Aston Villa put their name in the hat for the next round of the FA Cup following Spurs win
Champions League qualification or win the FA Cup? That was the discussion for many Villa supporters in the build-up to this evening’s game against Tottenham Hotspurs. Villa have not won England’s most prestigious domestic trophy since 1957 and most Villa fans would love to see us do it again.
Spurs often get stick for their lack of trophies but they won the trophy in 1991 and as their under-pressure manager Ange Postecoglou stated earlier this season, he always wins something in his second season at a club.
Either way, it was a great opportunity for both clubs to win a trophy, as they had already seen Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea knocked out.
Report: Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham
Unai Emery handed a start to Andrés García as Villa’s defensive issues continue with Matty Cash the latest to join the injury list. Donyell Malen was given his first start replacing the injured Ollie Watkins.
Postecoglou would have wanted a response from his side after they were knocked out of the League Cup on Thursday but they couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start.
Morgan Rogers picked up the ball in the middle of the park before driving forward and then found Jacob Ramsey in space on the left. The lad from Great Barr cut inside and fired home after 58 seconds with a frustrated Antonín Kinský in the Spurs goal knowing he should have done better.
The home side tried to build on their early goal and came close when new boys García and Malen linked up but the latter could only fire over the crossbar.
Moments later, Villa were at it again but this time it was Leon Bailey who cut inside, Kinský kept Spurs in the game pushing the Jamaican’s effort wide. Further chances arose for Ramsey and Tielemans but they couldn’t convert and double the host’s lead.
The first real chance of note for the visitors came when Mikey Moore broke and picked out the run of Son Heung-min but Emi Martínez saved from close range.
Just before half-time, Villa were at it again as Bailey once again a threat, cut inside but it was the same outcome as Kinský pushed his effort wide with Ramsey following in but he could only find the side netting with his effort.
The hosts were finally awarded with the second goal they deserved just after the hour mark. Bailey and Malen linked up out wide before the latter crossed the ball into the Spurs box. Pedro Porro cleared it off the line but it fell to the feet of Rogers who slotted home from close range.
Emery then introduced new signings Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford to rapturous applause from the Villa faithful with both having moments to note in their cameos.
But in true Villa fashion this season, they allowed Spurs back into the game late on, against the run of play. Dejan Kulusevski played a looping cross into the Villa box in extra time, picking out Mathys Tels who was able to make it 2-1 but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.
The result puts Villa in the hat for the next round as the pressure ramps up on Postecoglou who thinks his side is the only team to have injuries this season.
What Unai Emery said
“I’m very happy for our supporters because this competition means a lot to them, to Aston Villa,
“We were here two years ago and we didn’t get to the fifth round like we did today. How we got it was fantastic because I think we played a very, very good match. We performed, collectively and individually, very good.
“The players we added in the last month have started helping us a lot and we’re very motivated and excited to watch again how we can recover our capacity, our performances in the next weeks and months playing in different competitions – FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League.
“After the result, which is most important for us, it’s how we played and how we got our performance, collectively and individually, that I am happy with. I’m very demanding about how we can get better for the next matches in Premier League, the next matches in Champions League and the next matches in FA Cup.”