Aston Villa Player Ratings: 3s and 4s After 2-1 Defeat to Tottenham

Aston Villa were booed off by their own supporters after slumping to a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Match Overview

Villa conceded twice in the first half, with Conor Gallagher opening the scoring with a long-range strike before Richarlison doubled Spurs' lead before the half-hour mark. Emi Buendia halved the deficit late on, heading past Antonin Kinsky, but it was too little too late for Unai Emery's side.

This defeat marks the first time Villa have lost three consecutive matches since November 2024, following previous losses to Nottingham Forest and Fulham. The team now sits six points ahead of sixth-placed Bournemouth with three league games remaining, ahead of a trip to Burnley next weekend.

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Team Changes

Unai Emery made seven changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. Only Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans, and Morgan Rogers retained their places. John McGinn was not risked due to a tight muscle.

Tottenham started brightly and should have scored inside the opening minutes when Martinez's pass to Ross Barkley was intercepted inside the box, with only timely interventions from Tielemans and Victor Lindelof preventing Richarlison from finishing. Ten minutes later, Gallagher was afforded space outside the area and fired a low shot through a crowded box into the corner to give Spurs a deserved lead.

Martinez was then forced into action again, tipping Joao Palhinha's effort onto the post before denying Randal Kolo Muani at the back post. However, Villa failed to heed the warnings. In the 24th minute, Spurs doubled their advantage when Mathys Tel's cross was headed home from close range by Richarlison.

Boos rang out around Villa Park at half-time following a dismal first-half display, though Emery opted against making any changes at the interval. Ollie Watkins was the first Villa player substituted into the game in the 60th minute, but he hardly got a kick. Buendia headed in Matty Cash's cross late on in the fifth minute of added time, but it was too little too late for Emery's side.

Player Ratings

Starting XI

Emi Martinez - 4: Gifted Tottenham an early chance by playing a poor pass inside the box. He was beaten from range by Gallagher, but did make an impressive save to tip Palhinha's effort onto the post.

Matty Cash - 4: Came up against a sharp Tel, who played well for Spurs today. Cash wasn't goal-side when Richarlison headed the Frenchman's cross in for 2-0. Assisted Buendia's goal late on.

Victor Lindelof - 4: Lindelof came back into the team and started for the eighth time this league season. He won his duels, but nobody comes out of the game with much credit.

Tyrone Mings - 4: Mings wasn't alone in having a difficult night and was jeered when he didn't play forward passes. Headed Leon Bailey's corner over the bar late on.

Ian Maatsen - 4: Maatsen didn't have much of an opportunity to get forward, which is an issue because he's not in the team for his defensive game.

Lamare Bogarde - 3: Bogarde, like his teammates, wasn't at the level required. He and Tielemans should have both been out to Gallagher to stop him from lashing in.

Youri Tielemans - 4: Tielemans made a key intervention early on, just about nipping in to stop Richarlison striking the ball cleanly from close range. Not one of his best games aside from that.

Jadon Sancho - 3: Sancho didn't threaten Spurs on the flank.

Ross Barkley - 3: Barkley made his fifth start in six league games tonight. He had a limited influence, however.

Morgan Rogers - 3: Rogers struggled to get his touch right and was frustrated by Tottenham throughout. Villa need so much more from him in these big games.

Tammy Abraham - 3: Abraham cut a frustrated figure. He lost sight of the ball when Gallagher took it down and scored under no pressure. Taken off after 60 minutes.