Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Emerson of Tottenham Hotspur battle for the ball throughout the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 26, 2023 in London, England.
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Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa into fourth place within the Premier League as they got here from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham on a day the hosts paid tribute to former boss Terry Venables.
Unai Emery’s facet trailed to Giovani Lo Celso’s first aim of the season within the first half in north London.
But Pau Torres equalised simply earlier than the break and Watkins’ twelfth aim this time period wrapped up a powerful outcome for revitalised Villa.
Villa moved above Tottenham into fourth, with Ange Postecoglou’s crew falling two factors behind them in fifth after a 3rd successive defeat stalled their early-season momentum.
Tottenham have squandered the lead in all three of their defeats, however Postecoglou may level to the accidents which have robbed him of a number of key gamers together with James Maddison.
“The outcome is disappointing but I thought the players did a fantastic job, playing the football we want,” Postecoglou mentioned.
“On any other day we win that game. It’s fine margins. If we keep playing like that when we get everyone back we will be a pretty good side.”
Villa’s resilient third away win of their final 11 league video games underlined the enhancements made by Emery since he changed the sacked Steven Gerrard final season.
Sitting simply two factors behind leaders Arsenal, Villa have received 4 of their final 5 league video games to spark real hopes of a prime 4 problem.
“It was an amazing match. Both teams created chances. We were efficient and clinical in our attacking. I enjoyed it but I lost my energy!” Emery mentioned.
“Of course we can get confidence when we are winning matches like today. We are willing to fight. I tell the players ‘enjoy our position but we are not content’.”
As a progressive former supervisor of England, Barcelona and Tottenham, the place he received the FA Cup in 1991, Venables would have appreciated the attacking high quality of each groups on the day he handed away aged 80.
With each groups carrying black armbands, an image of Venables was displayed on every of the massive screens throughout a minute of applause in celebration of his life earlier than kick-off.
Tottenham have been on prime within the opening levels and Dejan Kulusevski blasted towards the put up after displaying nimble footwork to prise open the Villa defence.
Postecoglou’s males have been again on the offensive as Bryan Gil was denied by a high quality save from Emiliano Martinez.
Their enterprising play reaped a deserved reward within the twenty second minute when Villa may solely clear a nook to the sting of the world, the place Lo Celso hammered a robust strike that deflected in off Carlos.
Clinical Watkins
Villa thought they’d mustered a right away response as Watkins glanced his header previous Guglielmo Vicario from Lucas Digne’s cross.
But, after a VAR verify of just about three minutes, the aim was disallowed for a decent offside towards Watkins.
Kulusevski was inches away from doubling Tottenham’s lead with a roller earlier than Son Heung-min’s aim was chalked off for an additional offside.
For all their dashing play in assault, Tottenham have been weak on the again and Villa took benefit in first half stoppage-time.
Douglas Luiz’s free-kick discovered Torres unmarked 10 yards out and the Spanish defender thumped his header previous Vicario, with the aim surviving one other prolonged VAR verify.
Villa have been practically gifted the lead early within the second half when Vicario allowed Leon Bailey’s shot to squirm beneath him earlier than gratefully grabbing the ball after it rebounded off the put up.
Emery’s males uncovered the issues in Tottenham’s defence once more to take the lead within the 61st minute.
A neat transfer climaxed with Watkins taking part in a one-two with Youri Tielemans to open up the creaky Tottenham rearguard earlier than the England striker guided a scientific end into the far nook from 12 yards.
Martinez made glorious stops to repel efforts from Brennan Johnson and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg earlier than Son’s strike was disallowed for offside to cap a irritating afternoon for Tottenham.
