Tottenham Hotspur 1–2 Aston Villa: Spurs’ FA Cup Hopes End as Villa Impress in North London

Pressure continues to mount on Thomas Frank as Aston Villa delivered a commanding performance to eliminate Tottenham from the FA Cup, with goals from Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendía sealing a deserved victory in North London.

Tottenham made five changes to the side that suffered a late 3–2 defeat to Bournemouth in midweek, while Villa also opted for rotation, with Unai Emery making six changes from the team held to a goalless draw away at Crystal Palace.

Spurs started poorly. Misplaced passes, a lack of cohesion, and growing gaps in midfield allowed Aston Villa to grow in confidence.

The visitors began to dictate the tempo, moving the ball with authority and composure as Tottenham struggled to establish any rhythm.

An opening goal for Villa felt inevitable, and that sense was soon justified. The breakthrough bore all the hallmarks of Emery’s side at their best. Ezri Konsa stepped confidently through the middle before finding Youri Tielemans, who cut open Tottenham by shifting the ball into the half-space for John McGinn. The captain’s perfectly weighted pass released Donyell Malen, who drove forward before slipping the ball into the path of Emiliano Buendía at the near post. The Argentine applied a devastating finish to give Villa a deserved lead.

Tottenham’s heads dropped a familiar sight in recent weeks and Villa sensed blood. Morgan Rogers doubled the advantage with a clinical finish after an intricate flick from Buendía, putting the visitors firmly in control at 2–0.

Spurs thought they had pulled a goal back just before half-time when Kolo Muani, introduced for the injured Richarlison, tucked away a neat finish. However, the goal was correctly ruled out for offside, ensuring Villa’s two-goal cushion remained intact at the interval.

The second half saw a brief Spurs revival. Frank’s side pushed higher up the pitch and pressed more aggressively, forcing turnovers that unsettled Villa’s defence. The pressure eventually paid off when Wilson Odobert pulled one back with a composed finish to make it 2–1.

Tottenham pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but Aston Villa remained resolute, managing the game intelligently and defending with discipline. The result marks the first time since the 2013/14 season that Spurs have failed to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The 9,000 travelling Villa supporters will return to Birmingham in jubilation after a statement win in North London. For Tottenham, the pressure intensifies. Eliminated from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and sitting 14th in the Premier League, frustration continues to grow among the fanbase as scrutiny around Frank’s tenure deepens.