Aston Villa defeated Tottenham 2-0 as they push hard for a spot in next season’s Champions League. It remained scoreless until the 59th minute, when Ezri Konsa headed in after Watkins rose highest to meet a McGinn corner. Meanwhile, Boubacar Kamara secured the triumph with his maiden Premier League goal – courtesy of a brilliant through ball by Matt Targett. Villa saw more of the ball and also fashioned the greater share of the opportunities. The Camden side were unable to turn the tide after several substitutions near the end had limited effect.
Tottenham’s Tactical And Defensive Struggles
Defensively, Tottenham struggled while they failed to create chances going forward. The defense struggled immensely on the day, with Villa finding immense success from corners and direct set-pieces. Lapses in marking and tackling opened up the chance for Kamara to score and exposed Tottenham’s vulnerabilities at the back. Spurs couldn’t convert their initial advantages on the break, despite dangerous runs from Son and Odobert. Villa managed to impose their dominance on the game due to Tottenham’s struggles to maintain possession and build attack after losing the ball in central areas.
What Tottenham Could Have Done to Win
Tottenham had to make some changes sooner and execute passes more accurately to turn the situation around. They could’ve sent stronger attacking impetus into the game had they introduced Richarlison and Solanke earlier. By adopting a more aggressive midfield, Spurs could’ve limited Villa’s ability to keep the ball. Getting closer to Villa’s defenders in midfield, notably where Asensio and Cash are strongest, may have slowed them down. Staying calm in those fleeting first-half attacks, especially from Son and Odobert, could have turned the tide in Spurs’ favour before Villa seized the initiative.