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WSL: Aston Villa 3-7 Tottenham Hotspur highlights

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WSL: Aston Villa 3-7 Tottenham Hotspur highlights - BBC
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Spurs unstoppable in 10 goal thriller against Aston Villa. Video, 00:04:26Spurs unstoppable in 10 goal thriller against Aston Villa

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Aston Villa 3-7 Tottenham: Martin Ho still not satisfied as 'cruel' Spurs crush hosts

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'It was cruel' - slick Spurs hit seven but Ho still not satisfied - BBC
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If anything, Tottenham boss Martin Ho was a little disappointed by his side's 7-3 success at Aston Villa.

Having just watched his side comprehensively take apart the hosts for their second biggest Women's Super League win, he said: "We probably could have had another five or six more."

Ho might well have been thinking they should have beaten their 8-0 record victory over Brighton back in October 2022.

Spurs had 27 shots, 12 of them on target, in dismantling struggling Villa, who have now tasted defeat in four straight league games.

Villa boss Natalia Arroyo admitted: "They were ruthless and clinical in every action and didn't allow us to breathe for one second.

"It was like being thrown in a swimming pool and not allowed to get air - it was cruel. I am really sorry and disappointed."

The goal rush was started by Signe Gaupset's first Spurs goal on 10 minutes. Villa equalised but were only level for three minutes as Spurs grabbed two more in seven minutes to take a 3-1 lead at the break.

Oriane Jean-Francois pulled another goal back for Villa in the 68th minute but just like in the first half, Tottenham responded quickly - just 12 seconds later - and three more followed to complete the rout.

Before becoming Tottenham manager in July last year, Ho was in charge of Norwegian side SK Brann.

In his first nine games, he got seven wins to help Brann finish fourth in the table.

He also created history in the Champions League, leading them to victory in all four of their qualifying matches to become the first Norwegian side to reach the group stage.

His Scandinavian connections are now bearing fruit at Spurs, with five from that region playing a part at Villa Park.

"We've been speaking about having more of a ruthless edge with the ball in front of goal because we are creating chances," said Ho afterwards.

"We had 27 shots - that's a lot. We probably could have had another five or six [goals] with the chances we created but when you score that many goals, it shows the belief in the team and the confidence through the group."

Norway duo Blakstad and Gaupset each scored and provided an assist, while compatriot Tandberg came off the bench to score twice. Denmark winger Olivia Holdt also scored one and made one.

The 20-year-old Gaupset only joined Tottenham in January from Brann, while Blakstad, 24, signed from Hammarby four days later.

As for Tandberg, 21, and the 24-year-old Holdt, they came last summer and have also been instrumental in the side's efforts this season.

Tandberg is their top scorer in the league with six goals, and has two assists, and Holdt just one behind, but has provided three assists.

The exciting forward options has given fifth-placed Spurs hope of pushing for a Champions League place as they joined Arsenal on 29 points - five adrift of second-placed Manchester United, with Chelsea in third.

Even if they miss out, there has been radical improvement under Ho.

Having finished second from bottom with 20 points last season, they are nine better off this time around with six games still left to play.

At the end of the 2022-23 season, Villa finished fifth on 37 points and there was talk of them going on to break into the top three.

Since then, they have at least stabilised in mid-table, finishing seventh with 24 points and then sixth with 25 last term.

Currently however, Arroyo's side are ninth with 16 points from their 16 games - just seven above bottom club Leicester City, while fellow strugglers Liverpool and West Ham show signs of revival in the fight to stay up.

Villa do have the league's second top scorer in Kirsty Hanson, whose nine goals are six fewer than Manchester City's Khadija Shaw.

At the back, however, things are starting to unravel, with 25 goals conceded in the past six league matches.

They have also shipped 12 in the final 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the league this season.

Arroyo said: "We don't want to lose a game, we don't want to concede seven goals and we need to do better.

"We will have a few weeks to work together and hopefully get fresh legs, more options and a deeper bench. I am proud of scoring three goals and will take some of the positives but we can't let teams score almost all of chances they have. See if we can close our house."

Villa, who face leaders Manchester City next, need to arrest their slide to avoid getting sucked into the relegation battle.

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WSL: Man Utd v London City Lionesses plus three other games

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WSL: Man Utd v London City Lionesses plus three other games - BBC
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SUBSTITUTION

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Another change apiece as we move into the final 15 minutes.

Chelsea bring on the fresh legs of Lexi Potter for Keira Walsh, while Liverpool introduce January recruit Aurelie Csillag in place of Martha Thomas in the nine.

'Tired Liverpool lacking impetus'

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk

Former Liverpool forward on Sky Sports

There is a lot more control from Chelsea at the moment. Liverpool were threatening when they were still 1-0 up, but it is all working on Chelsea's terms now. Liverpool are now lacking that impetus going forward. They look tired.

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Everton 1-0 West Ham

West Ham were still 2-0 down at home to Brighton at this stage last week, so there's plenty of time for Rita Guarino's side to turn this result into a positive one.

Problem is they've not looked anywhere near the same side this afternoon.

GOAL - Aston Villa 2-5 Tottenham

Maika Hamano (73 mins)

I can't keep up.

Villa throw everyone forwards and are caught out immediately.

Signe Gaupset spots the run of Maika Hamano inside her own half, and the Japanese midfielder has a whole half to run into.

She goes to round Ellie Roebuck who stays on her feet as long as she can, before Haman clips a shot over the goalkeeper and a covering defender on the goal-line.

Superb finish, and her first goal since joining Spurs on loan from Chelsea last month.

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Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Sam Kerr has a chance to put Chelsea three to the good but she fires straight at Jennifer Falk.

She surely had to go across the Liverpool keeper there.

GOAL - Aston Villa 2-4 Tottenham

Cathinka Tandberg (69 mins)

Oh my word, Spurs respond immediately!

The visitors attack straight from kick-off, have a shot blocked, but Cathinka Tandberg slams the rebound into the bottom corner form the edge of the box.

Ellie Roebuck in the Aston Villa goal didn't even move. That's how powerful that shot was.

SUBSTITUTION

Everton 1-0 West Ham

Scott Phelan turns to his bench for the first time this afternoon, replacing Rosa van Gool with Aurora Galli in midfield.

That should add a bit of experience and nous in that area for Everton as they look to hold onto their lead.

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Man Utd 1-1 London City Lionesses

There's a bit of concern for Jayde Riviere after she was brought down by Poppy Pattinson.

The right-back receives treatment before hobbling to the sideline. United could do without losing her - they don't have many fit full-back options at the moment.

SUBSTITUTION

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

The Blues make another change immediately after doubling their advantage, bringing on Sam Kerr for Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Certainly a sight that will put fear into that already weary Liverpool back four.

'It's vintage Lauren James'

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk

Former Liverpool forward on Sky Sports

It's vintage Lauren James. She drives with the ball and her pace is so deceiving. It's a mix of pace, power and skill on the ball as she glides past London City Lionesses players.

We've seen James do this plenty of times. It's a great shot and a wonderful goal.

GOAL - Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

Lauren James (65 mins)

Breathing room for Chelsea courtesy of a sublime strike from Lauren James.

Chelsea play a corner short, with the England winger receiving the ball on top left hand corner of the box.

She cuts in on her favoured right foot before unleashing a thunderous drive into the top left corner. Incredible.

'That move deserved a goal'

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Courtney Sweetman-Kirk

Former Liverpool forward on Sky Sports

That Chelsea move deserved a goal. The ball to Lauren James from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd was an awkward one, but the talent James has, you may be expected her to do a bit better.

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Man Utd 1-1 London City Lionesses

London City are adamant they should have a penalty as Nikita Parris and Maya le Tissier go down in a tussle off the ball.

The referee gives United a free-kick - the replay confirms that it was London City striker Parris who committed the foul.

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Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

Martha Thomas shows some silky footwork to sidestep Naomi Girma and get a shot away from range, but it's high, wide and not at all handsome.

Shame really. the skill merited at least a shot on target.

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Tottenham appoint Igor Tudor - Football Focus explain

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Tottenham appoint Igor Tudor - Football Focus explain - BBC
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'It is a gamble' - Why Spurs appointed Tudor. Video, 00:05:49'It is a gamble' - Why Spurs appointed Tudor

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Newcastle: Bruno Guimaraes set to be out for two months with injury

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Newcastle: Bruno Guimaraes set to be out for two months with injury - BBC
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Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes is expected to be out for a couple of months after sustaining a hamstring injury.

The Brazilian hobbled off in the closing stages of Tuesday night's 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in just his second appearance since recovering from a separate ankle issue.

Head coach Eddie Howe said at the time Guimaraes was "a little bit worried because he has never had a problem with his hamstrings before".

Guimaraes is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines in a huge blow for Newcastle.

Newcastle have, obviously, lost games Guimaraes has played in before, including a 3-2 loss against Brentford last week.

However, Howe's side have failed to win any of the 10 Premier League matches in which the influential Guimaraes did not feature since his debut in February 2022.

Newcastle, by contrast, have a 53.1 win percentage with Guimaraes in the side in the top flight.

They have also picked up significantly more points per game (1.8), scored more goals per match (1.9) and conceded fewer goals on average (1.2).

But Newcastle are going to have to find a way to win without their talisman as they embark on a crunch run of games, starting with Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa.

Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey are Newcastle's only three senior central midfielders available for the trip to Villa Park.

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Igor Tudor: What will new Tottenham manager bring to club?

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'Intense, aggressive, entertaining' - what will Tudor bring to Spurs ? - BBC
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Igor Tudor has agreed to take charge of Tottenham for the remainder of the season, so what can supporters expect to see from his side?

Following his appointment as interim head coach, Tudor's first game in charge will be a significant one as Spurs host north London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on 22 February.

That will allow the 47-year-old less than a week to attempt to implement his style of play once the players return to training on Monday - and they could be in for a shock.

"His style is intense," George Boxall, a football journalist based in Marseille, where Tudor managed between 2022 and 2023, tells BBC Sport.

"The players do a hell of a lot of running. There's lots of intensity, lots of pressing.

"He is a really strong personality and he could be a good appointment for Tottenham if they feel they need an electroshock."

Tudor has been out of work since being sacked by Juventus in October 2025 and is set for his first spell in England, after previously taking charge of clubs in Italy, France, Turkey, Croatia and Greece.

He is tasked, first and foremost, with easing Tottenham's relegation fears, after a 2-1 loss to Newcastle in Thomas Frank's final match on Tuesday left them five points above the bottom three.

Having earned a reputation as a no-nonsense defender during a playing career in which he won 55 caps for Croatia and made more than 150 appearances for Italian giants Juventus, there is one certain non-negotiable for Tudor as a manager.

"He asks his players to run a lot. In a previous interview he said 'If you don't run, you don't play'," says L'Equipe journalist Pierre-Etienne Minonzio.

"In his one season in Marseille it was always the same way of playing - 3-5-2 - and it was great to watch.

"It was not easy because Marseille's best player was Dimitri Payet, a very gifted player but not well-known for running, and he didn't play.

"It was a joke in L'Equipe - if Igor Tudor had Lionel Messi in his squad, Messi would not play!"

Tudor's sole season in France saw Marseille finish third behind Paris St-Germain and Lens, despite surpassing the club's points total from the previous campaign when they finished second.

"He did pretty well in Ligue 1. What I liked is that he doesn't try to be liked. He is very direct, says what he thinks and doesn't try to be attractive. There is no seduction," says Minonzio.

"It is the same with the players. He keeps his distance and his obsession is to make training intense with a lot of running so they can be physically fit for the game."

Tudor won back-to-back Serie A titles with Juventus in 2001-02 and 2002-03, also starting in the 2003 Champions League final, which his side lost to AC Milan.

Having begun his management career with former club Hajduk Split, Tudor had spells with Galatasaray, Udinese, Marseille and Lazio before he replaced Thiago Motta at former club Juventus in March 2025.

Initially appointed as interim head coach, Tudor was given the job full-time after leading Juventus to a fourth-placed finish in Serie A and Champions League qualification.

"Tudor is an aggressive manager and that is also what he demands from his clubs," says Italian football journalist Daniele Verri.

"A lot of pressing. When he conquers the ball, he goes vertical. Big strong defenders. He likes to play on the wings. But the main characteristic is being aggressive.

"Juventus brought him in because he was a former player and they wanted Juventus DNA, someone fans could identify with due to his past, being aggressive, vertical, fighting hard."

But, according to Verri, Damien Commoli's arrival as Juventus' general manager that summer led to growing tension.

Tudor was sacked after just seven months following an eight-game winless run, leaving The Old Lady eighth in Serie A and 25th in the Champions League's league phase.

He departed with eight wins in 17 league games for a win rate of 47.1%.

"Commoli and Tudor never really got on. Tudor wanted more say during the transfer market, he wanted Kolo Muani to stay and that didn't happen," says Verri.

"He kept changing the starting 11 and that brought uncertainty. Tension grew. Tudor criticised what Juventus did in the market during press conferences, and openly criticised the players after the Lazio defeat before he was sacked.

"After a relatively good start, he lost control of the team and they stopped performing. The fans were obviously not happy, they are used to winning.

"Juventus never really had the impression they could take the next step with Tudor."

Analysis by BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel

First of all, they wanted an interim head coach until the end of the season. And that immediately narrows the field down.

Within that, the Spurs hierarchy were looking for someone with top level managerial experience who plays attacking football.

After reviewing their options, it is understood Spurs felt Tudor fit the bill for a few key reasons.

He has experience of working at some top European clubs – and managing big name players.

Tudor's reputation is for aggressive football with an attacking intent. This element was particularly important to Spurs after criticism of their style of play under Frank.

Tottenham are also said to have admired his work improving teams on a short-term basis.

For example, his Lazio team were unbeaten in the league for his first two months after he joined.

At Juventus, he lost only one of his first nine games. In his first full season, he was unbeaten for his first eight matches. His downfall came quickly, however, following that run after losing three away games in a week – to Real Madrid, Lazio and Como.

Tudor will be an interim manager and it is thought that they will be looking to secure a different, long-term option in the summer.

However, like with Michael Carrick at Manchester United, it may well be an intriguing conundrum if he hits the ground running and sustains a good run of form through what is left of the season.

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Tottenham news: Fan views on Igor Tudor appointment

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'Igor who?' - fans on new boss and his 'impossible challenge' - BBC
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We asked for your views on Tottenham appointing Igor Tudor as interim manager until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: Was his name pulled out of hat from the job centre? Oh dear, hardly the lift needed!

Paul: No Premier League experience, middling success. Struggling to see how this will "unite the fanbase", which is essential in keeping us up. Hope I'm wrong.

Ian: Igor who?? Good luck! he'll need it. It will take an enormous change in mood and tactics to advance up the league and a miracle to get players fit.

Andy: What? Well, let's hope this unknown manager with no big reputation, no Premier League experience or any Spurs DNA has a few amazing magic coaching tricks and tactical manoeuvres up his sleeve, otherwise we are doomed.

Jasmine: How low can this management team keep destroying a once GREAT club? Never heard of the man but looking at the last sacking he got, he should fit in well seeing he was sacked for losing eight games on the trot. Tottenham needs relegation to get rid of the owners!

David: Hardly an inspiring choice given his winless record in his last eight games before he was sacked - clearly buying time till end of season. Pochettino in the summer a must but if we're relegated... would he come?

Peter: Was not expecting his name but if the players want an interim they have an interim. Igor Tudor is a well-known manager, but his recent interim and then permanent spell at Juventus ended with an extensive winless run. I do think, however, he will walk into that dressing room with a class suit and just get going. If we can salvage yet another shocking season, then maybe we put his name on our Wall of Fame because this has been horrible if you like it or not.

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Rodri: Manchester City midfielder charged with misconduct over referee comments

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Rodri: Manchester City midfielder charged with misconduct over referee comments - BBC
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Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following comments he made about referees after his side's 2-2 draw at Tottenham earlier this month.

The 29-year-old was left angry by a Dominic Solanke goal being allowed to stand after the Spurs forward appeared to kick through the leg of the City defender Marc Guehi.

While the FA did not specify the exact comments the charge relates to, Rodri accused referee Robert Jones of not being "neutral".

"I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral," said the Spain international after the game.

"It's not fair because we work so hard. When everything is finished, you are frustrated."

Rodri is accused of acting in an "improper manner" by making comments that "imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official".

He has until 18 February to respond to the charge.

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Igor Tudor agrees deal to become Tottenham's interim boss

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Tudor agrees deal to become Spurs' interim boss - BBC
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Igor Tudor has agreed a deal to become Tottenham interim head coach until the end of the season.

Thomas Frank was sacked earlier this week, with Spurs five points above the relegation places.

Sources told BBC Sport that Spurs wanted an interim manager in place for the players' return to training on Monday.

Tudor has been out of work since being sacked by Juventus in October 2025 following an eight-match winless run, leaving the club eighth in Serie A.

The 47-year-old has had a varied managerial career, having had stints at Lazio, Marseille, Galatasaray and Udinese among others.

He led hometown club Hajduk Split to the Croatian Cup in 2013 to win his only trophy as a manager.

During a nine-year stint as a player with Juventus he won Serie A twice and finished runner-up in the 2003 Champions League final.

Tudor started his career with Hajduk Split and returned to the club before retiring aged 30, in 2008, due to problems with his ankle.

He also had loan spells with Croatian side Trogir and Italian outfit Siena.

Tudor was part of the Croatia squad that was knocked out of the 1998 World Cup at the semi-final stage, eventually finishing third.

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