adminTottenham Hotspur suffered another disappointing result on Saturday as Aston Villa secured a 3-2 victory in a dramatic Premier League encounter.
Roberto De Zerbi made just one alteration to the side that started the goalless draw against Everton in their previous league fixture. Pedro Porro came into the starting XI, replacing Archie Gray for the meeting with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side.
However, Tottenham were unable to build on their defensive display against Everton and once again struggled to turn possession and attacking pressure into goals.
Aston Villa took the lead shortly before the interval when Johan Manzambi found the breakthrough, leaving Tottenham with plenty of work to do after the break.
The visitors then strengthened their advantage in the second half. Nicolas Jackson added another goal before Emi Buendia extended Villa’s lead, putting Spurs in a difficult position with time running out.
Tottenham did have moments when they appeared capable of getting back into the contest. Mohammed Kudus thought he had restored parity before Jackson’s goal, but the effort was eventually ruled out because of an offside during the build-up.
Conor Gallagher finally gave the home supporters something to celebrate when his late attempt took a deflection off Matty Cash and found the net.
Jan Paul van Hecke then scored another late goal as Tottenham pushed desperately for a comeback, but there was simply not enough time remaining to rescue a point.
Mateus Fernandes Struggles Again
One of the biggest disappointments for Tottenham was Mateus Fernandes, who endured another difficult afternoon in the number 10 position.
The Portuguese midfielder has struggled to reproduce the performances expected following his reported £85 million move to the club, and his latest outing did little to silence those concerns.
Fernandes was substituted at half-time by De Zerbi after failing to make a significant attacking impact during the opening 45 minutes.
According to FotMob data, he managed only 38 touches and did not register a chance created for his teammates.
Although he recorded three touches inside the opposition penalty area and completed two passes into the final third, his overall contribution in possession was limited.
Fernandes did contribute defensively, recording seven defensive actions, including a tackle, two interceptions and four recoveries.
However, his primary responsibility in the attacking midfield role is to help Tottenham create opportunities and influence the game in the final third.
If his lack of attacking production continues, De Zerbi could eventually be forced to reconsider his place in the starting XI.
Sandro Tonali Provides A Positive
While several Tottenham players struggled against Villa, Sandro Tonali emerged as one of the few standout performers.
The midfielder produced an impressive individual display despite being unable to prevent Spurs from suffering another defeat.
Tonali was heavily involved throughout the match, registering 80 touches and completing 91 per cent of his passes.
He also attempted to push Tottenham forward, completing seven passes into the final third and making 11 line-breaking passes.
His defensive contribution was equally impressive.
The Italian recorded 11 defensive actions, including six tackles, one interception and four recoveries.
Tonali was particularly dominant in ground duels, winning all seven of the challenges he contested for a 100 per cent success rate.
His performance provided one of the clearest positives for De Zerbi to take from an otherwise frustrating afternoon.
If more of Tottenham’s players can produce performances closer to Tonali’s level, there is a possibility that the team can begin turning their promising spells of play into better results.
Tottenham Player Ratings vs Aston Villa
Antonin Kinsky – 6
Pedro Porro – 5 (substituted for Archie Gray, 19′)
Jan Paul van Hecke – 5
Micky van de Ven – 6
Andy Robertson – 4
Rodrigo Bentancur – 5 (substituted for Lucas Bergvall, 84′)
Sandro Tonali – 7 (substituted for Conor Gallagher, 84′)
Mateus Fernandes – 3 (substituted for Mohammed Kudus, 45′)
Savio – 5
Omar Marmoush – 5
Dominic Solanke – 4 (substituted for James Maddison, 66′)
Substitutes
Archie Gray – 5
Mohammed Kudus – 5
James Maddison – 5
Lucas Bergvall – N/A
Conor Gallagher – 6
The defeat leaves De Zerbi with plenty to think about as Tottenham continue searching for consistency. While Tonali’s individual performance offered encouragement, the manager will need a much stronger collective display from his squad if Spurs are to turn their difficult start around.
admin
