FRANK’S TOTTENHAM NIGHTMARE PLUMBS NEW DEPTHS AS TEMPERS FLARE IN FA CUP EXIT TO VILLA
Unrest among his Tottenham Hotspur squad, down to 14th in the Premier League, and now out of the FA Cup with an on-field melee on the final whistle, Thomas Frank’s nightmare week has plunged new depths.
If losing at Bournemouth and then being photographed inadvertently drinking from an Arsenal coffee cup were not enough, the best hope of silverware this season has also disappeared amid anger both in the stands and out on the pitch. A dominant first-half performance from Aston Villa, which ended with two goals and loud jeers from the Tottenham fans, ultimately settled this tie between two of the FA Cup’s most successful teams.
Yes, Spurs did rally after the break, but it was also sometimes an undisciplined performance that raises fresh questions about not simply Frank’s decisions since replacing Ange Postecoglou, but the club’s wider direction in the post-Daniel Levy era.
Club captain Cristian Romero had this week openly called out his team-mates for supposedly going missing in defeat, while Micky van de Ven was seen gesturing to fans following the Bournemouth defeat and was then involved – albeit as a peacemaker – in the post-match row with the Villa players.
It was sparked when Spurs midfielder João Palhinha took issue with Ollie Watkins’s celebrations, with Morgan Rogers rushing to support his team-mate before numerous other players, support staff and stewards became involved in a confrontation that will surely be studied by the Football Association’s disciplinary department. Frank laid the blame squarely with Watkins and denied that his players were losing control.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “The players gave everything, losing a tight game, season not going perfect... think Ollie is very provoking in the way he is going down to celebrate in front of the Villa fans. He is walking into João. He can just easily walk around. That’s difficult, that can trigger things.
“When you play with passion, sometimes you play to the line, sometimes a little bit borderline. I see players playing with passion, who want to do very well for the club.”
Unai Emery, the Villa manager, played down the confrontation but highlighted anger at how Boubacar Kamara’s match was ended after only nine minutes following Palhinha’s tackle.
Frank’s position is inevitably a matter of debate ahead of next Saturday’s home Premier League match against West Ham United. Although it was ultimately too little too late, Frank highlighted the improved second-half performance against Villa and how the fans stayed with the players. “We played with passion and intensity – the fans were very good,” he said. “We all know there is only one way to have everyone happy; that is performing consistently and winning enough games. How they feed off each other in the second half, the players and fans, was fantastic.”
The importance of the match for both clubs was earlier underlined with the respective team selections. Frank picked his best available starting XI, with Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie also returning to the match-day squad following injuries. Emery had initially rested Youri Tielemans and Watkins, but it was still a strong Villa team that emerged in front of numerous pitchside Tottenham legends. Greats including Glenn Hoddle, Pat Jennings and Cliff Jones had been invited to join tributes to the club’s legendary striker Martin Chivers, as well as Terry Yorath, who had also graced White Hart Lane as a player and died this week.
Spurs’ rich history was further evident in their plain white kit to commemorate the 125-year anniversary of the first of their eight FA Cup wins.
While Tottenham last won the Cup in 1991, Villa have to go back even further to 1957, but it was soon evident that they are better equipped for a serious tilt this year. Tielemans, who had replaced the injured Kamara, was involved in an excellent passing move for the first goal, with Donyell Malen releasing Emiliano Buendía to finish powerfully at Guglielmo Vicario’s near post.
It was a goal that sucked the pre-match optimism from the Tottenham supporters and left Frank, frantically chewing gum on the sideline, absorbing chants of “Thomas Frank’s an Arsenal fan” from the Villa supporters.
Worse, though, would follow on the stroke of half-time. Malen was again integral to the build-up, squaring for John McGinn, whose back-heeled pull-back was collected and then brilliantly converted by Rogers.
Boos rang out as the Spurs players made their way down the tunnel, with the travelling Villa support gleefully interrupting with chants at Franks of, “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. It added up to a huge test of the players’ character. And there was a genuinely spirited response. Tottenham emerged with an energy and directness that had both been lacking in the first half and which finally put Villa on the back foot.
First Xavi Simons forced a good save from Marco Bizot and then Randal Kolo Muani won the ball just inside Villa’s half before driving forward towards the penalty area and then releasing Wilson Odobert. There was still plenty to do, but Odobert’s shot across Bizot was both powerful and perfectly placed to reduce the deficit.
Spurs had hope again and their supporters audibly responded. Odobert had another sight of goal that was saved by Bizot but, with the momentum firmly against them, Emery brought on both Watkins and Jadon Sancho. It was a typically astute switch, with Villa just stemming Tottenham’s pressure to both preserve their lead and progress into the fourth round.
Meanwhile at The Valley
The final FA Cup tie of the day sees the Liam Rosenior era at Chelsea begin in earnest as they travel to Charlton. That game is about to kick off and you can follow that match right here.
Aston Villa’s next five matches
January 18: Aston Villa vs Everton (Premier League)
January 22: Fenerbahce vs Aston Villa (Europa League)
January 25: Newcastle vs Aston Villa (Premier League)
January 29: Aston Villa vs RB Salzburg (Europa League)
February 1: Aston Villa vs Brentford (Premier League)
Tottenham’s next five games
January 17: Tottenham vs West Ham (Premier League)
January 20: Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund (Champions League)
January 24: Burnley vs Tottenham (Premier League)
January 28: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham (Champions League)
February 1: Tottenham vs Manchester City (Premier League)
Selected FA Cup ties today
Everton 1 Sunderland 1 (Sunderland won on penalties)
Macclesfield 2 Crystal Palace 1
Wolves 6 Shrewsbury 1
Burnley 5 Millwall 1
Fulham 3 Middlesbrough 1
Manchester City 10 Exeter 1
Newcastle 3 Bournemouth 3 (Newcastle won on penalties)
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Brentford 2
Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
FT stats
Possession: Tottenham 40%-60% Aston Villa
Shots: 13-17
Shots on target: 5-8
Corners: 4-7
Touches in opposition box: 32-32
Alan Shearer on the BBC
“Aston Villa were magnificent in the first half in forward areas, the way they moved the ball with pace, and the energy they showed. We had to see a different Villa in the second half because of the change in Tottenham’s attitude. They had to be defensively-minded, to dig deep and get late tackles in, and that is exactly what they did. It was too little too late from Tottenham.”
Full time
There is the final whistle and Aston Villa hold on to progress to the fourth round. Tottenham are dumped out and the pressure increases on Thomas Frank. Boos ring around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it has all kicked off at full time. Palhinha and Rogers have come to blows and a mass melee has ensued. Ugly scenes.
90+3 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Into the final 60 seconds. Aston Villa can smell the fourth round, Tottenham are on the verge of an exit.
90+2 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa win a corner, right in front of their travelling fans, and have the ball right where they want it, deep in the Tottenham half. The seconds are ticking by.
They do not try and waste time, instead putting it into the box, and it ends up with Watkins having a shot saved by Vicario.
90 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
There will be four added minutes. Tottenham are running out of time to find an equaliser and send this tie to extra time.
88 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa are furious. They are given a free-kick inside the Tottenham half after a nasty, late challenge from Scarlett on Tielemans but they wanted play to go on and have the advantage as Watkins would have been one-on-one. Scarlett is rightly booked.
85 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Tempers are boiling over right now. Palhinha is penalised for a foul on Rogers, which sparks a bit of a brawl on the pitch and Porro, who has just gone off, is losing the plot on the bench. Tielemans and Palhinha come head-to-head and the former needs to be careful leaning his head towards Palhinha like that. If VAR was in use he may have been in trouble. Palhinha is finally booked, although the challenge he ended up getting a yellow for probably was not a foul.
82 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Thomas Frank is going to make a double change. Solanke marks his return from injury whilst Spence also comes on. Odobert and Porro head off. A big cheer from the home fans greets Solanke’s arrival.
81 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Referee Craig Pawson was reluctant to give yellow cards early in the game but they are now flowing as Garcia, only just onto the pitch, is into the book.
79 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Simons goes around Bizot and puts the ball into the back of the net but it will not stand. It is a clinical finish from Simons but he was clearly offside and the flag went up promptly.
Porro has been booked for dissent.
78 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Double change for Aston Villa as Unai Emery makes his final changes. Digne and Garcia come on for Maatsen and Cash.
Tottenham also make a substitution as Scarlett replaces Tel.
75 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa are just wrestling back some momentum as Rogers’ cross on the left side of the box finds Maatsen inside the six-yard box but his shot is blocked by compatriot Van de Ven.
72 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Huge clearance off the line! Aston Villa looked set to restore their two-goal advantage but Buendia is denied by a superb goal-line clearance from Porro. That realistically has kept Tottenham in this game.
70 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Tottenham win the ball right on the edge of the Aston Villa box and Palhinha hits it first time. The shot looked to be on target but is blocked by Torres’ chest.
69 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Palhinha brings down Rogers and surely he has to go into the book. He should have been booked early in the first half and surely now has to go into the book now. He has somehow still managed to escape without a yellow. That is remarkable.
67 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Buendia is into the book for cynically pulling Gray back.
65 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa are under the pump here and are having to do plenty of defending inside their own penalty area.
64 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Unai Emery is going to make a double change to try and wrestle back some momentum. Watkins and Sancho are coming on for Malen and McGinn.
61 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Goals really do change games and the mood inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has shifted. The home fans have gone from booing their players at half-time to being energised by Odobert’s goal.
58 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Odobert looks for his second of the game as he shoots from range but there is not enough power to trouble Bizot. The space did open up to shoot from a central position but the contact was not great.
56 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
Gray is into the book for a late challenge on Buendia.
55 mins: Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2
The momentum has completely swung as Simons is denied by Bizot for the second time in quick succession. It is amazing how quickly things can change as a result of one moment. Tottenham looked down and out at half-time but this game is back on.
GOAL! Odobert gets goal back for Tottenham
Game back on and boy did the hosts need that. Kolo Muani drives towards the Aston Villa box and passes out to Odobert, who drives across goal and finds the bottom corner. There were some appeals for offside but Odobert was onside.
52 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 2
Good save from Bizot. Rogers is nearly punished for giving the ball away poorly on the edge of the box as Simons’ shot from just outside the penalty area is saved well by Bizot to his left.
50 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 2
Vicario is a lucky man and can you imagine the home fan reaction if that that had ended up in the net? He gives the ball away inside his own half and, with Vicario a long way out from his goal, Buendia shoots from range but does not get the shot right.
48 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 2
Unai Emery was quite late coming back out for the second half; nearly three minutes to be exact.
47 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 2
Tielemans is a touch fortunate not to be booked for pulling Simons back but perhaps because Palhinha was let off with that trip on Kamara in the first half that explains why Tielemans got away with that. Not that two wrongs make a right mind. Both should be yellows.
Second half
We are back under way in north London. How will Tottenham react to being two down? What did Thomas Frank say at the break? Unai Emery would have told his charges more of the same.
Pressure building on Frank?
Boos ringing out at Tottenham, with hopes of another famous cup run hanging by a thread after Morgan Rogers doubled Villa’s lead on the stroke of half-time. Brilliantly worked goal but there’s scant sympathy here for Frank. Visible anger from Spurs fans. Delighted Villa supporters rub it in with “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.
Selected FA Cup ties today
Everton 1 Sunderland 1 (Sunderland won on penalties)
Macclesfield 2 Crystal Palace 1
Wolves 6 Shrewsbury 1
Burnley 5 Millwall 1
Fulham 3 Middlesbrough 1
Manchester City 10 Exeter 1
Newcastle 3 Bournemouth 3 (Newcastle won on penalties)
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Brentford 2
Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 2 HT
Charlton vs Chelsea (8pm)
HT stats
Possession: Tottenham 37%-63% Aston Villa
Shots: 4-8
Shots on target: 1-4
Corners: 1-5
Touches in opposition box: 6-14
A dominant half for Unai Emery’s side, both in terms of the scoreline and the stats.
Half-time
The whistle is met with plenty of boos from the home fans as their side trail by two at the break. It is safe to say the boos are pretty loud.
GOAL! Rogers double Aston Villa’s lead
Very loud boos ring around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and this is getting ugly for the home side. Buendia and Rogers were on the scoresheet in Aston Villa’s win in this stadium in the league earlier this season and they are now both on the scoresheet tonight. After a sublime flick from Buendia, Rogers coolly slots home from the penalty spot.
45 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
There will be five minutes of added time due to a couple of injuries.
44 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Tel does well to beat McGinn down Tottenham’s left and clips in a cross, which finds Danso up from centre-back but he hits his shot wide. Tottenham probably would have hoped that chance had fallen to a forward, not Danso.
42 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Kolo Muani puts the ball into the Aston Villa net but the offside flag has gone up. Simons drives forward and slips a pass into the box, which Kolo Muani finishes well past Bizot but he was clearly offside. A reminder that there is no VAR anyway at this stage of the competition so the on-field decisions will stand.
40 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Tottenham have been outplayed thus far but have their first corner of the night. Tel’s delivery to the far post is met by Danso but he cannot keep his header down and it goes over Bizot’s bar. That was a decent chance for Danso.
36 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Rogers plays a delightful ball across the six-yard box from the right side of the area but none of his teammates are on hand for what would have been a tap-in.
33 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Break in play and out comes Thomas Frank’s tactics board, complete with blue and red counters. A group of players gather around. Unclear how much they absorbed but, after the Arsenal coffee cup on Wednesday, Frank is at least again proving himself good for those people who love a social media meme. The verdict of the Villa fans? “Thomas Frank is an Arsenal fan”. Not really what an under pressure Spurs manager wants to be hearing during a home match.
30 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Inside the opening half an hour, both sides have now been forced into a change. Kamara had to go for Aston Villa earlier and now Richarlison is going off for Tottenham. Kolo Muani will be the man to replace him.
28 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Tottenham’s evening is going from bad to worse as Richarlison has pulled up with a hamstring injury. He knew immediately that the hamstring had gone and pulled up very quickly.
The Aston Villa fans are the ones making the noise inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the home fans look on rather dejected already.
27 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
In the immediate aftermath of Buendia’s goal, you could see a lot of frustrated exchanges between the Tottenham players and they were very much having a go at each other, pointing the finger.
24 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1
Tottenham need to be very careful here that they do not fall further behind as Aston Villa have a corner out on the left. The goalscorer Buendia takes it short before the ball is worked round to Cash in a central position just outside the box. The right-back strikes it crisply but it is straight at Vicario. Aston Villa can smell blood here and sense a second goal is there for the taking.
GOAL! Buendia puts Aston Villa in front
That is a lovely goal from Unai Emery’s side and the pressure ramps up on Thomas Frank. The interplay through the centre of the pitch is wonderful and the ball is played to Malen just outside the Tottenham box. He picks out the overlapping run of Buendia, who finishes with aplomb into the top of the net. Aston Villa lead so how will the Tottenham faithful react to their side falling behind?
The foothold that Spurs briefly found, however, was not equating to much threat on goal. Villa by contrast look constantly capable of opening up a Tottenham team that were very visibly trying to apportion on-field blame for Buendia’s clinically taken finish.
20 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
The Spurs pre-match nostalgia is a reminder that Villa are also up among only seven clubs with seven or more FA Cup wins. But you have to go back a lot further - to 1957 - for the last time they won the famous old trophy. Villa made the more threatening start here, even after losing Boubacar Kamara so early in the match, but Spurs are starting to get a foothold into the game.
18 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
Porro’s cross to the back post finds Tel, whose first-time shot is so poor that it goes out for a throw-in. Not the Frenchman’s best effort!
13 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
Tottenham register their first shot of the night. Davies wins possession for the hosts inside the Villa half and Odobert decides to shoot from range from a central position but it is straight down Bizot’s throat.
12 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
The first corner of the night goes the visitors’ way as Gray blocked a Buendia cross out on the left. Cash takes the inswinger but Richarlison heads away at the near post.
9 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
These throwback Tottenham jerseys do not have names on the back.
8 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
Tielemans is now onto the pitch.
7 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
Kamara is hobbling off and Tielemans will be the man to replace him. Unai Emery is understandably not happy; not only has one of his players been injured but also Palhinha escaped without a booking. Play has actually gone on though with Tielemans not yet ready to come on.
5 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
Konsa has kicked the ball out of play as Kamara is still struggling. Unai Emery is furious on the sidelines with that challenge from Palhinha that has injured Kamara, who is going to have to go off. It was not the worst challenge from Palhinha in terms of being violent but was a definite yellow card. Tielemans is getting ready to come on.
3 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
A second Tottenham player in quick succession is lucky not to be booked as Palhinha trips Kamara in the centre circle. Again, if that incident had been in the 33rd minute, it would have been a yellow card.
2 mins: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0
That is a nasty challenge from Simons on Cash, with the former very lucky not to be shown a yellow card for that tackle. You cannot help but think that had that incident happened later in the game, he would have been booked.
Kick-off
We are under way in north London
Tributes
Before kick-off, Tottenham are paying tribute to former players Terry Yorath, who died the other day at the age of 75, and Martin Chivers, who died aged 80.
Real nostalgic feel at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for one of the FA Cup’s most successful clubs. Many Spurs legends, including Glenn Hoddle and Cliff Jones, were pitchside for the minute’s applause for former players Martin Chivers and Terry Yorath, who passed away this week, and the matchday programme celebrates their victory exactly 125 years ago in the 1900-01 FA Cup. The plain white kit, with the club sponsor barely visible, is also a commemorative edition. The year 1901 was the first of Tottenham’s eight FA Cup wins - but the last was some 35 years ago, back in 1991.
Nearly ready for action
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off in north London. Here is a reminder of the teams:
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Davies, Joao Palhinha, Gray, Odobert, Simons, Tel, Richarlison.
Substitutes: Kinsky, Solanke, Scarlett, Byfield, Spence, Dragusin, Udogie, Muani, Williams-Barnet.
Aston Villa: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Malen.
Substitutes: Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Tielemans, Watkins, Digne, Garcia, Sancho, Hemmings.
Late, late drama at St James’ Park
Newcastle thought they had won it at the death against Bournemouth but the visitors have made it 3-3 courtesy of Marcus Tavernier. That all-Premier League tie looks set for penalties, which you will be able to follow right here.
Pressure on Frank
Stark reminder on Wednesday of how quickly football can shift. Spurs threatened a vital comeback win at Bournemouth, only to concede at the death and lose the match. An Arsenal coffee cup followed by a stray social media post later (from his captain) - and Thomas Frank is on the brink of a full-blow crisis.
Team-sheets underline the importance of the game. Frank has picked pretty much his best available team, with Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie also returning to the squad following injury. Unai Emery has rested Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins but still a strong Villa side.
Meanwhile up in the north east
Newcastle and Bournemouth are currently playing extra time at St James’ Park with the game level at 2-2. You can follow that match right here.
Hosts gearing up
Aston Villa’s last five results
Crystal Palace 0 Aston Villa 0 (Premier League)
Aston Villa 3 Nottingham Forest 1 (Premier League)
Arsenal 4 Aston Villa 1 (Premier League)
Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 2 (Premier League)
Aston Villa 2 Manchester United 1 (Premier League)
Tottenham’s last five results
Bournemouth 3 Tottenham 2 (Premier League)
Tottenham 1 Sunderland 1 (Premier League)
Brentford 0 Tottenham 0 (Premier League)
Crystal Palace 0 Tottenham 1 (Premier League)
Tottenham 1 Liverpool 2 (Premier League)
Teams in full
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Davies, Joao Palhinha, Gray, Odobert, Simons, Tel, Richarlison.
Substitutes: Kinsky, Solanke, Scarlett, Byfield, Spence, Dragusin, Udogie, Muani, Williams-Barnet.
Aston Villa: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Malen.
Substitutes: Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Tielemans, Watkins, Digne, Garcia, Sancho, Hemmings.
Returning faces
Both Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie are back from injury for the hosts this evening and are on the bench.
Villa eye Abraham to help keep Premier League title challenge alive
Aston Villa are eyeing a move for Tammy Abraham as they look to strengthen Unai Emery’s squad for the second half of the campaign and keep pace at the top of the Premier League.
Abraham, 28, is on loan at Besiktas from AS Roma this season and has reached double figures for goals in Turkey. He is understood to be on Villa’s radar for the January transfer window to provide support and competition for England forward Ollie Watkins.
During a previous successful loan spell at Villa Park, Abraham was promoted from the Championship with the club under Dean Smith and played in the Wembley play-off triumph over Derby County.
Thomas Frank’s authority at Spurs is being eroded before our very eyes
It may have been a storm in a coffee cup on the south coast for Thomas Frank, but there is a very real threat to his authority brewing at Tottenham Hotspur.
Less than 24 hours after being caught sipping from an Arsenal-branded cup during Tottenham’s stoppage-time defeat at Bournemouth, Frank had to sit in front of a red and white Emirates-branded background to answer questions about his captain Cristian Romero.
The FA Cup backdrop provided Arsenal fans, who have flooded social media with a host of Frank-inspired jokes in response to the coffee cup storm, with another chance to poke fun at him. But there is not much for Tottenham’s head coach to smile about, as he attempts to retain some sense of control.
Tottenham team
Aston Villa team
Selected FA Cup ties today
Everton 1 Sunderland 1 (Sunderland won on penalties)
Macclesfield 2 Crystal Palace 1
Wolves 6 Shrewsbury 1
Burnley 4 Millwall 0 (82’)
Fulham 2 Middlesbrough 1 (83’)
Manchester City 8 Exeter 0 (81’)
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2 (83’)
Sheffield Wednesday 0 Brentford 2 (83’)
Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Charlton vs Chelsea (8pm)
Which Premier League team will fall?
It is an all-Premier League tie in north London as Tottenham host Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round. When these sides in the league back in October in this stadium, Aston Villa came from a goal down to win 2-1 courtesy of great finishes from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia. These teams met in the FA Cup last season, with Aston Villa claiming the spoils in a 2-1 win in the fourth round.
Tottenham come into this game off a loss in the week, falling to a 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth in the league on Wednesday night, which leaves them down in 14th. In the aftermath of that defeat, their captain Cristian Romero went on a social media outburst criticising the club’s board.
“After he became captain, he has done a lot of good things right,” Thomas Frank said. “I said when I made him captain that even though he is an experienced player, he is still a young leader. A lot of things he has done well, on and off the pitch, I am happy with and I was happy with his performance [on Wednesday night]. He was a true captain in many ways throughout the game. Also when you are a young leader, sometimes you make a mistake and it is good to keep it internally. Johan [Lange] and I had a good conversation with him this morning about everything, which we keep internally.”
Romero will in fact miss today’s game as the Argentine has been given an additional one-match ban for his behaviour following his red card against Liverpool last month. Frank has confirmed that forward Mohammed Kudus has been ruled out for a few months due to a thigh injury. Rodrigo Bentancur has also picked up an injury, joining the likes of Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison on the sidelines.
Aston Villa drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace in the league on Wednesday, which leaves them in third place in the top flight, six points off leaders Arsenal. Unai Emery’s side did reach the semi-finals in this competition last season but were thoroughly beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Wembley.
“We are ambitious and set our standards high,” Emery said. “How we can improve everything around the club is my responsibility. My first responsibility is to get the performance on the field. But we need to try and increase everything. How? To try and be in the European positions. To compete. It is very difficult. Watching Arsenal and Liverpool. Wow. What a match. The levels for both teams, and Liverpool are behind us. It is a difficult Premier League for everyone.
“Being consistent so that we can achieve our objectives is a huge challenge. To be in the top positions in the Premier League. Hopefully we can finish in the latter stages of the Europa League. Last year in the FA Cup we lost in the semi-final. It was a big defeat to Crystal Palace and they deserved to beat us. But, we enjoyed a day in London for the semi-final. This is the objective for the supporters, to be in special moments. To try away either another country in Europe or to London for a semi-final. It is the objective.”
Emery has confirmed that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will miss today’s match due to a calf injury. They could give a debut to new signing Alysson, following the 19-year-old’s arrival from Gremio earlier this month.
Team news to follow shortly.
2026-01-10T20:40:52Z