Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham (Ramsey 1′, Rogers 64′ | Tel 90+1′)
VILLA PARK — Assuming the Premier League is beyond them, Tottenham Hotspur have one opportunity to fulfil the Ange Postecoglou pledge of a second season pot. And pigs might, well, you know.
Given Postecoglou has overseen two cup exits in the space of three days, the idea he might triumph in the Europa League appears fanciful on the evidence of Anfield and Villa Park, where his team were all-too easily exposed.
With a minute on the clock, the game’s first meaningful action left Spurs picking the ball out of the net.
On the touchline, the troubled features of Postecoglou took on a grey pallor indistinguishable from his hair and padded coat. Though he looked in need of a blood transfusion, there is another in the firing line before him. The problem is, Daniel Levy, roundly booed here, is unlikely to fire himself.
After the miserable shellacking at Liverpool to exit the Carabao Cup, this was the last thing Postecoglou needed. Nobly he resists the excuse offered by the many injuries piling up, just the nine first-team players unavailable at Villa Park. Yet that does not stop pressure’s heavy hands taking a grip of tender body parts.
January additions Kevin Danso in the heart of defence and winger Mathys Tel were handed impossible tasks, the former under immediate barrage, the latter starved of any meaningful involvement. The opening period passed like a training ground drill of attack versus defence, with Villa advancing at will.
There was some mumbling about the colour of the ball clashing with the orange shirt of Antonin Kinsky in the Tottenham goal, but that does not absolve him of the horrible bungling of Jacob Ramsey’s shot off his weaker left side. Kinsky’s hands were warmed thereafter by repeated Villa attacks, all of which he repelled, including a carbon copy of Ramsey’s earlier strike.
The lad clearly has promise, but this game is intolerant of keeper error. When the ball ripped through his hands inside a minute, it conjured memories of Leandro Trossard’s shot slithering beneath him to gift Arsenal victory in the north London derby a month ago.
On a night chilled by a bitterly cold easterly, Spurs’ fans at least turned up, singing their encouragement for the players high up in the Witton Lane stand, alongside their disapproval of Levy. They might have had something to cheer were Emiliano Martinez as susceptible as Kinsky. No chance, Son Heung-min’s drilled effort comfortably smothered at short range.
Though Tottenham were a different proposition after the break, defending higher up the pitch and smashing into the tackle in the middle of the park, they could never quite escape the sense of desperation gathering about them, which of course deepened when the excellent Morgan Rogers doubled Villa’s lead.
This was the signal for ole football. On came Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, scions of Manchester United and Real Madrid respectively. Whatever the sins of their past, their presence layered the night in luxury brand vibes.
Man of the match: Morgan Rogers
Another dynamic performance, embroidered by a goal, underlined his candidacy to run the England midfield when Thomas Tuchel names his first squad next month.
Rashford was bright and eager in his 30-minute cameo, hinting at what might be should he ever rediscover the necessary focus and commitment to match his talent. Two years older at 29, Asensio is a little further along the career curve but keen to make the most of his opportunity having stalled at Paris Saint-Germain.