Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fires Spurs in front
(Getty)
Follow all the action live as Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side under pressure and looking to put to an end their run of three straight defeats in the Premier League. Spurs may have been lifted by a second-half hat-trick from Harry Kane as they defeated NS Mura 5-1 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday but that will count for little if the hosts continue their Premier League slide, which continued following a sobering 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby last weekend.
“The criticism is normal,” Nuno said this week. “Everybody knows how this industry works. When you don’t play good, when you don’t perform and results don’t go your way, criticism is something you have to deal with. We understand it and it’s up to us to react and change it.”
Dean Smith’s Aston Villa side are in form following back-to-back wins in the Premier League, including an excellent 1-0 victory at Old Trafford last time out. Smith said his side will continue to play on the front foot against Spurs, and are looking for consecutive wins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following a 2-1 victory at the end of last season. “We hold no fear going to Tottenham but we know the dangers that they have,” Smith revealed. “We certainly have to be at our best but we have confidence and we have a bit of belief in ourselves at the moment so it should make for a really good game.” Follow all the action below:
Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa
33 mins: Villa are finding space out wide when they work the ball out wide to their wing-backs. Targett’s low ball is put behind by Skipp, before Lucas clears the inswinging free kick.
Villa have been below-par so far and are yet to have a shot on target.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:36
Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa
31 mins: Kane keeps his effort on target but it’s a comfortable save for Martinez to make.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:34
Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa
30 mins: Reguilon does well to skip past Cash and spark a Spurs break. The ball is worked inside to Kane, who is brought down from behind by Ramsey. The Villa midfielder is booked and it gives Spurs a chance from 30 yards or so.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:33
Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa
28 mins: Villa work a short corner to McGinn on the edge of the box but the midfielder’s shot is blocked.
It is great to see teams like Villa looking to be creative from set-piece opportunities, even if that one didn’t quite work out.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:31
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa (HOJBJERG 27’)
Spurs had been improving and now take the lead! Hojbjerg won the ball back on the halfway line and slipped in Son on the right. The forward cut back and found Hojbjerg on the edge of the box. The midfielder picked his spot from the edge of the area and curled his effort into the far corner. Great finish.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:27
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
24 mins: Close! Kane steps over a free kick on the halfway line and spots Martinez off his line. The striker’s shot from distance looked on target but Martinez got back to claw the ball clear!
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:26
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
21 mins: Son beats Cash on the left and weaves into the box – but his pass across the area is cut out by Hause and Villa can clear.
Kane then fires well over from 25 yards.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:24
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
19 mins: Watkins stands up Romero on the left channel but the defender steps across and wins the tackle well.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:22
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17 mins: That’s a bit better from Spurs. Son’s diagonal run into the box is found by Moura but the forward’s shot is blocked by Konsa, before Martinez collects a cross aimed towards Kane.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:21
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
13 mins: Villa press Tottenham high up the pitch but the hosts are able to escape through Emerson. The full back had space to run into but is denied by a tackle from Ings, who did well to track back.
Jamie Braidwood3 October 2021 14:18
