Aston Villa comfortably defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the FA Cup, securing a place in the fifth round for the first time since 2015. Goals from Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers ensured victory, while Spurs’ late response through Mathys Tel proved insufficient.
The visitors were under pressure from the start, with the home side setting the tone early. Within the first two minutes, Villa had already broken through Spurs’ fragile defense. Rogers surged past Lucas Bergvall before laying the ball off to Ramsey, whose shot slipped through goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. The early setback triggered loud discontent from the away fans, with chants calling for change at the club’s hierarchy.
Villa continued to dominate, frequently cutting through Spurs’ defense. Their attacking movement, led by Rogers and Ramsey, repeatedly exposed gaps in the opposition’s backline. The visitors struggled to retain possession and build any meaningful attacks, resorting to moments of gallows humor among their fans.
Spurs had a rare opportunity to level the score in the 24th minute when Mikey Moore delivered a pinpoint cross to Son Heung-min. However, the forward’s shot was too close to Emiliano Martínez, allowing the goalkeeper to make a straightforward save. Adding to Villa’s concerns, Ezri Konsa pulled up with a muscle injury while attempting to recover against Son, leaving their defense further stretched.
Postecoglou’s side showed slight improvement after halftime, aided by the introduction of Yves Bissouma. A crucial challenge from Lamare Bogarde prevented Son from scoring, and another opportunity fell to the Spurs captain, but his hesitation in front of goal allowed Villa to clear the danger. Son’s tentativeness was a recurring theme as he passed up shooting opportunities when Spurs needed him to be more decisive.
Villa eventually doubled their lead, with Malen and Leon Bailey combining to create an opening. When Bailey’s cross wasn’t cleared effectively, Rogers smashed the ball high into the net. The introduction of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, both making their debuts following recent loan moves, added further excitement for the home supporters. Rashford, featuring for the first time since December, showed rustiness but received a warm reception. Asensio, meanwhile, showcased his skill with a deft backheel to set up another chance for Rogers, who fired wide.
Despite a late push from Spurs, including a goal from Tel after a cross from Dejan Kulusevski, it was too little, too late. Villa’s performance was dominant, and they could have won by a larger margin had they been more clinical in front of goal. The defeat added to Spurs’ woes, coming just days after their Carabao Cup semi-final exit. Injuries have played a role in their decline, but this latest setback only deepened frustrations among supporters who are demanding change at the top.
