London Evening Standard

The Dutchman struggled to influence the match as Spurs were beaten by Aston Villa

Patient: Thomas Frank will give Xavi Simons time to prove his worth

John Walton/PA Wire

Matt Verri

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Thomas Frank defended Xavi Simons, insisting Tottenham's £52million signing needed time to come good.

Simons has made eight appearances for Spurs but is yet to score and has registered just one assist, which came from a corner on his debut against West Ham.

He started in the No10 role as Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa, making it just three wins from their last 18 matches at home in the Premier League.

Simons had another quiet afternoon. His best contributions came off the ball, registering four tackles in the first half alone, but he was ineffective on the ball.

There was more than one occasion when Simons had the opportunity to shoot from outside the area but opted to play a safer pass instead.

However, Frank was reluctant to blame Simons for another ineffective attacking performance from Tottenham.

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"I think we defend with 11 players," Frank said.

"We also attack with 11 players. I think it's the whole team. Of course it will always be, let's say, the front four - today Wilson, Mo, Xavi and Mathys - that is the main guys that will be judged on it, which is fair.

"I like Xavi's personality today, especially in the first half. I think he wanted to get on the ball, he wanted to create. I think he was very aggressive in the pressure. I think it was a fine game.

"I think I need to remember it myself when we judge players and they come into a new club, a new country. I know it's part of football, [but] we judge them with a very small sample of games.

"I'm not in doubt that Xavi will be good for us. Today was an average-plus game."

Frank insisted Spurs were "excellent" defensively against Villa, who scored from their only two shots on target in the match. Both came from outside the area via wonderful strikes from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.

Xavi Simons’ defensive contributions outweighed his attacking input

John Walton/PA Wire

Spurs led after five minutes and Frank felt his side deserved something from the game, describing it as a "clear draw" on the balance of play.

It is the third game in a row that Spurs have dropped points at home, following a defeat to Bournemouth and draw with Wolves, and builds the pressure ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United's visits to north London in the weeks ahead.

"I don't think it's that simple," Frank responded when asked about Spurs' terrible run on home soil.

"I think it's about looking into the performances. I think we performed well against Burnley, I think we performed well again today. I think we had one very good first half against Wolves and then we had a bad game against Bournemouth.

"So that's probably the reason I think [today] is a game that is a draw, a clear draw. And we could easily have won it instead of Villa and then it would have been a different narrative.

"So I look at the performance on the pitch - we did well - and at the bits we need to improve."

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The Spurs captain was named in the starting lineup to face Aston Villa but dropped out of the warm-up early and went straight down the tunnel.

He was replaced in the side by Kevin Danso, with Romero instead having to watch on from the bench as Spurs were beaten 2-1.

It is a busy run of fixtures ahead for Spurs, who are in Champions League action on Wednesday night away to Monaco, and any sort of spell on the sidelines for Romero would be a huge blow.

However, asked if Romero would be fit for the trip to Monaco, he added: "I don't know. He could be, he couldn't. I just don't know.

“Right now if I'm honest I had one focus. I went into the changing room, I just spoke to the players and prepared a little bit for the questions I'm going to have.

Jun'ai Byfield was the only defender on the bench against Aston Villa, though the 16-year-old is unlikely to be thrown into first-team action by Frank.

Should further issues be picked up in the centre of defence, it is likely Joao Palhinha or Archie Gray will have to slot in.

Destiny Udogie was not in the squad to face Aston Villa after picking up a knee issue while on international duty with Italy.

Spurs face a growing list of problems as their fixture list becomes more congested than ever

Headache: Thomas Frank has plenty of work to do

John Walton/PA Wire

Matt Verri

COMMENTS

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham had the chance to go second in the Premier League but instead it was a familiar story.

Defeat on home soil, an attack that failed to fire and injury concerns starting to build, just as the fixture list really kicks in.

The stage was set for Spurs to make a statement and control proceedings against Aston Villa when Rodrigo Bentancur scored early, but instead goals from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia left Thomas Frank’s side empty-handed.

Frank must fix home woes

For the third Premier League home match in a row, there were boos from the Spurs fans at full-time.

A miserable performance in defeat to Bournemouth was followed by Frank's side scraping a point against Wolves, and now they have lost to Villa.

Spurs have won three of their last 18 Premier League matches at home, beating only Southampton, Burnley and Manchester United since November last year. It is a shocking run and the kind no successful team go on.

Danso’s long throws got the crowd on their feet

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Frank spoke in his pre-match press conference of the need for his players to excite fans and the supporters to rally the team, but neither particularly happened here.

Spurs failed to kick on after taking an early lead and were never truly in control. The atmosphere picked up in spells, particularly in the second half when a long throw from Kevin Danso sparked chaos in the box. Spurs had a couple of chances in quick succession but both the noise and the pressure was short-lived.

Next up at home in the league are Chelsea and then it's United. Frank needs quick answers.

Defensive depth a concern

This was the start of a run of seven matches in 22 days for Spurs and already there have to be concerns over the depth in defence.

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Destiny Udogie missed the game with a knee issue he picked up on international, while Ben Davies was also not in the squad after he was forced off when playing for Wales against Belgium.

The problems then grew even before the whistle was blown here. Cristian Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up and Kevin Danso had to step into the starting lineup to replace him.

It meant Spurs had only eight substitutes on the bench and only one of those was a defender - 16-year-old Jun'ai Byfield.

Spurs looked at adding another defender to the squad late in the transfer window and they must be increasingly regretting not doing so. As it stands, Frank will have no choice but to name the same back four against Monaco on Wednesday, unless Archie Gray or Joao Palhinha are moved into defence.

Frank said Udogie's injury is "nothing major" but, as is the case with Romero, any sort of spell on the sidelines will be particularly felt during such a hectic run.

Kudus the example for Spurs attackers

There is no arguing over who has been Spurs' best attacking player this season.

Mohammed Kudus has been a constant threat with four goals and two assists in the Premier League and he was unfortunate not to add to that here.

While Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel both have bright moments, they can learn from Kudus in terms of consistent end product and decision-making. Both had moments, particularly in the first half, where they drove into the box, hesitated and the chance went.

In front of goal, Tel somehow failed to make contact when picked out at the back post by Kudus. In the second half, Odobert fired a big chance straight at Ezri Konsa.

Kudus’ attacking contributions were a diamond in the rough

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Whenever Kudus has the ball, there is genuine belief that he can make something happen and Spurs need that individual magic right now, with the attack not clicking as a unit.

At times it can feel like a one-man band, the ball passed out to Kudus in the hope he can beat two or three men. That it still feels like Spurs’ best bet of a goal from open play says as much about his team-mates as it does Kudus.

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Thomas Frank’s seven-match unbeaten run ended with a whimper

Struggling: Xavi Simons failed to make an impression against Aston Villa

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Matt Verri

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Tottenham dropped points for a third successive home game as they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa.

It was a perfect start for Spurs, who took the lead inside five minutes when Rodrigo Bentancur finished well after a knock-down from Joao Palhinha, but the hosts could not kick on.

Morgan Rogers equalised with a lovely strike from outside the box before half-time and Emi Buendia finished a wonderful move for the winner with just over ten minutes remaining.

Here’s how Standard Sport rates the Spurs players...

Guglielmo Vicario 6

Maybe has questions to answer for the Villa goal, even if it was a brilliant finish from Rogers. Positioning seemed off. Otherwise had very little to do in the match, no real chance with Buendia’s strike.

Pedro Porro 6

Had the better of John McGinn on that wing and largely showed his quality on the ball. Brilliant switch out to Odobert created a first-half chance, but a bit sloppier after the break.

Kevin Danso 7

Late addition to the starting lineup after Cristian Romero’s injury in the warm-up. Dominated battle with Donyell Malen and caused chaos with his long throws. Biggest compliment is that Romero’s absence did not feel too noticeable.

Micky van de Ven 7

Pressed Rogers around the pitch and largely dealt with it well, but booked for one late challenge on the midfielder/ As ever mopped up anything over the top and a great challenge denied Olle Watkins late on.

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Djed Spence 6

Rock solid defensively, even when left one-on-one with his man on the halfway line. Limited involvement in attack and Spurs not quite as threatening without Destiny Udogie.

Joao Palhinha 8

Monster in midfield yet again. Couple of great challenges in midfield when ball broke loose, crunching Amadou Onana. Headed knock-down set up Bentancur for opener. Relentless energy.

Rodrigo Bentancur 6

Questions remain over midfield set-up. In the right place for the opening goal and was solid on the ball but again it was a fairly stodgy showing in the middle of the pitch from Spurs.

Mohammed Kudus 8

Brilliant ball in for early goal, before producing a sublime touch and finish shortly after only for the offside flag to go up. Holds the ball up better than any Spurs player and is the only consistent attacker Thomas Frank has right now.

Xavi Simons 5

Too hesitant and safe on the ball, reluctant to shoot when space opened up. Big defensive shift, with four tackles in the first half alone, but Spurs need much more in the final third.

Wilson Odobert 7

Familiar story in the first half - bright moments with not enough end product. Improved after the break, plenty of direct running. Decent chance fell his way but he hammered shot straight at Konsa.

Mathys Tel 5

Worked hard off the ball but not enough quality when it mattered. Struggled to hold the ball up against Ezri Konsa and Pau Konsa and fluffed his lines when his big chance came, swinging at thin air.

Substitutes:

Richarlison (Tel 60’) 4

Anonymous in his half an hour on the pitch. With Randal Kolo Muani now fit, his minutes are far from certain.

Lucas Bergvall (Simons 79’) 5

Energetic in trying to make runs in behind. Got to the byline once but his cut-back was a poor one.

Randal Kolo Muani (Odobert 79’) 5

Long-awaited Premier League debut. Ball fell for him in stoppage time but he did not make contact.

Brennan Johnson (Spence 86’) N/A

Pape Matar Sarr (Bentancur 86’) N/A

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Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa: Spurs squander early lead as unbeaten run ends with a whimper

Spurs lost their captain Cristian Romero through injury in the warm-up

Hero: Emiliano Buendia

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George Sessions

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Morgan Rogers' first goal for Aston Villa in 20 matches inspired a fifth-consecutive win and piled more home woe on Tottenham as they suffered a 2-1 Premier League defeat.

Rogers had shone for England during the international break, but failed to score in club football since the start of April, but changed that at Spurs with a sensational 37th-minute leveller.

It cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur's fifth-minute opener for Thomas Frank's side and as Tottenham pushed for a rare home victory in the league in 2025, they were hit with a sucker-punch as Emiliano Buendia's curler, 13 minutes from time, sealed the comeback for Villa.

Frank had failed to beat Unai Emery in five previous attempts and his efforts this time were not helped by captain Cristian Romero being forced to pull out in the warm-up.

It meant Kevin Danso was a last-minute inclusion for Spurs, but the hosts put that to one side to break the deadlock after five minutes.

Villa dealt with the initial corner into the area and yet Mohammed Kudus' superb follow-up delivery was headed back across goal by Joao Palhinha for Bentancur to drill in from eight yards, for his first goal in 10 months.

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It was momentarily 2-0 two minutes later when Kudus drilled through Emi Martinez after a wonderful crossfield ball by stand-in captain Micky van de Ven, but it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Villa did respond with pantomime villain Matty Cash - who was booed after two notably-poor tackles in past meetings with Tottenham - firing wide from range in the 15th minute.

Martinez spilled an effort by Wilson Odobert soon after, but no Spurs player reacted quick enough before opposite number Guglielmo Vicario punched out a dangerous Lucas Digne cross.

Tottenham looked set to retain their lead at half-time until Rogers produced a sensational equaliser.

With 37 minutes on the clock, England attacker Rogers skipped past Xavi Simons and rifled a dripping effort beyond Vicario for his first goal of the campaign.

Flying tackles resulted in brief stoppages for Amadou Onana and Pedro Porro before Tottenham forward Mathys Tel squandered an opening at the back post from a Kudus cross to ensure it stayed 1-1 at the break.

After Villa full-back Digne required treatment after being caught by Danso with his follow-through, the second half sparked into life.

A long throw by Danso sparked chaos in the away goal but Ezri Konsa managed to block Odobert's goal-bound effort on the line before soon after Palhinha's 20-yard curler was tipped wide by Martinez.

Emery's team swung back as John McGinn slipped in Donyell Malen but he fired into the side-netting under pressure from Van de Ven.

Both benches reacted, with Richarlison sent on for Spurs on the hour mark and Ollie Watkins introduced a minute later.

Frank prepared to roll the dice again with Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani ready to come on but after Tottenham declined multiple chances to send them on, Villa punished the hosts in the 77th minute.

The visiting full-backs combined with Cash's wonderful crossfield pass plucked out of the air by Digne, who teed up Buendia and he curled around a crowd of bodies to fool Vicario.

Bergvall and Kolo Muani were finally sent on before Frank tweaked his formation, but Brennan Johnson blazed over in stoppage-time as boos greeted full-time, with Tottenham winning only three of their last 18 home league games.

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Tottenham were dealt a major blow as Cristian Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up to rule him out of facing Aston Villa.

The defender was set to captain Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and joined his team-mates for the usual warm-up.

However, Romero dropped out early and went straight down the tunnel, though it was unclear what the nature of that issue was.

Kevin Danso filled in alongside Micky van de Ven as the back four went through their pre-match preparations, with the centre-backs pinging long passes between each other.

Danso also took part in the set-piece warm-up as confirmation then came that he would replace Romero in the starting lineup. Van de Ven inherited the captain’s armband.

Thomas Frank will provide an update on Romero's injury after the match but Spurs will be desperately hoping it is not a significant problem.

Aston Villa's visit to north London is the first of seven matches Spurs face in the next 22 days, including clashes with Newcastle, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Spurs had already been weakened in defence, after Destiny Udogie returned from international duty with a knee issue.

That was described by Frank as "nothing major", but it was not enough to keep him out of the squad entirely against Aston Villa as Djed Spence came into the side.

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Tottenham return to Premier League action today after a two-week layoff, hosting Aston Villa in N17. It is a tricky matchup for Thomas Frank’s men, who, despite being unbeaten in seven, were not at their sparkling best in their last outings before the international break. Aston Villa, meanwhile, have finally found form after their dismal start to the campaign, winning four on the spin after failing to win any of their first six outings of the campaign.

Frank could be boosted today by the return of Randal Kolo Muani, the Paris Saint-Germain loanee who has been sidelined through injury for the vast majority of his time in north London, but returned to training during the break and could feature from the off today.

For the visitors, this match promises to be the toughest outing of the season so far. Commanding wins over Fulham and Feyenoord earlier this month will leave them brimming with confidence, though. Follow all the action live below with our dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at the ground!

Mathys Tel said he will not shy away from taking more penalties for Tottenham after missing from the spot in the UEFA Super Cup.

Spurs led Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 with 85 minutes played in the Super Cup, but conceded a pair of late goals and lost after a penalty shootout.

Micky van de Ven saw his spot kick saved before Tel, whose loan from Bayern Munich was made permanent this summer, fired wide.

He wasted little time in stepping back up to the spot, though, scoring from 12 yards for France Under-21s in a 6-0 rout of the Faroe Islands this month.

Despite facing considerable backlash for his shootout miss, Tel was adamant that he feels “no fear” about volunteering to take more penalties for Tottenham.

“I will take a penalty again,” he declared in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

“If we go again to play in the Super Cup next year, I will take it again. No fear.”

“I love Kobe Bryant and I always read what he did and he was always about trying, trying.

“You need to try to have success. You are going to make mistakes to have success, so I’m OK with mistakes.

“I’m OK if I don’t score goals because I’m going to be back and next time I will score.”

Tel was among six Spurs players excluded from Thomas Frank’s Champions League squad after an underwhelming performance in the Super Cup, but added that snub had inspired him to continue improving.

He was left out alongside Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma, but is hoping to sufficiently impress Frank this autumn to be added after the league phase.

“To be honest, I was very, very mad for a lot of weeks,” he recalled.

“But I was like, ‘use this and show him you need to be on the squad list’. Bad things help me more than good things to be better.

“I’m a fair person and I was not on a good day for the [Super Cup] final, I didn’t play well enough.

“After the game against Leeds, [Frank] pushed me to the fans and that was quite emotional for me because he showed me that ‘I didn’t put you in the squad, but you’re still there, I still believe in you’.”