PREMIER LEAGUE
FRIDAY 16TH MAY, 2025
(7.30pm)
ASTON VILLA 2(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0)
Villa scorers:-
Konsa, 59
Kamara, 73
Attendance:- 42,239
Referee:- Peter Bankes
Assistants:- Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth official:- Tim Robinson
VAR:- James Bell
Assistant VAR:- Dan Cook
Teams:-
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1):- 23. Martinez; 2. Cash, 4. Konsa, 14. Torres, 22. Maatsen; 44. Kamara, 24. Onana (sub 6. Barkley, 88); 27. Rogers, 21. Asensio, 7. McGinn (Capt.) (sub 31. Bailey, 90); 11. Watkins (sub 17. Malen, 86)
(Armband to Martinez)
Subs not used:- 25. Olsen; 3. Disasi, 5. Mings, 12. Digne, 16. Garcia, 26. Bogarde
Booked:- Cash (waving imaginary yellow card)
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 31. Kinsky; 24. Spence, 4. Danso, 33. Davies, 3. Reguilon (sub 30. Bentancur, 74); 14. Gray, 29. Sarr (sub 8. Bissouma, 53); 47. Moore (sub 22. Johnson, 87), 28. Odobert (sub 9. Richarlison, 87), 7. Son (Capt.) (sub 19. Solanke, 74); 11. Tel
(Armband to Davies)
Subs not used:- 1. Vicario; 23. Pedro Porro, 59. Cassanova; 64. Olusesi
Booked:- Gray (foul on Watkins), Tel (foul on Konsa)
Villa and Spurs chasing a Champions League place
Thanks to Eugene Gasper for this picture
44 years ago, almost to the day, Ricky Villa scored his iconic FA Cup winning goal against Manchester City. Last night a team called Villa won the headlines and the match when they eventually broke down the resistance of Spurs' "B" team. Number 44, Kamara, sealed the points with the second goal, putting Villa back into the Champions League places with one game to play.
That last game for Unai Emery's side will be at Old Trafford against Spurs' Europa League opponents next Wednesday. Villa will not know their European destiny until then, but either Spurs or United will have won the Europa League Final and a coveted place in the elite European competition. United lost at Chelsea last night, so it will be 16th and 17th placed Premier League survivors battling it out in Bilbao.
Villa were missing Rashford and Tielemans through injury and Jacob Ramsey was suspended. Emery made three changes to the team which beat Bournemouth last Saturday with Pau Torres in for Mings, Maatsen for Digne and captain McGinn for Ramsey.
Spurs club captain Son made his first start for five weeks and gave Matty Cash some worries down the left wing. Unfortunately, Son's final pass or shot was not so effective. Mikey Moore replaced the injured Kulusevski and Sergio Reguilon made his first appearance since January, and no doubt the last appearance of his Spurs career. It was "Reggie"'s one and only Premier League start of the season.
Unusually, even in this season when we have now lost 21 league games (12 of them away), the away end was not sold out. No doubt many were anticipating the result and saving their pennies for the trip to Bilbao.
There was a pause before the game to reflect on the passing of former Villa legend Peter McParland, who scored both Villa's goals when they last won the FA Cup in 1957, and for a former goalkeeper Jake Findlay, who made 18 first team appearances in the seventies.
On a bright, sunny evening Spurs kicked off and played towards the Holte End. Ben Davies found Son with a long pass, but the cross was easy for Martinez. Kinsky made several vital saves and touches, the first of which was to get enough on a Torres cross to put off Watkins. Watkins, who is now Villa's highest Premier League scorer got a second chance, but his left-footed shot was held by the Spurs keeper.
McGinn hit a powerful left foot drive over the target. He soon teed up left back Maatsen for a shot, but that was also over the bar. The pattern had been set for the game where Spurs were set up to defend and to attack on the break. Son raced forward again, and his cross was cleared by Konsa. Son tried one of his inswingers, but Martinez held the corner.
Son had a trademark right-footed shot after Odobert's pass, but this passed just over the far corner of the Villa goal. Spurs' best move of the game soon followed with Son feeding Odobert, who passed to Tel on the left. When Tel crossed, Odobert tried a clever flick which was on target, but picked up by World Cup winner Martinez.
Spurs' World Cup winner Romero, Van de Ven and Udogie were not even on the bench, but no doubt being preserved for Wednesday. You can't be too careful with Matty Cash in the Villa side!
England international Morgan Rogers got a touch on Onana's cross and Kinsky dived to make a fingertip save, pushing the ball around the corner. Spurs will be hoping to score past a different Onana on Wednesday!
Watkins hit a shot on target after a cross by Torres, but his effort lacked strength. Cash was booked for waving an imaginary card at referee Peter Bankes after being fouled by Tel. Spurs fans jeered their derision.
Villa's astute loan signing from PSG now became more and more influential in the game. He tried a flick at goal after Konsa's cross, but that passed wide. He then beat two Spurs players and fed the ball to Watkins, only to see Kevin Danso block the shot. The Spurs defence was holding firm at this stage.
Asensio hit a left-footed shot just wide of Kinsky's right post. The goalkeeper was rooted this time but soon held Konsa's header from a McGinn free kick. Another great run by the sharp looking Son ended with a disappointing cross behind his fellow attackers. Son will be leading his team in Bilbao.
There were no changes at half-time. A corner by Asensio was held by Kinsky who threw the ball quickly to Odobert who broke forward with Martinez out of hiss goal. Kamara closed down Odobert successfully.
Villa's players were becoming more and more tense, and there were spats between Tel and Konsa, and Reguilon and Onana. Mr. Bankes was happy to keep his cards in his pocket and to have "words."
Martinez held another Son cross. A good spell of possession by Spurs frustrated the home side, and their fans. Danso blocked another shot - this one by Maatsen - conceding a corner, after which Spurs finally succumbed. McGinn's corner was headed down by Watkins and hooked into the net by Konsa from close range.
Kinsky soon had to make another save when Watkins' shot probably came off Ben Davies. Spurs were now very much on the back foot. They did win a free kick after Maatsen's foul on Moore, but Tel and Reguilon messed that up. Like many Premier League teams, Villa have a set piece specialist. The absence of such a coach in the Spurs set-up and has been all too evident during the season.
McGinn hit another left-footed shot wide, after he beat Reguilon. Cash fired wide from the edge of the box, but Spurs fell further behind when Kamara received a Rogers pass from his right and scored with a shot to the right of Kinsky. It was Kamara's first Premier League goal and led to great celebration by the players and the home crowd.
McGinn had one more effort which passed wide of the far post. Spurs saw the game out, but had their minds focussed fully towards Wednesday in Bilbao.
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