Villa fielded a very young side against a vastly experienced and very expensive Spurs team and was understandably well beaten, but showed signs of promise against the callous elders.
The side lined up as Steer in goal facing the ageless Brad Friedel. Lowton, Vlaar, Baker and Bennett played across the back.
Scylla played in front of Lowton and Bacuna took Delph’s role in front of Bennett. El Ahmadi sat in the triangle ahead of the midfielders where he squared off with Sandro.
Tonev started on the Left wing and Albrighton returned to the line-up on the right wing. Kozak spearheaded the attack, isolated.
Tonev took 2 minutes and 38 seconds to carry on where he left off from Norwich. A bad defensive slip let him in and he badly mis-hit his shot. Minutes later he brilliantly shrugged off 3 players before mis placing a pass to Albrighton.
Bacuna’s job was to compliment Tonev, by winning the ball and using his speed to get ahead of him. It seems all the new signings seem to do something well and then undo it all with something bad. The inexperience shows and hopefully we’ll start seeing more good than bad.
Baker made a brilliant interception early on. The Spurs forward ‘Arry something or other, their only youngster playing hesitated as he figured where to shoot and Baker swept it the ball off his foot.
Albrighton took advantage of Spurs expensive centre half, who was shaky again and young Marc shot as he was falling and Friedel pushed the ball aside. Three minutes later Steer made his first save showing strong hand to push out a Defoe shot. Minutes later Steer took a fraction second too long on a back pass and was closed down by the veteran England striker and his clearance almost ricochet into the net.
When Villa had the ball there were always 3 Spurs players making life impossible for the player on the ball. Closing down, shirt pulling , shoving and they knew the Villa players did not have the skills to overcome it. When Villa tried it, the stronger Spurs players would get away with the ball or con the ref into a foul. This Spurs team maybe the most skillful of the 6 teams Villa have played this season, but they were by far the dirtiest.
Lamela, being tipped to be one of the 4 top players in the Premiership showed great skill in a one two which ended with a brilliant save by Steer. Then Defoe placed a shot too soft and Steer got down smartly.
Finally, Halpe, who on another day might have been sent off for striking out at a less honourable player than Lowton who didn’t theatrically fall to the ground a la Ronaldo or Danny Mills, sent a lovely chip over the defenders and DEFOE headed past Steer who was caught in no man’s land, but not his fault.
Villa rang out the changes with Bowery replacing El Ahmadi, who incidentally finished 2nd in the league over the weekend for successful tackles and Helanius replaced Kozak who was pretty anonymous.
Service quickly returned to normal as the ref made a series of poor calls all in the away teams favour.
First Helenius won a long ball over the top only for the Spurs center half Vertonghen inexplicably pulled down the Danes shorts so he was left trying to shoot with his shorts around his calves, Lambert could not believe the ref didn’t call it!
Moments later, Bacuna went for a shoulder charge with Walker, lifted his arm, so it went shoulder to underarm. The ref gave a free kick to the annoyance of the home crowd. The kick was deflected for a corner. The corner was whipped in and PAULHINHO karate kicked the ball into the net. Lowton, who just managed to duck out of the way, was incredulous that dangerous play was not called.
Villa’s kids finally had had enough and began going in as dangerously as Spurs had. Began elbowing their opponents off the ball and pulling their shirts (not their shorts). Unbelievably, the ref never called any of these and Villa started getting advantage calls!
Albrighton was having a strong game and his crosses weren’t even going out of play. Bennett buoyed Villa with a surging run. Then Tonev hit his first scorching shot that knocked Friedel backwards. Tonev was starting to emerge. His confidence was soaring and then he was subbed.
On came young Callum Robinson. The kid hugged the left wing and showed some nice touches.
Four minutes from regulation another Spurs expensive signing CHADLI hit a rocket shot that Steer must have thought was going to be a cross. He will be disappointed that he was beaten at his near post.
Finally Scylla tried to beat two players on the halfway line and it became a 3 on 1 and DEFOE easily rounded Steer to complete his nightmare.
Some good overall performances by the kids, but they were out gunned. Scylla is going to be a heck of a player in a season or two. Helenius looks good, if you give him a skillful midfielder to play off. Albrighton might just make it back and Tonev finally showed promise. Bacuna looks like he can play any position. Steer did well, despite four goals against.