Villa did a lot right but couldn’t fashion the chances and were left chasing the game in a 2-0 defeat to Spurs at Villa Park that was ultimately a result that should leave the side feeling frustrated.
Villa seemed to have learned a lesson from their earlier encounter with Spurs in the League Cup, starting the game pressing as hard, but not quite as high, as Spurs, which led to a scrappy opening to the game. Both sides were having trouble finding a rhythm, and nothing much troubled either keeper. Tottenham were frustrated and sloppy, and Villa were doing what they’d set out to do.
Villa’s good work was undone in the 31st minute, however, when Andros Townsend’s cross went all the way across the goal and into the far corner when Holtby ducked under to let it continue to the far post. Guzan, with two Spurs players well positioned had no choice but to position himself to deny the chance to either one, and could do nothing when it was left and curled in. Ninety-nine times out of 100 the player would never have let the ball run on, positioned as he was to meet it cleanly and in the clear.
Villa didn’t stop playing, and late in the half Andreas Weimann had a good chance from cutback pass from Westwood curl around the post. Guzan finished out the half with a good save to his low right, keeping out Townsend to see keep the arrears at 1 at the half.
Spurs stated the second brightly, but the introduction of Christian Benteke for Libor Kozak at the hour mark sparked Villa, who, for a period of 10 minutes looked almost certain to equalize, Benteke going just high on a header he’d met well. But in pressing, Spurs caught Villa out on the break, with Soldado finishing a fine move to calmly slot past Guzan.
Spurs could’ve had more, predictably, as Villa continued to press, but in the end, it was a frustrating loss. Not so much because Villa really had the clear-cut chances to say they deserved a draw, but because the endeavor could well have been enough to get something had Spurs not gotten the rub of the green for the first. It obviously opened the game up, settled them down, and created the space a side of their quality can exploit. Andros Townsend was a threat all game. Leandro Bacuna once again showed plenty of composure, strength and quality.
Fabian Delph again was the engine going forward. If there’s any complaint it’s that often Villa are a step slow in their decision making, chances and runs being missed. Or they’re too ambitious. When it comes together, the team can be dangerous. But when it doesn’t, it leads to squandered possession. That’s something that ought to improve, but it was telling on a day like today.
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