Thanks to John Ellis for his eye-witness comments

Aston Villa 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Thanks to John Ellis for this picture, and his comments on the game

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.....The contrast between the two clubs couldn’t be more stark. One club in complete harmony and on the up. The other in complete disarray. The first half was an abomination. The players couldn’t manage to do the fundamental basics.

Lenglet unnecessarily gave two corners away with a header and then a hack when on both occasions it was easier to play the ball out for a throw in. Under no pressure whatsoever, he also played the ball out for a throw in.

Davies was outpaced down the wing for the first goal. To be fair he is at best a squad player. The midfield was woeful with Skipp having a dreadful match and Hojbjerg not being much better. Up front, Son and Richarlison didn’t have the intelligence to work out how to spring the offside trap. Time and again, they were caught offside. Time and again Richarlison didn’t make the effort to run the channels and the ball had to be played backwards and sideways.

The disharmony in the club was shown in the split in the fanbase. Some voicing their displeasure at the owners and the players, others trying to get behind the team and trying to support them. The fans frustrations are understandable but… joining in with the Villa fans to sing about how bad we are… really? What are we hoping to achieve?

Half time came with Spurs not having had a legitimate shot on target.

On the concourse at half time it was shocking to see some so-called fans having a go at South Korean fans about Son’s performance… just what has that got to do with them. It is such a toxic and miserable experience to endure.

Not for the first team this season, Spurs came out a different team in the second half. Kane through on goal could and should have levelled the score but Martinez saved.

Forster having had a good first half was at fault for the second goal pushing a free kick into the net. Spurs are relying on squad players at the upper echelons of the Premier League and being found out.

Bissouma and Kulusevski came on for Richarlison and Skipp. Spurs looked much better for the changes. Kulusevski although struggling with his final ball offered so much more than Richarlison and worked so much harder too.

Kane won and scored a penalty to halve the deficit. It was surprising to see the board go up to show only six minutes of added time. In those six minutes, Son broke through to finish with aplomb. Sadly though the story of the match continued and the offside flag went up to rule the goal out.

This end of season has a feeling of deja vue with remarkable similarities to the end of the 2021 season. Ryan Mason in temporary charge following the sacking of a high profile manager. The club being linked with all and sundry to be the new manager.

It is difficult to imagine a manager agreeing to join the club without knowing who the Sporting Director will be.

Mauricio Pochettino has still not (Ed:- not quite!) been appointed at Chelsea. The club though does not seem at all interested in bringing back a man who clearly has a love for the club and a strong connection with the fanbase.

Daniel Levy, already under pressure from sections of the media and fanbase is in danger of creating a massive rod for his back if Pochettino goes to and becomes successful at Chelsea.

These are desperately difficult times. By the time Spurs play their final away game at Leeds, it will be more than four months since they last registered an away victory at Fulham in January. In the last seven away games Spurs have picked up just two points out of 21.

Five defeats in seven games with two draws at relegated Southampton and relegation-threatened Everton. In that time, the team has also suffered an abject defeat at Championship side Sheffield United in the FA Cup and as well at AC Milan in the Champions League.

The club is on a downward spiral and ending the season with relegation form. Whoever is appointed as manager and director of football will have a massive job ahead of them this summer.

#Coys

· Spurs Odyssey Match Report.

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