Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for his report:-
Thanks to Cassim Patel for this picture
Sunday 3 May 2026, 7:00pm
Premier League
Aston Villa (0) 1 Tottenham Hotspur (2) 2
Villa scorer:-
Buendia, 90+6
Spurs scorers:-
Gallagher, 12
Richarlison 25
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Unai Emery
23 E Martinez; 2 M Cash, 3 V Lindelof, 5 T Mings (c), 22 I Maatsen; 26
L Bogarde, 8 Y Tielemans; 19 J Sancho (31 L Bailey 85), 6 R Barkley
(10 E Buendia 85), 27 M Rogers; 18 T Abraham (11 O Watkins 60).
Subs not used: 40 M Bizot, 4 E Konsa, 12 L Digne, 14 Pau Torres, 16 A
Garcia, 21 Douglas Luiz
Booked: Barkley (51 foul on Gallagher), Rogers (77 dissent)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):
31 A Kinsky; 23 Pedro Porro, 4 K Danso, 37 M van de Ven, 13 D Udogie;
6 Joao Palhinha, 30 R Bentancur (8 Y Bissouma 67); 39 R Kolo Muani (24
D Spence 66), 22 C Gallagher, 11 M Tel (15 L Bergvall 90+1); 9
Richarlison (29 P Sarr 90+1).
Subs not used: 40 B Austin, 38 Souza, 3 R Dragusin, 14 A Gray, 10 J
Maddison
Booked: Kolo Muani (27 delaying restart), Bentancur (45 foul on Bogarde), Tel (73 delaying free kick), Danso (81 foul on Watkins), Gallagher (90+6 not
retreating after free kick awarded)
Villa Park, Attendance: 42,767
Referee: Samuel Barrott, Assistant Referees: James Mainwaring, Wade
Smith, Fourth Official: Paul Tierney, VAR: Tony Harrington, Assistant
VAR: Nicholas Hopton
De Zerbi works his magic and Spurs have their fate in their own hands.
Thanks to Andy Park for this picture
This was an immense and potentially season-changing result. Before the
match Villa were in 5th place in the league table with 58 points and
on course to qualify for next year's Champions League competition. In
contrast Spurs were in the bottom three, two points behind West Ham
United and had only won one league game this year. Villa had home
advantage though they had played in Europe (in reality in Nottingham!)
on Thursday.
Spurs put in their best first half performance of the season. They
scored two fine goals and totally dominated the half. The second half
was a more balanced affair. Spurs had the commitment and confidence to
hold onto their lead without really seeking to extend it. Though Villa
scored a last-minute goal there was never any doubt that Spurs would win.
The entire game but especially the second half will build much
confidence in a team that before last weekend seemed to have forgotten
how to win a Premier League game. This was only the second occasion
after the first two matches of the season that Spurs had won
consecutive Premier League games. The credit must go to Roberto De
Zerbi who is rebuilding the confidence of a group of players who only
a few weeks ago utterly lacked belief in themselves.
De Zerbi made four changes from the team which won away at
Wolverhampton last weekend. Mathias Tel and Richarlison replaced the
injured Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke. Destiny Udogie returned from
injury and Djed Spence dropped to the bench. The only tactical change
saw Joao Palhinha come in for Yves Bissouma who also was among the
substitutes. Pape Matar Sarr returned from injury and was among the
replacements too.
Unai Emery had used ten of the same players in both the Fulham (PL
game last weekend) and Nottingham Forest (Europe midweek) both of
which were away and resulted in 1-0 defeats. Probably this is his
first-choice team. Today only five of the twelve starters in those
matches were chosen Martinez, Cash, Bogarde, Tielemans and Rogers.
Another five were among the substitutes. The captain John McGinn had
an injury and wasn't risked. Emery's starting XI was surely based on
his need to beat Forest this week and progress to the Europa League
final while probably hoping that Spurs would still lack confidence and
be vulnerable. The player rotation misfired badly.
Spurs were motivated and showed cohesion as team right from the kick
off. Richarlison won a corner in the first minute. Spurs were using a
high press. Any time they lost possession one or two players
immediately challenged their opponents to win the ball back quickly
something that hasn't been in evidence for months.
After eleven minutes Danso took a long throw from the right into the
box. It was headed out by a Villa player. Conor Gallagher controlled
the ball very well just outside the box and scored with a great shot
to the left post, his first goal for the club. The entire team (and away support! - Ed)erupted with joy and the goal lifted their confidence.
Spurs continued to press and within six minutes another fine
long-range effort from Joao Palhinha was deflected onto the post by
Martinez.
Tel crossed from the left and Martinez saved Kolo Muani's effort.
However Spurs wouldn't be denied. A minute later Tel, now operating on
the right, crossed and Richarlison rose to score with a header to the
centre of the goal. This 2-0 lead after twenty-five minutes was the
earliest Spurs had scored two goals in a Premier League match since
the 5-0 win against Southampton in December 2024. Villa hadn't been
two behind this stage of a league match at home since February 2021
against Leicester City.
Thanks to Andy Park for this picture
Emery immediately sent his substitutes out to warm-up.
Bentancur needed treatment after a tackle by Bogarde.
Tel made a good run into the box but his attempt was high. Bentancur
halted one of Villa's few forays towards the Spurs goal. Kolo Muani and
Udogie combined to set up Tel again but once again his effort was high.
Villa's first half was summed up when they won a free-kick in the
Spurs half. The ball was sent forward but the move immediately halted
because Mings handled it.
Villa departed to a chorus of boos at half time. It wasn't surprising
given that Spurs had 17 touches in the Villa box and scored two goals
while Villa had only one touch in the Spurs box and two shots off
target. Spurs totally dominated the half and looked more confident
than they had all season.
There were no changes at the break. It was surprising that Emery
didn't change things given how poorly Villa had played in the first half.
The second half was a more even affair. Spurs didn't press as high as
they had in the first half. De Zerbi had probably emphasized at half
time that it was more important to preserve the two-goal lead than
extend it.
Abraham robbed the ball from Danso and was bearing down on goal before
van de Ven used his speed to stop the attack.
When Villa had the ball they were immediately confronted with a Spurs
player waiting to dispossess them if the first one failed another
Spurs player immediately set upon them. The defending was co-ordinated
and effective.
Joao Palhinha was immense in stopping Villa's attempts. He hurtled
into effective tackles with great enthusiasm. On one occasion he
halted a Villa attack and was fouled before he could start a
counter-attack.
Bissouma and Spence replaced Bentancur and Tel. The latter had played
well but Spence added some defensive solidity at this stage of the
game. Bentancur may have been feeling the effect of his earlier knock.
The Villa supporters were leaving with ten minutes remaining. With two
minutes left Bailey crossed from the right and Mings headed over when
he should have done better. Buendia scored with a header in the last
minute after being set up by Cash. At no stage did Villa look like
saving the game.
The first half was a superb dominating display by Spurs. Conor
Gallagher came of age in a Spurs shirt and scored an important goal to
put the team ahead. Earlier in the season Spurs had been hurt in games
when Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White whom Spurs had tried and
failed to sign scored important goals against them for Arsenal and
Nottingham Forest. So it was nice to see Gallagher, a Villa target in
January, do the same for Spurs today.
Although Spurs didn't dominate the second half the effect was equally
important. They showed that they could hold onto a lead and close out
the game. Contrast this to the Brighton game only two matches ago
where Spurs twice led but couldn't win the match.
De Zerbi has done an incredible job improving the team from game to
game in only four matches. The difference between Wolves and today was
immense. The defending was superb. If the first Spurs player didn't
win the ball there was a team mate there to challenge the opposing
player right away.
The improvement in confidence over the four games De Zerbi has been in
charge is phenomenal. His public confidence in his players has borne
fruit. All this has been achieved while losing three important players
to season-ending injuries Romero, Simons and Solanke
With three games remaining Spurs are head of West Ham by one point and
have a better goal difference. Their fate is in their own hands.
Spurs have perhaps a slightly easier run in than the Hammers.
Spurs West Ham
Leeds United (h) Arsenal (h)
Chelsea (a) Newcastle United (a)
Everton (h) Leeds United (h)
Spurs have an advantage over the next two rounds of matches. They play
their fixtures a day (or two) after the Hammers and will know what is
needed to maintain their advantage.
Next weekend could be immense. If Spurs could beat Leeds while West
Ham succumbed to Arsenal there would be a four-point gap and a better
goal difference with two round of matches to play. Every Spurs
supporter will be urging Arsenal on next weekend.
De Zerbi is building confidence and momentum. With three rounds of
matches to play Spurs supporters can have grounds for hope.
