De Zerbi has Spurs believing again as Villa win moves them out of drop zone
Play like this and there is no way Tottenham Hotspur will go down. Play like this and it is extraordinary that Aston Villa are in the Champions League places and not facing relegation themselves.
The difference was summed up in two starkly contrasting moments. For Villa, Jadon Sancho took a short corner but was not alert enough to stay onside. So, when the ball was immediately played back to him the flag went up.
For Tottenham, João Palhinha chased down defender after defender in the Villa half before forcing Tyrone Mings into a panicky back-pass which went for a corner.
The Portuguese midfielder – who played like a man possessed – turned to the Spurs supporters demanding more noise and behaving as if he had scored.
The response looked like something demanded by Roberto De Zerbi, with other players – such as Pedro Porro – reacting with similar intense celebrations after winning back possession or having a decision go their way.
The impressive Randal Kolo Muani did the same after he was substituted and walked past the Tottenham fans.
The striker had also kissed the back of Palhinha’s head when the midfielder won the ball and earned a free-kick. Palhinha knelt on the turf pumping his fists.
And then there was Conor Gallagher . He scored the first goal; his first for Spurs with a low shot from outside the penalty area with Emiliano Martínez slow to react. It will have hurt Villa even more that Gallagher signed for Spurs ahead of them in January.
Spurs were prepared to stump up the £34m fee demanded by Atlético Madrid . Villa proposed a loan with an option to buy which will have frustrated Unai Emery. But not as much as this shocking performance even if, in truth, Spurs have had a poor return from Gallagher up until now.
Having declared last week that “only losers cry”, doubling down on his belief that Spurs will survive then this was the perfect reaction for De Zerbi. It also showed that Spurs have the “big manager” they craved and how they have lucked out in hiring the Italian.
“He makes you feel so good. He brings the best out of you,” Gallagher said. It felt like a universal belief and that might just be enough.
“I am honest. I have one face. If I say all our players are great level it’s because I feel. I don’t want to sell something if I don’t believe in my words,” De Zerbi said. “My job is just to transfer the confidence and believe in themselves. To show passion, to show value, pride.”
He grabbed his shirt just as Palhinha had done. “I love Palhinha,” he added, declaring that this version of Gallagher was like having “12 players”.
Okay, Villa’s Emery made seven changes ahead of Thursday’s momentous Europa League semi-final second leg at home to Nottingham Forest .
But after Spurs scored their second goal there were boos and an exodus of fans to the concourses – and maybe the exits. Just 25 minutes had elapsed. And it could have been four.
That crowd reaction – and there was more – must have provoked a maelstrom of emotions for Emery at a club where he rules the roost and has Messiah-status. On the touchline his demeanour radiated the definition of “if looks could kill”.
For Spurs, De Zerbi may be conferred similar God-like status if he keeps them up. With three games to go, albeit three demanding fixtures, they are a point ahead of West Ham United who have replaced them in the bottom three. It is that tight. But they are up for the fight.
De Zerbi has clearly got into these Spurs players. Finally they performed as if they wanted to stand their ground rather than flee. That they were not going to accept their fate and buckle under the pressure.
What a difference a win – and a confident manager – can make. Spurs were woeful at Wolverhampton Wanderers last week but got the points. Here they were far, far better and played like a team that will stay up.
Between January 1 and April 17, Spurs gained just five points (from a possible 42). In three games since then they have seven points (from a possible nine). That is some bounce.
Spurs swarmed all over Villa and exploited the weakness at the heart of their defence – with Martínez looking worryingly veteran-like in goal.
After Gallagher scored, Palhinha struck a post with another low shot from distance and Richarlison rose unopposed to head home from close range.
De Zerbi was on the pitch, celebrating. Emery just looked disgusted with his side registering a 0.00 chance of expected goals in an atrocious first half which ended with even more boos.
And after that? It was little better from Villa with Emery having clearly decided he would hold players back for the European tie and Spurs working ferociously hard.
Spurs did concede, with a header from substitute Emiliano Buendía in the 96th minute, but the game was won by then and the final whistle came seconds later. After the Villa cheers there were more boos by the smattering of their fans still in the stadium. Spurs celebrated once again. It all felt very together and very telling for them. And very worrying for West Ham.
09:30pm
Unai Emery’s reaction
We didn’t deserve any more. Tottenham played a very good match and dominated the first half more than we planned.
We reacted a bit in the second half and played a bit better, but we must accept this defeat.
Tomorrow we will rest, then we will prepare for this special match [against Forest].
Our huge, huge target is to be in the top five.
09:21pm
Roberto De Zerbi’s reaction
We played very well with and without the ball for 60 minutes, then we suffered Watkins , we suffered Buendia. We could have scored more, especially in the first half.
I’m pleased for my players - I know how much they have suffered this season and I am very proud of them.
[What pleased you today?] The high pressure, for sure, because that takes courage, mentality. And in possession we were calm. When we needed to attack the space, we did. When we needed to keep the ball we did.
[On Conor Gallagher] When he plays well, we play with 12 players. He’s amazing.
The season isn’t finished yet. We have three tough games to play, starting with Leeds , and we can’t forget the situation we were in before Wolverhampton. Those memories need to stay in our heads this week.
[On Spurs’ dismal home form this season] It was a mental problem, but after these two wins I think - and I hope - we can play with more confidence and with the same courage and attitude.
09:14pm
Spurs’ results under Roberto De Zerbi
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0-1 Sunderland (A)
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2-2 Brighton (H)
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1-0 Wolves (A)
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2-1Aston Villa (A)
09:13pm
Fighting spirit
09:01pm
Conor Gallagher’s reaction
It was a fantastic performance, exactly what we needed. It’s been a perfect night; hopefully it’s only the start and we can carry it on for the last few games.
[On his goal] It’s a good goal, I’m really happy to get my first one.
I can’t speak highly enough of [Roberto De Zerbi]. He’s been so good. Every player in the squad has taken to him, everyone trusts him. He makes you feel so confident and this is only the start - we can learn so much from him.
The fans have had a really tough time and we’re really happy to give them this feeling tonight.
08:59pm
Spurs out of the bottom three
This is how the relegation battle looks after that victory for Spurs.
16. Nottm ForestP34 Pts 39 GD-4
17. SpursP35 Pts37 GD-9
18. West HamP35 Pts36 GD-19
08:56pm
Full time: Aston Villa 1 Spurs 2
Spurs have flattened two claret-and-blue teams with one blow. An emphatic victory over Aston Villa moves them above West Ham and out of the relegation zone with three games to play. Conor Gallagher and Richarlison scored during a painfully one-sided first half, and Villa did not have a shot on target until Emi Buendia headed a consolation goal in the 96th minute.
08:54pm Goals
Goal!
90+6 min: Villa 1 Spurs 2 (Buendia)The substitute Emi Buendia, who loves scoring against Spurs, does it again with a superb looping header from Matty Cash ’s cross. There surely won’t be time for Villa to push for an equaliser though.
08:49pm
90 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs bring on Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr for Richarlison, who is limping, and Mathys Tel .
Five minutes of added time.
08:47pm
89 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Bailey’s excellent corner hits Mings on the shoulder, five yards out, and flies over the bar. That was Villa’s best chance of the night.
08:45pm
87 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Eighty-seven minutes have gone and Villa are still to have a shot on target.
Expected goals? Villa fans aren’t expecting any tonight.
08:43pm
86 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Double substitution for VillaEmi Buendia and Leon Bailey replace Jadon Sancho and Ross Barkley .
08:42pm
84 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Pedro Porro’s outswinging corner is met by Danso , whose powerful header is held two-handed by Martinez.
08:41pm
83 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs have a decent away record in the Premier League this season. If they hold on here it will be P18 W7 D5 L6 Pts 26. The problem has been at home, where they have managed only 11 points in 17 games.
08:39pm
81 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Now Danso is booked for pulling back Watkins, who has given Spurs a few problems since coming on as a substitute.
08:35pm
77 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Rogers is booked for dissent after reacting angrily when Villa weren’t awarded a corner.
08:32pm
74 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Mathys Tel is booked for kicking the ball away.
Spurs’ next match is at home to Leeds a week tomorrow. By then West Ham will have played Arsenal , which will give Spurs a better idea of what they need to do in the last three games.
08:30pm
72 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Tielemans clips a deep cross that evades the stretching Watkins at the far post. Villa have been woeful in possession all night.
Spence shoots just wide at the other end, though he was offside so it wouldn’t have counted.
08:27pm
69 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Many impressive performances from Tottenham tonight, but Joao Palhinha has been outstanding.
The midfielder has unsettled Villa all evening, pressing opponents and breaking up play.
08:26pm
68 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Villa have had one touch in the Spurs box in 68 minutes. It’s been an unfathomably poor performance – and even though they will have a very different XI against Forest on Thursday, this will surely have an impact on morale.
08:24pm
66 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs substitutions Yves Bissouma and Djed Spence replace replace Rodrigo Bentancur , who is limping slightly, and Randal Kolo Muani.
08:21pm
64 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Palhinha makes an excellent tackle on Barkley, who commits a foul in an attempt to win the ball back. Palhinha clenches both fists and roars in triumph.
08:20pm
62 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs break dangerously from a Villa corner, but Kolo Muani runs into the crowd and then loses the ball.
08:17pm
60 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Villa substitutionOllie Watkins replaces Tammy Abraham , who received precisely no service.
08:16pm
59 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Ollie Watkins is getting stripped off, so Villa are about to make at least one substitution.
08:16pm
58 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
When will Unai Emery make changes?
It would be no surprise if he made all five substitutions at the same time.
Spurs are remaining in control and Villa still haven’t managed an effort on goal.
08:15pm
57 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs are controlling possession as they did in the first half. Villa have yet to make any substitutions, and Unai Emery must be wondering whether it’s worth risking players like Ollie Watkins ahead of Thursday’s game against Forest.
08:13pm
55 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
08:09pm
51 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
The last Spurs defender Van de Ven shows terrific pace to charge across and tackle Tammy Abraham, who would otherwise have been through on goal.
08:09pm
50 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Barkley is booked for a hack at Gallagher. Villa have been a bit livelier at the start of the second half but they have yet to put together a decent move.
08:04pm
47 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
08:03pm
46 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Both sides are unchanged, for now, as Villa get the second half under way.
07:49pm
Half-time verdict
You could easily assume Aston Villa are the ones fighting relegation and Tottenham are close to Champions League qualification on the basis of this first-half.
Villa were booed off loudly at the break - very loudly - and it was no surprise at all.
Unai Emery has been quietly stewing in his technical area and the home dressing room will not be a place for the faint-hearted.
Villa have clearly got a big European semi-final second leg looming on Thursday night but there is no excuse for this abysmal performance. Emery is already facing severe scrutiny for his team selection.
Spurs are in dreamland and out of the bottom three if they can complete the job in the second half.
07:48pm
HT: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs are on course to move out of the relegation zone after a dream first half at Villa Park. They completely dominated the home side, who were booed off at the break, and could have led by more than two. They’ll be happy to settle for excellently taken goals by Conor Gallagher and Richarlison.
07:46pm
45 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Bentancur is booked for a cynical foul on Bogarde.
07:43pm
43 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Kolo Muani’s deep cross is kept alive by Udogie beyond the far post. Tel collects the ball and splashes a shot on the turn high and wide. He had better options inside, most notably the unmarked Gallagher on the edge of the area.
07:40pm
39 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Spurs are doing as they please. Villa will be glad to get to half-time only 2-0 down.
07:37pm
36 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Bentancur punches the ground after a painful clash of legs with Bogarde. He’s limping a bit but looks okay.
07:34pm
33 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Given the overall success of Villa’s season, the level of discontent, even anger, at Villa Park is remarkable. Villa have been very poor, it’s true, but we should remember that Unai Emery made seven changes with the Europa League semi-final in mind.
07:33pm
31 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
This is the relegation battle as things stand. Spurs’ goal difference could yet be extremely handy.
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Nottm ForestP34 Pts 39 GD-4
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SpursP35 Pts37 GD-8
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West HamP35 Pts36 GD-19
07:29pm
27 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
Kolo Muani is booked for delaying the restart.
07:28pm
26 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2
It is difficult to overstate how poor Villa have been so far. Many fans have already headed for the exits and there’s only 25 minutes or so gone.
Tottenham thoroughly deserve their two-goal lead and are on course to clamber out of the relegation zone.
07:26pm Goals
Goal!
25 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2 (Richarlison)It’s 2-0, and the scoreline doesn’t flatter Spurs one iota! A corner was half cleared and then curled back into the area by Tel on the right. It was a lovely, inviting cross, and Richarlison leapt decisively to thump a header past Richarlison.
07:25pm
24 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1
Another change for Spurs. Gallagher swings an inswinging cross from the left towards the far post. Richarlison can’t reach it and Kolo Muani cushions a volley that bounces up and is pushed over the bar by Martinez.
07:24pm
22 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1
Villa won’t play this poorly all night, so Tottenham are trying to put this game to bed right now. I doubt even an optimist like Roberto De Zerbi imagined they would dominate the first quarter of the match to this extent.
07:22pm
21 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1
Tel is shaping to volley Gallagher’s cross towards goal when Cash stretches to poke the ball away. Spurs are well on top.
07:20pm
19 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1
This has been a very worrying start by Aston Villa.
They look dishevelled and disjointed so far, and Tottenham are dominating.
Unai Emery does not look chuffed.
07:19pm
17 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1
Palhinha hits the post!Villa haven’t got going at all and they could easily be 2-0 down. Joao Palhinha, who scored at Wolves a week ago, crashes a superb shot from 25 yards that hits the inside of the left-hand post and bounces across the face of goal. Martinez may have got a slight touch on the shot as he dived low to his right - if so, it was a brilliant save.
07:13pm Goals
Goal!
12 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1 (Gallagher)Conor Gallagher scores his first goal for Spurs! Danso’s long throw was only partially cleared by Villa and Gallagher made them pay. He controlled the dropping ball deftly, 25 yards from goal, and rifled a low shot that beat the diving Martinez to the right. That’s an excellent goal.
07:10pm
9 min: Villa 0 Spurs 0
07:07pm
6 min: Villa 0 Spurs 0
That effort from Richarlison aside, it’s been a quiet start to the game. Spurs are trying to press Villa high up the field.
07:03pm
2 min: Villa 0 Spurs 0
A poor pass from Martinez is intercepted 25 yards from the Villa goal. The ball is worked through to Richarlison, whose early shot on the half turn deflects behind off Tielemans.
07:01pm
1 min: Villa 0 Spurs 0
And they’re off.
06:54pm
Abraham’s big chance
Big opportunity for Tammy Abraham here to take advantage of a rare start.
It’s been a frustrating few months for the £18m signing who has been Villa’s second striker behind Ollie Watkins.
Will be interesting to see how Conor Gallagher gets on tonight too. Villa agreed the terms of a loan deal to sign Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in January until Spurs swooped at the last minute to blow them out of the water with a £35m deal.
06:46pm
Roberto De Zerbi’s pre-match interview
The players are working very well. I’m very happy to work with these guys, and my target is to help them to show [how good] we are.
I have a big confidence in my players. Mathys Tel is a big young talent; Kolo Muani is not playing so well but he has big, big potential.
06:27pm
Maddison hoping for first appearance of the season
There has been a very warm reception for James Maddison here from the Tottenham fans.
Maddison has not played since last May after a serious knee injury and is among the Spurs substitutes today.
06:24pm
Unai Emery’s pre-match thoughts
06:18pm
Europa League on Emery’s mind
Unai Emery is the Europa League specialist so Thursday’s semi-final second leg is perhaps inevitably at the front of his mind.
Emery has made seven changes to the team which lost to Nottingham Forest in the first leg, and John McGinn does not make the squad after a slight hamstring injury.
Villa can inch nearer to Champions League qualification with a win here.
Emery has signed off his programme notes with the words ‘keep dreaming’. Champions League football next season has been his target all season, and it is now tantalisingly close to becoming a reality.
06:13pm
Springboard or false dawn for Spurs?
Tottenham finally ended their long wait for a Premier League victory last weekend, so the big question now is what happens next.
Is this the springboard they desperately needed to scramble their way to safety, or was the win over already relegated Wolves a false dawn?
West Ham’s poor result at Brentford was unquestionably another boost, and Unai Emery has made a number of changes here with a Europa League semi-final second leg looming on Thursday.
What is certain is that it’s another huge match for Tottenham. Defeat here would be deeply damaging with time running out.
06:02pm
What’s at stake tonight
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Aston Villawill move above Liverpool and into fourth place if they get at least a draw. Villa need four points from the last four games to guarantee a top-five finish.
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Spurswill move above West Ham - and out of the relegation zone - if they win.
05:59pm
Today’s Premier League results
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Bournemouth 3-0 Crystal Palace
05:58pm
Tottenham’s survival hopes could be hit by Solanke injury
By Matt Law
Doubt has been cast over Dominic Solanke’s involvement in Tottenham Hotspur’s crucial Premier League run-in because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It is believed that early scans have suggested that the forward may have suffered a grade-two hamstring injury, which can take between three and eight weeks to recover from.
That opens up the nightmare possibility of Solanke joining the list of Spurs players who will not play again this season, although the relegation-threatened club have not commented on his fitness or confirmed the extent of his injury.
05:47pm
Aston Villa team news
Unai Emery has made seven changes ahead of Villa’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest. The only survivors from the first leg are Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.
05:47pm
Spurs team news
Roberto De Zerbi makes four changes from the victory at Wolves. Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha, Mathys Tel and Richarlison replace Djed Spence, Yves Bissouma, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.
05:38pm
Good evening
The good news for Spurs is that their destiny is in their hands. The bad news is they have to win away to Aston Villa to keep it there. West Ham’s defeat at Brentford has given Spurs the chance to move out of the relegation zone with three matches to play – and with the comforting knowledge that one of West Ham’s games is against title-chasing Arsenal.
We’re getting ahead of ourselves. All that matters right now for Spurs is tonight’s game at Villa Park. Villa have all but secured a place in next season’s Champions League and may be more concerned about their Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.
Spurs finally won their first Premier League match of 2026 last weekend, thanks to Joao Palhinha’s late goal at Wolves. But Roberto De Zerbi will have to make at least two changes to his side because of injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.
De Zerbi may also call on James Maddison, an unused sub in the last two games but one whose dressing-room influence has been invaluable. “Experience, personality, calm,” said De Zerbi when asked what Maddison had brought to the squad. “If you have much experience, you are calmer.
“You can consider the timing when you have to speak, when you have to say something or not. And I want him to stay inside even if he doesn’t play, because when he will be ready to play, I want him 100 per cent inside of the plan of the team. I would like to play with him because he’s a special player. He’s a different player.”
Despite Spurs’ injuries, De Zerbi is very happy with the attacking options at his disposal. “Kolo Muani: two years ago, PSG paid £70million. He’s not stupid, he’s a top player. Mathys Tel is one of the best young players in Europe. Richarlison is in the Brazilian national team.”
Kick off7pm.
