Aston Villa suffered a devastating blow in the UEFA Champions League battle with a 4-0 drubbing at home to direct rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. It was fairly even in the first period but the visitors came out firing in the second 45 and were clinical to go two ahead. John McGinn was then sent off for a reckless kick on Destiny Udogie and the game slipped further and further away as Spurs were clinical to score twice more. The result moves Ange Postecoglou's team, who still have a game in hand, to within just two points of Villa in the Premier League standings.
It wasn't always set to be a trouncing as Unai Emery's side looked a threat initially with several dangerous balls in behind to Ollie Watkins. One moment stood out as Clement Lenglet launched a searching long ball forward and Watkins did excellently to nod it into the channel with his head. The striker burst through on goal but Micky Van de Ven did brilliantly to sprint back and defend, sliding in to tackle. Furious appeals echoed around Villa Park as Watkins lay on the ground but van de Ven got the ball, albeit catching Watkins firmly on the follow-through. Lucas Digne, on the verge of half time, had the next decent chance as John McGinn fizzed in a cross but his header was awkward as it looped just over the far top corner.
Tottenham exerted more energy at the start of the second half and it worked as they got themselves in front in the 50th minute. Pape Matar Sarr, played down the right flank by Dejan Kulusevksi, whipped an inch-perfect delivery into the area and James Maddison met it to convert beyond Emiliano Martinez for 1-0. It was then a quickfire double for Spurs as Postecoglou's men took advantage of the hosts' sloppiness. Ezri Konsa played a weak pass and Youri Tielemans was too slow to react, allowing Kulusevski to clip in and play through Son Heung-min. The South Korean showed good composure to feed Brennan Johnson, who opened up his body and fired it past Martinez for 2-0.
Emery responded to the two goals conceded by making three changes, bringing on Alex Moreno, Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo for Lucas Digne, Clement Lenglet and Youri Tielemans. But before the substitutions could make the desired impact, things went from bad to worse for Villa as captain McGinn was sent off in the 63rd minute for a ferocious challenge on Udogie. It was reckless from McGinn as he totally wiped out the Spurs defender. The Scotsman was one of very few home players showing the necessary fight and desire but he unfortunately paid for it through one moment of madness.
Villa, outnumbered for the rest of the clash, were unable to break down a solid Spurs backline, even despite an injury to central defender van de Ven. Emery looked despondent on the touchline as he watched the game fade away from his team and the afternoon was soon made even more dismal as Son scored a third for Tottenham. The Spurs number seven struck fiercely to connect first time with a low Kulusevski cross just before 10 minutes of added time. Timo Werner then prompted the majority of the remaining Villa fans to head for the exits with a cushioned finish to make it 4-0 in the 95th minute, rounding off a romping. Here are our Villa player ratings on a painful day for all those in claret and blue.
1. Emiliano Martinez - 5
Couldn’t do a great deal about any of the goals as they were good finishes from Maddison and Johnson and Son.
2. Ezri Konsa - 4 (off 85’)
Dilly-dallied and paid the price, misplacing the pass in the lead-up to Johnson’s goal for 2-0. Had a shaky moment in the first half, too, as he failed to clear when pressed by Johnson.
3. Clement Lenglet - 6 (off 58’)
Looked good in the opening 20 minutes or so as he created the chance for Watkins in behind and showed good composure playing out from the back. Not many positive moments followed, afterward, though, with no real defensive contributions made.
4. Pau Torres - 5
Probablty the best of a bad bunch in defence but still not his usual self. The Spaniard tired towards the end as Spurs grew in confidence.