Villa with an on the spot reverse cross to Solanke, working from left to proper and funky sufficient to dink a wonderful effort over Martínez.
The composure was gorgeous and there was a realisation from Spurs that they’d not be finest served by making an attempt to protect a 2-1 lead. As a substitute they went for Villa once more, Sarr irrepressible as he intercepted a unfastened cross from Torres and launched Richarlison, who crossed for a gleeful Solanke to attain once more.
Villa had been accomplished. The addition of 10 added minutes merely gave Spurs an opportunity so as to add to their haul, an invite Maddison accepted when he whipped a free-kick previous a flat-footed Martínez.
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