Tottenham vs Aston Villa LIVE
The FA Cup dream ended at the first hurdle for Thomas Frank’s Spurs, who were defeated 2-1 by Unai Emery’s high-flying Villans in a tense third-round clash in north London on Saturday. For Tottenham - stuck firmly in the bottom half of the league table and with Champions League glory merely a pipedream - a home tie in this competition presented a final, semi-realistic chance at silverware in Frank’s tumultuous debut campaign, but no longer.
Each manager made changes, some enforced through injury or suspension, but the XIs named by both were of the expected calibre for an all-Premier League battle. Villa, on a blistering run of form under Emery, were 2-0 up by half-time thanks to Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers before a Wilson Odobert goal early in the second period shifted the momentum for a spell. Spurs failed to take full advantage of that pressure and their home crowd, though, and ultimately were fortunate to keep the deficit to one when Pedro Porro made a goal-line clearance to prevent Buendia putting the game to bed.
Villa lost Boubacar Kamara to a first-half injury and Richarlison suffered the same fate for the hosts, who at least were able to welcome Dominic Solanke back to their bench. But it was the visitors, semi-finalists in this cup last season, who emerged from this fiery encounter with a ticket to the fourth round while for Spurs, a bad season just keeps getting worse. Relive all the action from this FA Cup third round clash in Standard Sport’s dedicated live blog below, featuring expert analysis and insight from Tottenham correspondent Sam Tabuteau at the ground.
Tottenham vs Aston Villa latest updates
- GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa: Odobert pulls one back | 54
- GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa: Rogers doubles Villa's lead | 45+3
- GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa: Buendia smashes in opener | '22
- Kick-off: 5.45pm GMT | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Tottenham team news: Solanke and Udogie back in squad, Romero suspended
- Aston Villa team news: Martinez and Onana out, Malen up top
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:43 , Alex DakersA massive scuffle here at the full-time whistle.
Tensions have boiled over again for Spurs and they are out of the FA Cup. Frank is ashen faced, he is not getting involved.
FT: Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:43 , Alex DakersAnd the full-time whistle goes!
Aston Villa advance to the FA Cup fourth-round as a brawl breaks out between the players near Spurs’ goal, tensions boiling over in the struggling home squad.
Tottenham are out, and Thomas Frank’s problems continue.
Report, ratings and reaction to come!
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:42 , Alex Dakers95mins: Spurs fling the ball into Villa’s box repeatedly but we’ve played well past our allotted time.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:40 , Alex DakersSpurs' FA Cup hopes are petering out here. Villa have won the physical battle and are playing with time now.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:40 , Alex Dakers90+3mins: Watkins has another effort following the corner, but Vicario gathers the ball.
It’s looking like Villa are going to hold on here.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:39 , Alex Dakers90+2mins: Watkins has a chance to put the game to bed but Palhinha gets back to concede a corner instead.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:37 , Alex Dakers90mins: It’s gotten rather scrappy, this game, in the last 10-15 minutes.
We’ll play for another four, after Solanke fouls Torres in Villa’s penalty area.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:35 , Alex Dakers88mins: The referee pulls Villa back for a foul earlier in the move instead of playing advantage, despite the visitors progressing towards goal.
An interesting call.
Spurs sub Scarlett is booked after arriving late on Tielemans.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:32 , Alex Dakers85mins: Joao Palhinha is booked for what, on second glance, looked to be a crunching but clean tackle on Morgan Rogers.
The Villa star was grimacing afterwards but Spurs’ players and Thomas Frank were incensed that a foul was even given.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:34 , Alex Dakers83mins: Indeed, Solanke comes on alongside Djed Spence, for goal-scorer Wilson Odobert and Pedro Porro.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:30 , Alex DakersHere comes Dom Solanke. What a moment it would be if he could find the goal Spurs need. It has been a wretched spell on the sidelines for the England striker.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:28 , Alex Dakers82mins: Here comes Dominic Solanke!
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:28 , Alex Dakers81mins: A yellow card for Villa sub Garcia now, as several of the visitors’ players combine to bring down Xavi Simons.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:31 , Alex DakersSpurs think they are level, but the offside flag denies Simons. You did not need VAR to see that one. As you were.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:26 , Alex Dakers79mins: Xavi Simons rounds Marco Bizot and the flag is up for offside long before he puts the ball in the back of the net, but he does so anyway.
Pedro Porro is booked for dissent in the aftermath of that call.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:25 , Alex Dakers78mins: Starting with the visitors, Lucas Digne and Andres Garcia are coming on. Ian Maatsen and Matty Cash make way - two full-back changes.
For Spurs, Mathys Tel is coming off for Dane Scarlett.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:24 , Alex Dakers77mins: Spurs changes incoming, and some more for Villa as well.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:23 , Alex Dakers76mins: Tielemans has a shot from the edge of the area blocked and Xavi Simons tries to chase the out-ball, but Marco Bizot rushes out to claim possession back.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:22 , Alex Dakers75mins: Van de Ven gets across to make a fine block now.
Ebbing and flowing, this game.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:20 , Alex DakersSpurs survive as Porro clears off the line. For all their dominance, they have not pulled level yet and Villa will sense their opportunities on the break.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:19 , Alex Dakers73mins: OFF THE LINE!
Now, Pedro Porro stops Buendia’s shot from finding the back of the net.
The Villa man squeezed the ball past Vicario, but the Spurs full-back is in just the right place.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:18 , Alex Dakers71mins: At the other end, Torres concedes a corner by blocking a goalbound Joao Palhinha shot.
The ball finds its way to the far post but Bizot punches it clear and eventually play halts with a free-kick to Villa, against Danso, who was a little too eager to chase down a loose ball and bundles wee Emi Buendia over in the process.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:17 , Alex Dakers70mins: Morgan Rogers wins Villa a free-kick up on the right wing, but Pau Torres puts his header off target.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:15 , Alex Dakers68mins: Villa are scrambling at the back as Odobert, Tel and Kolo Muani threaten the visiting defence once again, forcing Matty Cash to boot the ball out of the penalty box and out of play for a throw-in.
A minute before, Emi Buendia was booked for a foul on Archie Gray.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:14 , Alex DakersEverything is coming through Xavi Simons right now. He is fighting for every ball and making things happen in the final third.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:13 , Alex Dakers66mins: Villa have a moment to breathe as Xavi Simons is penalised for a slightly dubious foul.
The Spurs playmaker looked to be in possession of the ball but did lash out his leg a little to try to keep it and may have caught Emi Buendia in the process.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:12 , Alex Dakers65mins: Mathys Tel twists and turns before his eventual shot is blocked, and Villa just about manage to force Spurs back before losing possession once more.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:12 , Alex Dakers64mins: Off goes Villa captain John McGinn, as well as Donyell Malen.
On come Jadon Sancho and Ollie Watkins.
Like for like changes positionally, Unai Emery going for a third goal to re-establish his side’s more comfortable advantage.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:10 , Alex Dakers64mins: The delivery goes to the back post but there’s too much on it for Kevin Danso and it goes out for a goalkick.
Now, for the subs...
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:10 , Alex Dakers63mins: A Spurs long-throw wins the hosts a corner.
Buendia, Malen and McGinn stay very high for Villa.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:09 , Alex DakersHere come the cavalry for Villa. They have lost control of this game
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:09 , Alex Dakers62mins: Villa manage to get out of their own half for a sustained period after what feels like an age, and Malen tests Vicario with a shot to the bottom left corner than the Spurs ‘keeper saves without too much trouble.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:07 , Alex Dakers60mins: Unai Emery will probably be thinking about making some changes soon.
It looks like Jadon Sancho will be introduced.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:06 , Alex DakersEven the home support are back on side. The atmosphere was so flat in the first half, now with something to get behind, Spurs' supporters have responded in kind.
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:05 , Alex Dakers58mins: As Sam says, that goal was followed by a frantic flurry of Spurs chances.
The hosts remain a goal down, but there’s plenty more energy surging through the home crowd now.
Sam Tabuteau reports
19:02 , Alex DakersMuch better from Tottenham as they pull a goal back through Wilson Odobert.
Simons then nearly draws the hosts level. The game has turned on its head!
GOAL! Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa
19:01 , Alex Dakers54mins: Hello, Spurs are back in this thanks to Wilson Odobert!
Kolo Muani wins possession in Villa’s half, charges forward and lays it off to his right for his countryman to finish the move off emphatically.
Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
19:00 , Alex Dakers53mins: Porro shoots but it’s blocked, but the ball falls to Xavi Simons who lets fly and forces Marco Bizot to parry it out for a corner.
That’s played short, but ultimately comes to nothing for Spurs.
Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
18:58 , Alex Dakers50mins: Vicario charges out of his box to clear the incoming ball and finds Buendia instead, with the Villa goal-scorer shooting wide of the mark this time from some way out.
Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
18:55 , Alex Dakers48mins: Unai Emery was late returning from the depths of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the start of this second half, but he’s back on the touchline now.
Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
18:54 , Alex Dakers47mins: No further alterations at the start of this second half.
A reminder that Youri Tielemans replaced Boubacar Kamara very early on, and Richarlison went off for Randal Kolo Muani around the half-hour mark.
Back underway!
18:53 , Alex DakersTottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
If Spurs can’t find a way back into this, they’re out of the FA Cup.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:38 , Alex DakersDeafening boos at half-time, Spurs have been abject.
Two goals down, and in truth it could have been more, given Villa's dominance. Thomas Frank's side have shown nothing going forward and do not look like turning this around.
HT: Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
18:37 , Alex DakersAston Villa comfortably on top at the interval.
Tottenham are in trouble.
Back shortly!
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:35 , Alex DakersIt is no less than Villa deserve and to be honest Spurs can have no complaints either.
They have been nowhere near good enough. More good work from Malen, a nice flick from Buendia and an assured finish from Rogers. Sacked in the morning come the cries from the away end.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
18:34 , Alex Dakers45+3mins: There’s no such mistake made this time, though, as Morgan Rogers doubles Aston Villa’s lead!
The visitors win it back high up and there’s some lovely link-up play between Buendia, Malen and Rogers. Malen plays it across the box from the right, Buendia backheels it and Rogers curls it into the bottom left corner.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:33 , Alex Dakers45+2mins: A few chances for Villa to shoot after Morgan Rogers cuts it back from the right, and John McGinn eventually gets the ball out from under him, but the skipper’s scooped effort is caught easily by Vicario.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:32 , Alex Dakers45mins: Five minutes added on at the end of this first half, largely thanks to those Kamara and Richarlison injuries.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:31 , Alex Dakers45mins: Danso charges forward to the back post to hit a delivery from Tel into a dangerous area, but he gets just one touch with it and shoots wide of the post.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:29 , Alex DakersOffside flag went early, but that is much better from Spurs and much better from Xavi Simons. He has the ability to take the ball and make things happen when he wants to.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:29 , Alex Dakers42mins: Kolo Muani has the ball in the back of the net, deftly chipping Marco Bizot following a lovely Xavi Simons through ball to cap a great surge forward, but the Spurs forward was indeed offside as the linesman says.
No VAR, but it was fairly easy to tell with that one.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:27 , Alex Dakers41mins: That Spurs corner was met by Danso after a decent leap from the centre-back, but he’s not quite high enough to direct his header on target and the ball goes over.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:26 , Alex DakersNothing in the form of a reaction from Spurs so far. They took an age to adjust to going behind against Bournemouth and once more are struggling to react well to adversity.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:26 , Alex Dakers40mins: A first Spurs corner of the game, now - finally!
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:25 , Alex Dakers39mins: Danso heads it away from the edge of the six-yard box, but lose it in Villa’s half once again.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:25 , Alex Dakers39mins: More great forward play from Youri Tielemans results in another Villa corner as the ball goes out off Archie Gray.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:23 , Alex Dakers36mins: The vast majority of possession has held by Aston Villa in the last five minutes or so.
Spurs struggling to find a foothold in this game as we approach half-time. Will it be another home defeat for Thomas Frank’s men?
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:20 , Alex Dakers34mins: Villa go short with corner number four, but have no more luck than the first three as Spurs make a series of blocks and clearances.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:18 , Alex Dakers'He is an Arsenal fan, Thomas Frank' rings around the stadium.
The Villa fans are loving this and well Frank, who admitted last week he is not enjoying the job, will not know where to turn right now.
His team have shown very little and find themselves behind.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:17 , Alex Dakers31mins: Richarlison stays off, so here comes Randal Kolo Muani.
The Frenchman will lead the line for the hosts now.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:15 , Alex Dakers29mins: Frank giving instructions to his players as Richarlison receives treatment.
The Brazilian is walking off beside Spurs’ physios.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:15 , Alex DakersThomas Frank does not need this, he really doesn't.
Richarlison is down with what looks like a hamstring injury. He pulled up under no pressure.
Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:14 , Alex Dakers27mins: Archie Gray tries to find Richarlison with a lofted through ball, but Ezri Konsa recovers it.
In the process of trying to reach that, the Spurs man looks like he might have pulled his hamstring...
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:09 , Alex DakersWhat a lovely goal that is from Aston Villa.
Neat play through the lines before Malen find Buendia, who fires high into the net. Great goal but Spurs have to be tighter, they let Villa play at their own pace there.
GOAL! Tottenham 0-1 Aston Villa
18:08 , Alex Dakers22mins: Emi Buendia smashes in the opener!
Aston Villa string a few quick forward passes together, Tielemans to McGinn to Malen, the Dutchman turning to his left to find Buendia on the edge of the area and the wee playmaker unleashes a belter of a shot to beat Vicario at his near post, the ball rifling into the top left corner.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
18:07 , Alex Dakers21mins: It’s a deep delivery from the Scot, towards Pau Torres, but Micky Van de Ven heads it clear. Then there’s a handball against Villa and Spurs quickly get it out of their half before losing possession.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
18:06 , Alex Dakers20mins: Villa have another corner now, John McGinn to take.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
18:04 , Alex Dakers17mins: Ben Davies makes a good run towards the left byline and tries to cut the ball back into the box, but Ezri Konsa puts it out of danger.
Sam Tabuteau reports
18:02 , Alex DakersMicky van de Ven getting serenaded by the home fans. How things can change in football.
It was only on Wednesday that he confronted the away end after Spurs' stoppage-time defeat to Bournemouth.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
18:00 , Alex Dakers13mins: That set-piece comes to nothing and Spurs try to break, but can’t get enough men forward.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:58 , Alex Dakers12mins: First corner of the game, indeed, goes Villa’s way. Matty Cash to take.
Sam Tabuteau reports
17:58 , Alex DakersIt has been all Villa so far.
Tottenham have hardly had a touch and all the noise is coming from the away end. Nervous atmosphere inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:57 , Alex Dakers10mins: Quick feet from Donyell Malen to work the ball back into a central area from the left and unleash a shot from distance, which sails over the crossbar.
Villa have scored their fair share from long range this season, though, something Spurs will be very aware of.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:55 , Alex Dakers9mins: Tielemans comes on for Villa as the ball finally goes out of play again.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:53 , Alex Dakers7mins: Kamara missed eight months in 2024 with a knee injury. He’s being helped off the pitch by Villa’s physios now.
Hopefully that’s not another serious issue for the French midfielder, who goes straight down the tunnel.
Sam Tabuteau reports
17:52 , Alex DakersIt has been a feisty start to the game, a couple niggling fouls, and it looks like Boubacar Kamara is already going to make way for Villa.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:51 , Alex Dakers5mins: ... or perhaps it does not. A far from ideal start for Villa and Kamara, who looks to be in some discomfort here.
Youri Tielemans has been sent to get ready quickly.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:51 , Alex Dakers4mins: Then it’s Simons’ turn to give away a foul, as Spurs’ summer signing catches Matty Cash late.
A minute later, Boubacar Kamara clashes with Joao Palhinha and is holding the back of his knee a little - but it looks like he will carry on...
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:49 , Alex Dakers2mins: Xavi Simons hit the turf awkwardly after going for a header but it looks like he’s fine to play on.
Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
17:49 , Alex Dakers1min: Morgan Rogers tests Tottenham’s backline already but Donyell Malen can’t quite make the most of the through ball.
Sam Tabuteau reports
17:47 , Alex DakersAn immaculate minute's applause to remember Martin Chivers and Terry Yorath, there.
KICK-OFF!
17:46 , Alex Dakers1min: We're underway in this FA Cup third-round clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, following a minute’s applause for Spurs greats Martin Chivers and Terry Yorath who both sadly passed away this week.
Players emerge from the tunnel
17:41 , Alex DakersHere they come!
10 minutes to go!
17:36 , Alex DakersVilla’s 2-1 victory over Spurs last season, with Morgan Rogers scoring the winner, saw Emery’s team make it past the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since they reached the final of the competition back in 2015 and were beaten by Arsenal.
Will they manage a similar result against the Lilywhites to get out of the third round today?
We’ll soon find out - kick-off is 10 minutes away!
In the meantime, have a read of our match report from the last FA Cup meeting between these two.
Emery: Villa 'ready' to get going again in FA Cup
17:31 , Alex Dakers“We are ready” said Unai Emery at the beginning of his pre-match comments, thanking Aston Villa’s 9,000-odd travelling fans for making the trip to the capital today.
The Villa boss said his team is “excited” for this match, as they look to begin this year’s FA Cup campaign strongly after the previous one ended in a semi-final defeat by eventual winners Crystal Palace.
Warm-ups in progress
17:27 , Alex DakersThomas Frank has said it’s “very big” to have Dominic Solanke back in and around the first-team squad after months on the sidelines with that ankle injury.
The England striker is out warming up with his teammates, including fellow comeback-maker Destiny Udogie.
Sam Tabuteau reports
17:20 , Alex DakersReminder that there will be no VAR tonight.
Remains to be seen whether that will count in Spurs' favour or not...
Countdown to kick-off
17:15 , Alex DakersHalf an hour until we get underway in this FA Cup third-round clash between Tottenham and Aston Villa!
Stick with us for all the latest updates.
Sam Tabuteau reports - team news reaction
17:12 , Alex DakersOur man at the ground, Sam Tabuteau, has discussed that team news live from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
🗣️ "Every game is a massive game for Spurs."@tabuteauS discusses the team news from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which includes a few eye-catching names.
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) January 10, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/vAJ9sukJ7N#THFC | #TOTAVL | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/qgiSqDxJjx
Spurs gets huge boost as injured striker makes shock return for FA Cup clash
17:06 , Alex DakersTottenham have been handed a huge injury boost as Dominic Solanke made a shock return to the matchday squad to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup.
The striker has not appeared for Tottenham since the second week of the Premier League season.
He suffered an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly against Reading which was initially thought to be minor, but has now kept him sidelined for nearly five months after he underwent ‘minor’ surgery in September.
He was not expected to be involved against Aston Villa, but a video posted to Tottenham’s social media channels showed him arriving with the matchday squad.
He was then confirmed to be on the bench for the match, with Richarlison getting the nod at centre-forward.
Solanke’s return to fitness will hopefully have a galvanising effect on Tottenham’s campaign. The mood around the club and its supporters is growing toxic amid poor results, and Frank has routinely cited injuries to Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski as contributing to subpar form.
For more on Solanke’s surprise return, click here.
Aston Villa confirmed team news in full
17:02 , Alex DakersCentre-back pair Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are back in the squad and the starting line-up, respectively, today after spells on the sidelines through injury.
Donyell Malen comes in up top for Ollie Watkins, who has rediscovered his goal-scoring form recently, while Lamare Bogarde and Marco Bizot step in for the injured Amadou Onana and Emi Martinez.
Emi Buendia gets a run-out after coming off the bench during the week, while Youri Tielemans is handed a rest.
Aston Villa XI: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Kamara; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Malen
Subs: Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Tielemans, Watkins, Digne, Garcia, Sancho, Hemmings
Tottenham confirmed team news in full
16:52 , Alex DakersTottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Davies; Palhinha, Gray; Odobert, Xavi, Tel; Richarlison
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Udogie, Solanke, Spence, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Byfield, Williams-Barnett
Sam Tabuteau reports
16:49 , Alex DakersThere we have it. Solanke and Udogie are both named in the matchday squad.
Five changes in total from the Bournemouth defeat as Ben Davies comes back in at left-back for his second start of the season and second start in less than a week.
The exciting Luca Williams-Barnett is on the bench as well.
Aston Villa starting line-up and subs
16:46 , Alex DakersAnd a pretty strong side from Villa, too:
Today's starting XI to face Spurs 🫡 pic.twitter.com/VxvvPGdKyB
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 10, 2026
Tottenham starting line-up and subs
16:45 , Alex DakersThey’re back!
Your Spurs side in the @EmiratesFACup 🤍
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 10, 2026
🔢 @krakenfx pic.twitter.com/jXB7PzsAPO
Pressure builds on Thomas Frank as fan group slams 'dramatic fall in ambition'
16:42 , Alex DakersThe mood is good at Villa Park, but less so in north London, the venue for today’s match.
Yet more pressure is building on Tottenham and its hierarchy after a supporters’ group hit out at a perceived “dramatic fall in ambition” in a new statement.
The good feeling about the club which came with May’s Europa League triumph quickly dissipated with the sacking of Ange Postecoglou, and the mood has only grown more sour amid the side’s struggles under Thomas Frank, under whose leadership Spurs sit 14th in the Premier League.
Thomas Frank’s frayed relationship with fans has been made manifest in a chorus of boos after several recent matches, and THST has now held talks with the club’s representatives to make their feelings clear.
In a statement released Friday evening, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust highlighted poor results, Frank’s pessimistic attitude in press conferences and the club’s inaction in the transfer window as particular points of concern and called for improved communications between the club and its fans.
Click here to read the statement in full.
Sam Tabuteau reports
16:38 , Alex DakersLooks as though Dominic Solanke could be in the squad this evening. The Tottenham striker has been out since August with a recurring ankle injury.
Destiny Udogie has also hinted at a return to the matchday squad on Instagram.
(Full of surprises, Thomas Frank is!)
Team line-ups imminent: Solanke back?
16:37 , Alex DakersWe should have confirmed team news from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to share with you all in the next few minutes.
For now, there are rumours that Dominic Solanke is back in the matchday squad for Spurs following a lengthy injury lay-off.
He has arrived with his teammates at the ground, kitted out in a club tracksuit:
Arrived and ready for the @EmiratesFACup 💪 pic.twitter.com/SL5T8FSxjQ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 10, 2026
Villa predicted line-up
16:29 , Alex DakersIn the injury-enforced absence of Emi Martinez, Marco Bizot will step in between the posts for Aston Villa.
Andres Garcia could deputise at right-back for Matty Cash, and the impressive Victor Lindelof - a great deadline day pick-up as a free agent - could do the same to allow Ezri Konsa a breather.
Pau Torres may partner Lindelof in the backline having returned to the bench during Villa’s midweek stalemate at Crystal Palace, and Unai Emery has two quality left-backs to choose from in Ian Maatsen and Lucas Digne.
Amadou Onana is injured but Villa have plenty of midfield options, and today it will likely be two of Boubacar Kamara, Lamare Bogarde, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn.
Donyell Malen may step in to lead the line and give Ollie Watkins a day off, but energiser bunny Morgan Rogers - hardly ever rested by Emery - could retain his starting spot.
Predicted Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Garcia, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Kamara; Sancho, Buendia, Rogers; Malen
Injured: Martinez, Onana, Barkley
Doubts: Mings
Unavailable: Guessand (AFCON)
Spurs predicted line-up
16:19 , Alex DakersWe’ll have confirmed team news for you all very shortly, but we’re expecting Thomas Frank to name as close to a full-strength team as possible today.
Cristian Romero will play no part for Tottenham today, though, and neither will the injured Mohammed Kudus, while there’s a decent chance Lucas Bergvall misses out alongside Rodrigo Bentancur.
Spurs captain Romero was on Friday handed a one-match suspension and fined £50,000 after admitting a Football Association (FA) charge that followed his reaction to a late sending off in the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool last month.
Kevin Danso will now be expected to partner Micky van de Ven at centre-back against Villa, with Radu Dragusin in reserve.
With Bentancur and likely Bergvall sidelined, Frank has yet more decisions to make in midfield.
Joao Palhinha came back into the starting lineup against Bournemouth and scored a sensational overhead kick to level the score in the second half.
He could be rewarded with another start against Villa, while Archie Gray could be brought back in after starting on the bench in midweek.
Frank switched up his attack against Andoni Iraola’s side, starting Randal Kolo Muani as the central striker.
The Frenchman was, however, ineffectual given the chance to impress in his favoured position and could make way for Richarlison, who nearly scored off the bench as Spurs rallied late on. Or, given the number of absentees, there may be room in the side for both men...
Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Gray, Palhinha; Simons, Tel, Richarlison; Kolo Muani
Injured: Maddison, Kulusevski, Kudus, Bentancur
Doubts: Bergvall, Udogie, Solanke
Suspended: Romero
Unavailable: Bissouma, Sarr (AFCON)
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