Jacob Steinberg’s report is up so that’s enough from me. Also, Garnacho’s done a madness at Goodison, so get yourself watching that when you can. Thanks for joining me!
The day, of course, began with the sad news that Terry Venables has passed away at the age of 80. Here’s Richard Williams on the life of the former Tottenham and England manager.
The action never stops. If you’re tired of my rambling, you can go hang out with John Brewin, who’s watching Everton against The World.
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John McGinn gets the Player of the Match award from Ollie Watkins. Both looking rather cheery, both terrific today. McGinn was delightful when turning forward on the counter, conducting the counter-attacking orchestra.
And with that result, Villa and Spurs switch places – Unai Emery’s side are now fourth, level on points with Liverpool and just two points off first-placed Arsenal.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 13 | 17 | 30 |
| 2 | Man City | 13 | 20 | 29 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 13 | 17 | 28 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 13 | 13 | 28 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 8 | 26 |
“You are certainly earning your pay today!” writes Joe Pearson. “So much end to end stuff, this match has got to be hard to keep up with. Wow!” I need a lie-down, Joe. Desperately.
FULL TIME! Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
How’s that happened? Spurs were all over Villa in that first half, taking the lead through a Lo Celso piledriver. But a Torres header levelled things up before the break, and a clinical bit of work from Watkins won the game. Spurs have now lost three on the bounce – they’re playing some wonderful football, but the honeymoon period’s over.
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90+7 min: Villa have the ball in the corner, and Porro commits a foul out of frustration.
90+5 min: Two corners come and go, and the ball finally rests safely in the hands of Emi Martinez.
90+5 min: It’s headed away for a corner.
90+4 min: The free-kick is headed away before Tielemans commits a silly foul, and Spurs now have a free-kick out on the left. Porro lines it up once again.
90+3 min: Ange is expressionless, but Spurs fight on. They’ve got another free-kick out on the right after Torres commits a foul.
90+1 min: The ball goes in… and beats everyone. Spurs have six minutes of added time to get something here. Villa make two changes, with McGinn – excellent today – and Watkins heading off. Ramsey and Duran are on.
90 min: Kulusevski is hacked down by Douglas Luiz to win a free-kick on the right. Porro’s over it, ready to whip in a cross.
88 min: Spurs continue to push and push… but Villa shirts keep popping up to play killjoy.
85 min: For the gazillionth time today, Son has the ball in the net but is offside. Porro hit the first shot, which came off the post, and Son tucked in the rebound only to see the flag go up.
84 min: Spurs overhit a couple of crosses but keep hold of the ball.
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83 min: Watkins has a yellow for reasons unknown to me, and Spurs have a corner. There’s a tussle in the middle which means it has to be retaken. Martinez holds on to the second attempt with ease.
81 min: Vicario is in action again, saving from Kamara, before a cross drops for Watkins, just a yard from goal, but Davies gets his body in the way to put off the Villa striker.
80 min: Johnson pulls off a stepover – but he can’t get the cross right as the ball sails into the crowd.
79 min: A Johnson cross is intercepted and Villa break, but Udogie pulls off a cracking back-healed clearance as the visitors try and cut through with a chipped ball.
77 min: Spurs have been scintillating at times this afternoon – but it feels like it’s not going to be their day.
75 min: They finally show a replay of those Martinez saves – one was from a one-on-one with Brennan Johnson, the other a dive to his left to keep out a fine long-distance effort from Højbjerg.
74 min: Spurs break with Kulusevski down the right, who tries to go at it by himself. He gets a shot away but Martinez resembles a brick wall at the moment.
73 min: Martinez with a terrific pair of saves! One from a shot inside the box, the next from range. Spurs have a corner, but it’s wasted by Porro.
72 min: Bryan Gil comes off for Oliver Skipp. Bailey glides and cuts in to shoot inside the box but there’s a crucial block from a white shirt in front of him.
71 min: Very nearly a third for Villa, with Watkins getting a head on it… but the ball just misses the far post.
70 min: Digne lines it up, as does Douglas Luiz, and it’s the former who takes it. It’s a top effort, but Vicario moves quickly to his left to save. Corner.
69 min: Kamara is fouled after jinking his way through the middle, and Villa have a shooting chance from a free-kick.
68 min: Davies has a free header in the middle, but it goes over the bar. Another terrific chance for Spurs.
67 min: Porro hits a volley into the ground which Martinez tips around the post. Corner.
66 min: VAR has a look at that Digne challenge, but nothing comes of it.
65 min: Johnson tries to find Kulusevski out on the right, but Digne intercepts. Kulusevski continues his duel with Digne and the Spurs forward is left rolling on the floor after a challenge from the left-back.
64 min: Son has space on the left inside the box, but his cross is cut out by Carlos.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa (Watkins 61)
Brilliant from Villa! They work it through the middle, Watkins playing a one-two with Tielemans before getting his shot off quickly and low to the keeper’s right to beat Vicario. Spurs, somehow, trail at home, having dominated much of this game.
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61 min: Unai Emery is clapping away, presumably happier about how his side are now looking, particularly when on the counter.
59 min: Son puts the ball in the back of the net after Johnson squares it low across goal, but both players are offside.
57 min: McGinn drives through the middle and plays in Watkins, but the striker stumbles in the box at the most important moment.
55 min: It’s counter attack versus counter attack at the moment – Bailey is causing problems for Spurs, Son the same for Villa.
54 min: Villa have a corner but Spurs break quickly through Kulusevski, and a neat one-two with Son results in a dangerous ball across the goal… but Brennan Johnson can’t get a foot on it.
52 min: McGinn plays a wonderful cross-field ball for Bailey on the right… he cuts in to shoot… and Vicario tips it onto the post.
51 min: The ball breaks for Bryan in the box, but he loses time by trying to turn and get it onto his left foot, and Villa are able to halt the threat.
49 min: Porro is over it, and he whips in a dangerous ball that Martinez punches away. Lo Celso drives the ball back into the mix and wins a corner. Another corner follows, and it’s played short before Kulusevski crosses in – Son heads over.
48 min: Emerson dances through the middle before Spurs win a free-kick out on the right wing.
46 min: Spurs kick off and Bryan jinks down the left but can’t get a cross into the middle.
Villa may be level but they need to change things up. Cash and Diaby are off; on come Tielemans and Bailey. Spurs are unchanged.
“In addition to seeing Matty Cash as a right winger and a sluggish Villa side being swamped, the most shocking thing for this Villa fan was the stat about Spurs only having had 7 shots in total in the first half,” writes Francis Lee. “It’s felt more like 27. Frankly I would’ve been relieved to be just 1-nil down at the break.”
That’s surprised me, too – it felt like that Villa goal was getting peppered at times, but maybe Spurs have tried to be a bit too intricate? Maybe that’s a touch harsh from me.
News from elsewhere:
Matthew Carpenter-Arévalo writes: “As a spurs fan, last week I was lamenting our lack of depth. Though there is still much to play in this game, I can’t help but be encouraged by the performance of players love Lo Celso and Gol. Betancur will be back, and we already know he’s class.”
HALF TIME: Tottenham 1-1 Aston Villa
Spurs have been all over Villa with their high-octane, manic, delightful football. But one big kick into the box was met with a meaty header and, just like that, it’s 1-1. It’s been a thoroughly entertaining first half, and Villa are now very much in the game. Spurs are just lacking a slight clinical touch at the moment – they really should have scored more than one in the first 45. To compound their relative misery, they’ve lost another player to injury – Rodrigo Bentancur hobbled off midway through the half.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Aston Villa (Torres 45+7)
No way! Douglas Luiz plays a wonderful free-kick in from the right and Pau Torres gets in front of Ben Davies to head past Vicario. Unai Emery is lovin’ it, pumped up that his boys are level when they should be completely out of it. There’s a VAR check but the goal stands.
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45+6 min: Ooooh, Bryan is forced to dribble back and nearly underplays his backpass to Vicario, and the keeper just about gets there ahead of the claret shirt in front of him.
45+5 min: Porro gets away with one, losing the ball centrally just outside his box, but Villa can’t take proper advantage of it.
45+3 min: Porro’s up on his feet, and play resumes.
45 min: Porro goes down after trying to challenge Kamara – it initially looked like Porro was going to cause some damage, but it’s the Spurs man who needs a bit of treatment. Six minutes of added time here.
43 min: Nothing comes from the corner and Spurs attack once again, skipping down the left with some delightful quick passes. Son finds himself through on goal and he curls one into the net… but turns out he was offside earlier in the piece.
42 min: Digne tries to whip a ball in from the left but it’s blocked out for a Villa corner.
40 min: McGinn grabs a hold of Højbjerg’s leg and Cash commits a foul of his own. McGinn gets a yellow and Cash is living dangerously, having already been booked.
39 min: Porro wins the ball and switches to Brennan Johnson on the right, who glides into the box and plays in Bryan, who tries to be a bit too cute, aiming to lay-off a shot for Kulusevski. Kamara snuffs out the danger.
38 min: Lo Celso breaks away through the middle but is tripped up by Kamara, who is punished with a yellow card.
36 min: Thoroughly enjoying watching Bryan on the ball – he’s looking very classy on that left-hand side.
35 min: Kulusevski does brilliantly to cut in from the left for a shot, and he curls it just wide, aiming for that top left corner.
33 min: Davies sends the ball long and Bryan tries to hassle Konsa, but Villa deal with it well enough.
32 min: Højbjerg replaces Bentancur – that’s really gutting for a player whose just come back from a layoff.
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30 min: Ah no, Bentancur is definitely not OK. He’s hobbling about and he’s probably going to have to go off here.
28 min: Bentancur, who is returning from an ACL injury, looks in quite a bit of pain. The lengthy Spurs injury list pops up on Sky as a reminder of their troubles. Bentancur is OK to resume.
27 min: A yellow card for Matty Cash, who scythes down Bentancur.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa
Oops. Villa respond by driving forward through Digne on the left and he crosses for Watkins to head in… but we’re going to have a VAR check. At first glance, he looks offside, just marginally, with Watkins tight alongside Emerson. This is taking quite a bit of time… and finally the call comes through: offside.
Updated
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa (Lo Celso 22)
What a hit! The corner comes in, no one gets anything on it and it drops for Lo Celso on the edge of the box – he puts his left foot through it with some venom, and it’s helped in on the way by a deflection. Spurs fully deserve the lead.
Updated
22 min: Nothing dangerous from the corner, but they’ve got another one after Ben Davies’ cross is cleared.
20 min: Bryan and Udogie are building out some chemistry on the left for Spurs, the former hogging the touchline. Bryan whips a wonderful cross in and Son, somehow, doesn’t get his head on it after leaping. It goes out for a corner after a Villa clearance.
Updated
19 min: Porro is springing some delightful balls, playing as this side’s quarter-back at the moment.
16 min: Villa are under siege at the moment, though Spurs’ momentum is brought to a brief halt by a foul throw from Udogie. C’mon mate.
15 min: Bentancur glides through the middle, plays a one-two with Son, and then threads through a pass to Kulusevski, whose shot is saved by Martinez. The forward was offside, though. Still some marvelous play, that.
13 min: What a miss! Porro hits a wonderful ball to play in Johnson on the right, who squares it for Son, but he’s off balance and blasts it over the bar. Turns out Johnson was offside anyway.
12 min: Udogie makes another adventurous run through the middle, but can’t get on the end of a through ball.
11 min: McGinn tries to thread through a ball to Watkins, which causes Emerson some trouble, but it’s a touch too heavy.
9 min: Bryan hauls down Konsa – Villa get a free-kick deep in their own half.
7 min: This is already a back-and-forth operation. Bryan shoots from the left, the shot saved by Martinez before Porro heads over the rebound. Spurs are looking particularly electric, those full-backs bombing through the middle.
5 min: Villa have a free-kick out on the left, and Pau Torres has a free header in the middle… but it’s wide! It was a top ball from Digne, and that really should’ve been on target.
3 min: Huge chance! Destiny Udogie finds himself through on goal after a ball over the top, but he doesn’t show much composure, blasting over. And then Kulusevski finds himself one-on-one, and he’s got to score… but he smashes the post! Spurs causing early chaos.
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1 min: Villa move up the left wing, and McGinn gets a cross in – but Spurs get away with it.
After a minute’s applause for Terry Venables, it’s Villa who kick off. Let’s play!
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The players are heading out of the tunnel. Get your cup of tea sorted quick.
“Anyone who I’ve ever come across who has worked with him will say he is by far the best coach, manager, tactician they’ve come across.” Ange Postecoglou pays tribute to Terry Venables.
More tributes from players who represented England under Venables.
Dear Terry, you’ll be sadly missed, you told me I was your England Number one and I’ll never ever forget that, you were by far the best England manager and the nation will always remember the way you managed us at Euro ‘96 - great man, great loss💔 #terryvenables
— David Seaman MBE ~ SafeHands (@thedavidseaman) November 26, 2023
RIP Terry Venables 🙏🏻
— Robbie Fowler (@Robbie9Fowler) November 26, 2023
Thank you for giving me my first cap gaffer. pic.twitter.com/mXaamfcyYK
Have a look at this!
A 15-year-old Pep Guardiola in awe of Terry Venables after Barça's victory over IFK Göteborg in the 1985/86 European Cup semi-final. pic.twitter.com/XvIkkRIvjt
— Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) November 26, 2023
Some wonderful pics in here:
So Eric Dier is left on the bench for Spurs. It’s full-back mania in defence for the hosts. There’s an entirely new midfield from the one that started against Wolves too, with starts for Gil, Lo Celso and Bentancur.
Villa make one change from the side that won at Fulham earlier this month, with Diego Carlos in for Youri Tielemans. Funky.
Team news
Tottenham: Guglielmo Vicario, Emerson Royal, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson, Rodrigo Bentancur, Heung-Min Son
Subs: Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin, Eric Dier, Alfie Dorrington, Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Alejo Véliz, Jamie Donley
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Matty Cash, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby
Subs: Robin Olsen, Álex Moreno, Clément Lenglet, Youri Tielemans, Leon Bailey, Leander Dendoncker, Jacob Ramsey, Tim Iroegbunam, Jhon Durán
Condolences from teams Venables played for and managed:
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Terry Venables at the age of 80.
— England (@England) November 26, 2023
Having won two senior caps as a player, Terry went onto manage the #ThreeLions between 1994 and 1996 - proudly leading us to the semi-finals of Euro 96.
Our thoughts and condolences are with… pic.twitter.com/e1zzUpCZCn
We are deeply saddened by the passing of former QPR player and manager Terry Venables.
— QPR FC (@QPR) November 26, 2023
All our thoughts are with his loved ones at this incredibly sad time.
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/dmitJabeOn
Everyone at Chelsea Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Blue, Terry Venables, aged 80.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 26, 2023
The thoughts and condolences of everyone at the Club are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Terry. 💙 pic.twitter.com/Kk23R0TFF2
FC Barcelona deeply regrets the passing of Terry Venables, who managed Barça from 1984 to 1987. Our condolences to his loved ones. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/3zD3o6T0ve
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 26, 2023
The Club is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player and manager Terry Venables.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 26, 2023
Our deepest condolences are with Terry’s friends and family at this incredibly difficult time. In tribute, we shall hold a minute’s applause prior to kick-off and our players will… pic.twitter.com/ot67eolKJl
🤍 Everyone at #LUFC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former manager Terry Venables. Our thoughts and condolences are with Terry's family and friends at this incredibly sad time. Rest in peace, Terry pic.twitter.com/rYnaVl5g6r
— Leeds United (@LUFC) November 26, 2023
Gary Neville, another to play under Venables at Euro 96, writes: “So sorry to hear the news of my very first England coach, Terry Venables. A man who gave me a chance to play for my country and became without a shadow of doubt my number one England coach in my whole career.
“I sit here today thinking back to my special times with Terry and can say he is without doubt the most technically gifted British coach we’ve ever produced.”
So sorry to hear the news of my very first England coach, Terry Venables. A man who gave me a chance to play for my country and became without a shadow of doubt my number one England coach in my whole career.
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) November 26, 2023
There were three things that were important to me about Venables. The… pic.twitter.com/J7QWMcOvmp
Gary Lineker, who played under Venables at Barcelona and Tottenham, pays tribute to his former manager. “The best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for,” writes Lineker. “He was vibrant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend.”
Alan Shearer, who led the line for England at Euro 96, writes: “RIP Boss. I owe you so much. You were amazing.”
Devastated to hear that Terry Venables has died. The best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for. He was much more, though, than just a great manager, he was vibrant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend. He’ll be hugely missed.…
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 26, 2023
Extremely sad news the great Terry Venables has passed away. RIP Boss. I owe you so much. You were amazing. 🙏🏻🥲 🏴 ❤️
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) November 26, 2023
Preamble
We begin today’s coverage with sad news. Terry Venables, who played for and managed Tottenham, has died at the age of 80. He won the FA Cup twice with the club, taking to the field in 1967 against Chelsea and running the show from the touchline against Nottingham Forest in 1991.
Today’s fixture was billed as a thriller between fourth and fifth; now it becomes a poignant affair. Black armbands will be worn and a minute’s applause will precede kick-off to remember a significant figure in the English game – after managing Spurs, Venables went on to take the England job, helming that famous run to the semis at Euro 96. He also won two caps as a player.
I’ll be here to take you through coverage of today – feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts, queries and tributes.
