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Introduction
- Official Site Match Centre
- https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/fixtures/men/202122/spurs-v-aston-villa/
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Seeking to end a run of three consecutive Premier League defeats, we play host to Aston Villa in Sunday afternoon's top-flight battle. We were beaten by Arsenal in the most recent North London derby, while Villa claimed a famous 1-0 win at Old Trafford.
All the passion, energy and desire that a North London derby should evoke from Arsenal and us was only evident on the red side of the Emirates for the first 45 minutes of last week's encounter, as Smith-Rowe, Saka and Aubameyang put the Gunners three goals to the good in the opening 45 minutes.
We did strike through Son in the second 45, but by that point it was too little too late to inspire a dramatic comeback, as our poor fortune continued with a third consecutive Premier League defeat and third successive top-flight game with three goals conceded.
After rising to the top of the rankings after three games of the 2021-22 season, we have now slipped below Arsenal into 11th place although we did claim a confidence-boosting 5-1 over NS Mura in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
However, we are now under pressure to translate that four-goal thrashing into performances on the domestic stage, as the pressure is already weighing heavily on Santo's shoulders as we seek to avoid losing four league games in a row for the first time since 2004.
With nine goals conceded and only one scored in that worrying streak, we will be desperate to see Kane kick on after his second-half hat-trick against Mura, but our opponents are a team in inspired form.
Keeping the momentum going from a 3-0 drubbing of another in-form side in Everton, Villa's record of seven points taken from the last 12 on offer has seen them rise to eighth in the table, and victory at Old Trafford was the perfect way to respond to three previous defeats away from home in all competitions this season.
Not since December 2009 have Villa marched to three consecutive Premier League wins with three clean sheets, but the second game of that sequence was a 1-0 win away at Man United - a spooky but potentially positive omen before the trip to us where we are underperforming.
Smith's side will also have fond memories of their recent visit to our ground as they registered a 2-1 win back in May, although they have only won one of their other 11 most recent clashes playing against us, losing 10 of them.
All the passion, energy and desire that a North London derby should evoke from Arsenal and us was only evident on the red side of the Emirates for the first 45 minutes of last week's encounter, as Smith-Rowe, Saka and Aubameyang put the Gunners three goals to the good in the opening 45 minutes.
We did strike through Son in the second 45, but by that point it was too little too late to inspire a dramatic comeback, as our poor fortune continued with a third consecutive Premier League defeat and third successive top-flight game with three goals conceded.
After rising to the top of the rankings after three games of the 2021-22 season, we have now slipped below Arsenal into 11th place although we did claim a confidence-boosting 5-1 over NS Mura in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
However, we are now under pressure to translate that four-goal thrashing into performances on the domestic stage, as the pressure is already weighing heavily on Santo's shoulders as we seek to avoid losing four league games in a row for the first time since 2004.
With nine goals conceded and only one scored in that worrying streak, we will be desperate to see Kane kick on after his second-half hat-trick against Mura, but our opponents are a team in inspired form.
Keeping the momentum going from a 3-0 drubbing of another in-form side in Everton, Villa's record of seven points taken from the last 12 on offer has seen them rise to eighth in the table, and victory at Old Trafford was the perfect way to respond to three previous defeats away from home in all competitions this season.
Not since December 2009 have Villa marched to three consecutive Premier League wins with three clean sheets, but the second game of that sequence was a 1-0 win away at Man United - a spooky but potentially positive omen before the trip to us where we are underperforming.
Smith's side will also have fond memories of their recent visit to our ground as they registered a 2-1 win back in May, although they have only won one of their other 11 most recent clashes playing against us, losing 10 of them.
Team News
We are expected to remain without Bergwijn and Sessegnon for the visit of the West Midlands side, but Santo has no fresh injury concerns to report from Thursday's win.
Emerson, Hugo, Davinson and Dier are all set for defensive recalls, while LoCelso will hope to come into contention for a start after a man-of-the-match performance on Thursday.
Kane, Moura and Son will complete a reshuffle in the final third, with the former hoping to avoid a sixth Premier League game on the spin without finding the back of the net.
As for Villa, Axel Tuanzebe is back in the fold after he was ineligible to face his parent club, but Leon Bailey and Morgan Sanson could remain sidelined until after the international break alongside long-term absentees Trezequet and Keinan Davis.
However, Smith certainly has no reason to make any changes to the XI which got the job done against Man United, meaning another start for Jacob Ramsey - linked with Manchester City - in the middle of the park.
Ollie Watkins will hope to justify his recall to the England squad this week, while Danny Ings is aiming to build on a stellar record of six goals from his last six encounters with playing against us in all tournaments.
Emerson, Hugo, Davinson and Dier are all set for defensive recalls, while LoCelso will hope to come into contention for a start after a man-of-the-match performance on Thursday.
Kane, Moura and Son will complete a reshuffle in the final third, with the former hoping to avoid a sixth Premier League game on the spin without finding the back of the net.
As for Villa, Axel Tuanzebe is back in the fold after he was ineligible to face his parent club, but Leon Bailey and Morgan Sanson could remain sidelined until after the international break alongside long-term absentees Trezequet and Keinan Davis.
However, Smith certainly has no reason to make any changes to the XI which got the job done against Man United, meaning another start for Jacob Ramsey - linked with Manchester City - in the middle of the park.
Ollie Watkins will hope to justify his recall to the England squad this week, while Danny Ings is aiming to build on a stellar record of six goals from his last six encounters with playing against us in all tournaments.
Head-to-Head
We first played each other competitively on Saturday, 7th March 1903 at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup where they beat us 2-3.
We have played each other 168 times, where we have won 75, they have won 57 and there have been 36 drawn games.
League - We have won 65, Villa 51 with 34 drawn
FA Cup - We have won 7, Villa 4 and 1 drawn
League Cup - We have won 3, Villa 2 with none drawn
Other Cup - We drew in the only other cup where we played each other
We have played each other 168 times, where we have won 75, they have won 57 and there have been 36 drawn games.
League - We have won 65, Villa 51 with 34 drawn
FA Cup - We have won 7, Villa 4 and 1 drawn
League Cup - We have won 3, Villa 2 with none drawn
Other Cup - We drew in the only other cup where we played each other
