PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2026
12.30 PM
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0) ASTON VILLA 3(1)

Spurs scorers:-
Gallagher, 86
Van Hecke, 90+8

Villa scorers:-
Manzambi, 45+4
Jackson, 67
Buendia, 79

Attendance:- 60,920

Referee:- Sam Barrott
Assistants:- Adam Nunn, Lee Betts
Fourth official:- Tom Bramall
VAR:- John Brooks
Assistant VAR:- Ian Hussin

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- 31. Kinsky; 23. Pedro Porro (sub 14. Gray, 19), 6. Van Hecke, 37. Vaan de Ven (Capt.), 3. Robertson; 30. Bentancur (sub 15. Bergvall, 84), 16. Tonali (sub 8. Gallagher, 84); 17. Savio, 18. Fernandes (sub 20. Kudus, 46), 22. Marmoush; 19. Solanke (sub 10. Maddison, 66)

Subs not used:- 39. Dubravka; 4. Tosin, 5. Senesi, 13. Udogie

Booked:- Van Hecke (foul on Jackson)

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1):- 1. Suzuki; 29. Wan-Bissaka (sub 2. Cash, 46), 3. Lindelof, 5. Mings, 13. Ruggeri; 8. Kamara (sub 19. Mbaye, 84), 35. Joao Gomes; 7. McGinn (Capt.) (sub 6. Barkley, 84), 44. Manzambi (sub 53. Hemmings, 72), 10. Buendia; 11. Jackson (sub 18. Abraham, 88)

Subs not used:- 42. Wright; 26. Bogarde; 4. Harwood-Bellis, 17. Garnacho

Booked:- Jackson (dissent), Cash (foul on Kudus)

The fall guys.

A couple of damning stats emerged after yesterday's disastrous second home defeat of the season to fellow strugglers Aston Villa. One from "Opta Joe" told us that Spurs have lost 50 of their 141 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as many defeats as Arsenal have suffered in 382 top-flight matches at the Emirates Stadium. The other from "Squawka" reminded us that Spurs have won just two of their last TWENTY-ONE home games in the Premier League. Those games were against Brentford last December and Everton in May.

Spurs fans (with White Hart Lane station closed on matchday!) needed determination to get to the game and to get home afterwards, and they need the patience of Job waiting for an elusive league win.

At least we saw a goal by our team today, but the one that received the loudest cheer was cancelled by VAR. The two we did score, late in the game, were meaningless in the context of our team being 3-0 down after 79 minutes.

Anyone facing us at the moment must fancy their chances against "The Fall Guys". In 2019 when completed our stadium was called a "fortress". It's been anything but. We had our chances today, but as at Liverpool last Tuesday, we found the opposition clinical. Unai Emery's new team looked sharper and faster than us on the counter, and in my view were always a threat going forward.

We do know from experience (when with Chelsea) how dangerous Nicolas Jackson can be. His pace is terrific and today he turned defenders with ease and too often out-paced them.

The game was preceded by the presentation of the four latest entrants to the Spurs Hall of Fame - the late Bobby Buckle, Chris Hughton, Jenna Schillaci and Ledley King. None of them were strikers, but how our club is crying out for a legend such as Jimmy Greaves (yesterday was the fifth anniversary of his passing), or Harry Kane.

Villa must have won the toss and turned us round because we kicked off and played towards the South Stand.

Spurs had some early defending to do against Villa left back Matteo Ruggeri (signed from Atletico) before they won a corner after a probing ball by Pedro Porro and a chase for Solanke. Pedro Porro threaded a ball for Fernandes, but that didn't work out for us.

Marmoush was down after 10 minutes, outside the area, but referee Sam Barrott showed no interest. We had a great chance when after the ball was crossed from the left, Solanke couldn't find his feet and the ball ran to Savio, who should have scored, but found goalkeeper Suzuki in great form pulling off a double save, the second of which led to another corner.

Pedro Porro was proving integral to our attack and hit a shot well over the target after a corner. At the other end, Jackson got around Micky Van de Ven on the break, but Van Hecke cleared. Manzambi cut in from the right and hit a low shot on target, comfortably held by Kinsky. Pedro Porro was down in the Villa half and needed treatment and had to be replaced by Archie Gray.

Archie soon got the bye-line after a Savio pass and hit a low cross/shot which Suzuki saved, conceding a corner. After the corner, Savio hit a terrific left-footed shot, but Suzuki made a flying save. It seems Mr. Emery has found a good replacement for Martinez, who like Morgan Rogers went to Chelsea. Suzuki is the Japanese International goalkeeper.

Fernandes scuffed a shot wide, before Villa threatened again. Jackson teed up Buendia, whose low shot was well saved by Kinsky. Jackson had a chance himself after turning a defender or two, but his shot was wide. Jackson was strong on the break for Villa and again passed to Buendia, but his shot was also off target.

We won three consecutive corners, and from the third there were appeals for handball after a Solanke header, but VAR was not interested. Tonali had won the first corner with a low driven shot that took a touch on its way out.

Micky van de Ven needed treatment (and a clean shirt) after defending a Villa corner. He was off the pitch when Villa scored in the fourth minute of added time. Kinsky and Robertson had defended a situation outside the left post, and Robertson gave the ball away when his attempt to bot the ball away became a soft pass to Kamara along the line. He had a shot blocked but then passed to Manzambi who had an easy finish for a 1-0 lead.

At half-time, Emery replaced Wan-Bissaka with Spurs nemesis Matty Cash. Kudus replaced Fernandes, who is not the only Spurs player failing to live up to his price tag.

Villa kicked off and Jackson soon saw a yellow card when he didn't like an offside decision. Jackson's pace was soon to threaten again as he chased a long ball. Kinsky cleared at his feet and needed treatment too. Jackson left Van Hecke behind before hitting a shot over from distance.

We thought Spurs had scored that elusive goal after Robertson received Tonali's pass before delivering low into the 6-yard zone where Suzuki couldn't clear and both Solanke and Kudus challenged. Kudus hit the net, but VAR decreed that Robertson had been offside.

Kudus was fouled just outside the area. Robertson took the kick and aimed for Van Hecke at the back post, but Suzuki read the situation and collected the ball. James Maddison was cheered on when he replaced Solanke. We went 2-0 down almost immediately, and it was again all too easy for Villa, who unlike Spurs often found space in dangerous areas. Manzambi delivered the pass. Jackson scored low to the right of the dive of Kinsky, just inside the post.

Tonali had a good effort go just over the corner of goal after a Spurs corner. Manzambi was replaced by 19-year-old George Hemmings. Hemmings outran our midfield too pass the ball out to McGinn on the right. The Villa captain passed across the area where Buendia scored with a dream of a shot from 25 yards.

That was game, set and match to Villa and the exodus of home fans began. Spurs got that first Premier League goal of the season in the 86th minute after Kudus cut the ball back from the right and substitute Conor Gallagher scored across the keeper. With goals in consecutive games this week he's our top scorer of the season so far!

In added time, Suzuki saved a Maddison free kick, and Van Hecke headed wide from a Robertson corner. Our second goal was the last action of the game, and it was scored by Van Hecke with a good header from Robertson's free kick.

Being a Spurs fan is all so depressing at the moment. If Fulham get a point today in their home match against Manchester United, we will be bottom of the table for this three-week International break. A trip to Old Trafford on October 10th is our next game before Monday night football in a full calendar months' time against Coventry. Even they managed a win yesterday at Nottingham Forest!

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