Ange Postecoglou cannot escape that sinking feeling. This time it arrived approaching the hour mark, Ezri Konsa opening the scoring before Boubacar Kamara doubled Aston Villa’s advantage to provide Unai Emery with a major boost in their attempt to qualify for the Champions League.
The Villa manager emerged before kick-off high-fiving supporters and there were similar scenes after the full-time whistle, with these three points another huge takeaway. For Postecoglou, it was another unedifying defeat and as preparation for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United goes, this was another sapping outing. By the end the early promise of Son Heung- min, one of the few starters who may also begin in Bilbao, had long since fizzled out.
At this point it is intriguing to consider quite how many bruising results Spurs can stomach in one season. Postecoglou made three changes from lastSunday’s defeat by Crystal Palacebut ended up on the wrong end of another 2-0 loss. This was their 25th defeat of the campaign in all competitions, equalling the club record for a single season, set in 1991-92, and Tottenham have now lost eight of their past 11 top-flight matches, their only win in that run comingagainst Southampton, the worst team in the division. Spurs, a place above the relegation zone, are not too far behind them.
This Spurs team will be much-changed when they run out in Spain next week. Sergio Reguilón made his firstPremier Leaguestart of the season and his first for Tottenham since April 2022, when Antonio Conte was in charge. Dejan Kulusevski was absent after undergoing knee surgery. Mikey Moore also came into the starting lineup and Son’s early running caused problems.
Until scoring Villa appeared a touch fraught, a little too keen to record a win that momentarily moves them level on points with Newcastle. Spurs also had a couple of decent chances, Emiliano Martínez making a superb, instinctive save after 16 minutes to repel Wilson Odobert’s flicked effort. Moments earlier Martínez fumed at how far Odobert was allowed to carry the ball before locating Son, who cut inside Matty Cash and sent a powerful shot against a stanchion.
There were ominous signs for Spurs, too, Morgan Rogers going close and Marco Asensio flashing wide. Konsa also sent a header at Antonin Kinsky from a John McGinn free-kick, awarded after Pape Matar Sarr had a couple of nibbles at Asensio, but on that occasion his effort lacked conviction.
Villa had started slowly after the interval. Emery waved his players forward with both hands and hopped on the touchline, urging Amadou Onana to make life uncomfortable as they had for much of the first half. Then Kevin Danso blocked an Ian Maatsen shot and at the subsequent corner Villa sparked into life. McGinn, the Villa captain, sent the ball towards the back post, where Ollie Watkins directed a header towards the six-yard box and Konsa, who eluded his marker Mathys Tel, sent a shot in through the legs of the Spurs substitute Yves Bissouma.
It spoke volumes of the significance of the strike that every outfield player joined the celebrations. There was probably an element of surprise, too, given it was Konsa’s second league goal in 14 months.
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Postecoglou, arms folded, swivelled in the dugout wearing that familiar despondent face. It could have got even worse for Spurs a minute later but Kinsky made a smart save after the ball trickled through to Watkins, who took a whack from Ben Davies as he pulled the trigger. Just as the nerves appeared to be seeping into Villa’s play, there was a communal outpouring of relief. No wonder given Villa’s home form has been imperious, their sole league defeat by Arsenal here in August.
Villa assumed total control of the game from there: on 73 minutes Kamara sidestepped Bissouma on the edge of the box before rattling a low shot past Kinsky. At the time Spurs were readying a double change, preparing to introduce Dominic Solanke and Rodrigo Bentancur. Brennan Johnson, a former Villa target, later arrived off the bench. Postecoglou was unmoved as Villa’s party unravelled before his eyes. Suddenly Spurs, who teased flickers of class, were shot.