2 weeks Ago By Irishexaminer.com
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 4 (Johnson 49, Solanke 75, 79, Maddison 90+6) Aston Villa 1 (Rogers 32) ANGE POSTECOGLOU was full of praise for Dominic Solanke after his record signing ended a month-long goal drought to turn around what may prove to be a pivotal game in the race for a top four place. Villa had taken the lead through Morgan Rogers in the first-half, and might have fancied their chances of another smash-and-grab win in north London, having won at both Tottenham and Arsenal last season. But once Brennan Johnson equalised for Spurs early in the second half, Solanke scored twice in the space of four minutes before James Maddison scored a stoppage time free-kick to wrap up all three points.
It was the second time in as many meetings that Tottenham hve put four goals past Villa, who pipped them to fourth place last season and are knocking on the door again. But Spurs are now only two points behind them and Arsenal in fourth place, and gathering momentum after beating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. And while Solanke went goalless through October, Postecoglou has always backed the hardworking forward.
“He put in an enormous effort to help us win on Wednesday, and again it was an unbelievable effort from him today,” said his manager. “I can’t speak highly enough of what he’s contributing. He makes us a better team.
” Postecoglou was delighted to see his side match Villa physically, and then take the game beyond them with their superior football in the second half. “We had to work hard to match Villa but we have two or three more gears in us and felt we could break them open in the second half. Full credit to the players.
” It was chalk and cheese to Tottenham's limp defeat at Crystal Palace last week, when they were muscled out of a physical battle. Some supporters questioned Postecoglou's methods, but they were singing his name again at the final whistle on Wednesday and this weekend. “You don’t fall off cliffs and club mountains in the space of a week.
It’s how you cope. We had two huge games this week and won them both. Yet Villa had taken the lead, somewhat against the run of play.
The opening half-hour was cagey, both sides playing within themselves, perhaps conscious that one mistake could cost them dearly, and so it proved when Rogers scored in the 32nd minute. Villa won a corner on the right, Lucas Digne swung it in and the ball flew off two Tottenham players, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur, forcing Guglielmo Vicario into a scrambled save. The Italian keeper could only parry the ball to the lurking Rogers, who accepted his gift gratefully and volleyed home from close range.
It should have been 2-0 before half-time when Youri Tielemans sent Ollie Watkins clean through on goal, but the England striker dragged his shot horribly wide of the far post. Spurs had enjoyed the majority of possession without troubling Emi Martinez unduly in the first half. Villa had defended well for the opening 45 minutes, with two banks of four being supplemented by Rogers dropping back from the forward line once he had scored, and there was a question over whether Tottenham needed more creativity in midfield, with James Maddison sitting on the bench.
But Postecoglou kept faith with his side and was rewarded with an equaliser within five minutes of the restart. Heung Min Son, back from injury but not fully match fit, burst down the left and sent in an inviting low cross that Johnson swept in from close range at the far post. Home supporters erupted in joy and suddenly Spurs looked really up for it.
Martinez had to get down low to save a Solanke shot at full-stretch, Pape Sarr flashed a shot wide and Richarlison, replacing Son, curled a high shot wide of the far post. You could feel Tottenham's pressure building, and so it proved as Solanke scored twice in the space of four minutes. Both goals stemmed from Villa losing possession in key areas.
First, Ben Davies stepped in with a superb tackle to rob Watkins and send Sarr away. Intricate passing on the edge of the penalty area ended with the ball dropping for Solanke, who dinked a delicate finish over Martinez. Pau Torres then gave the ball away twice, the second time to Sarr, who played in Richarlison on the left.
The Brazilan crossed low and hard, being injured in the process, and Solanke tucked the ball away from close range. Unai Emery went for broke, sending on forwards Jaden Philogene and Jhon Duran hoping to find a route back in. Postecolgou sent on Maddison and Archie Gray to see the game out, with 10 added minutes mostly as a result of Martinez's extensive time-wasting.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time Maddison curled a free-kick past the Argentinian from 20 yards to complete an excellent afternoon for Tottenham. Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario 7; Porro 7, Romero 7 (Davies 61), Dragusin 7, Udogie 7 (Gray 82); Kulusevski 8, Sarr 8, Bentancur 7 (Bissouma 56); Johnson 7, Solanke 9, Son 7 (Richarlison 56 [Maddison 82) Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez 6; Cash 6 (Carlos 60), Konsa 6, Torres 5, Digne 7; McGinn 6 (Bailey 81), Onana 6, Tielemans 6 (Kamara 81), Ramsey 6; (Philogene 81) Rogers 7, Watkins 5. Referee: Craig Pawson 8/10.
