Tottenham Hotspur

The Czech goalkeeper's one-handed flying save to keep out Joao Gomes' free-kick in the final seconds of our 1-0 win at Wolves last time out has been shortlisted for April's prize.

Making his third successive league start, 'Toni' - who received your Player of the Match vote - bravely put his body on the line as he was at full-stretch to claw away the top corner-bound attempt to his left with his momentum seeing him clatter into the post.

Joao Palhinha had given us the lead with eight minutes remaining at Molineux to put us on course for our first league win of 2026 but we were eventually left indebted to our shot stopper's contribution in the 98th minute to preserve the clean sheet and secure the all-important three points.

Our number 31 faces competition from Everton's Jordan Pickford, Newcastle United's Aaron Ramsdale, Fulham's Bernd Leno, Leeds United's Karl Darlow and Burnley's Martin Dubravka.

We marked the history-making achievements of our 1901 team on the anniversary of winning the FA Cup earlier this week - 27 April - as we became the first and only non-league team to lift the famous trophy by beating Sheffield United in a replay.

The semi-final - our first - was at Villa Park on 8 April, 1901 - and proved another milestone match for top-scorer Sandy Brown, who netted all four goals in a 4-0 win against West Brom.

We've played seven FA Cup semi-finals at Villa Park, won four - and gone on to win the trophy on every occasion. That includes our double season, when arguably the second-biggest game of another history-making campaign - assuming the final win against Leicester to secure the double was the biggest - saw us overcome the challenge of huge rivals Burnley, a stunning 3-0 win seen as one of the best performances of the glory, glory years under Bill Nicholson - Bobby Smith (2) and Cliff Jones on target.

Our FA Cup semi-finals at Villa Park

Son shone at Villa Park

Heung-Min Son enjoyed his time in a Spurs shirt at Villa Park. The South Korea superstar registered 10 goal involvements in nine Premier League appearances against Villa (six goals, four assists) - with all six goals coming at Villa Park! Sonny is one of only three players to score a league hat-trick at Villa Park and one of only four to bag a treble in all competitions - more on that below.

Sonny played through the pain barrier to claim the first of his six goals at Villa Park. That was in February, 2020, when he played on with what turned out to be a fractured arm - and scored a dramatic late winner. Sonny opened the scoring with the rebound from a penalty, Villa levelled, Toby Alderweireld fired us in front, Villa made it 2-2 but Sonny saved his best until last, a clinical one-on-one in added time to wrap up the points.

Next up, a memorable hat-trick in a 4-0 win as the team clicked under Antonio Conte in the second half of the 2021/22 season - nine wins, two draws and just two defeats in our last 13 matches saw us haul in Arsenal to take the final Champions League spot - and Sonny grab the Golden Boot. We scored 34 goals in those 13 games, including five on three occasions ans four at Villa Park. Sonny led the way, opening the scoring early and then finishing twice on counter-attacks. Deki Kulusevski added the fourth.

Sonny's last goal at Villa Park was in March, 2024 - another memorable 4-0 win. This time, the damage was all done in the second half as Sonny was joined on the scoresheet by James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner. We went on to finish fifth, just missing out on Champions League qualification - but a year later, lifted the Europa League in Bilbao.

A quartet of hat-tricks

Only four players have scored hat-tricks for us at Villa Park - an exclusive club, not least as we have 125 years worth of history playing at the famous venue.

First up, Martin Chivers in the second round of the League Cup on 4 September, 1969. 'Big Chiv' grabbed a hat-trick in a 4-1 win as we went all the way to semi-finals. Cliff Jones was also on target in a productive final month for the legendary winger - after 10 years at Spurs, he joined Fulham in October that year. Martin, who sadly passed away recently, would have further joy against Villa in the League Cup - memorably scoring both goals as we won the trophy for the first time against Villa at Wembley in 1971.

After a gap of 17 years, Clive Allen was next up take a matchball back down the M6. Clive grabbed all three goals as we kicked-off a memorable 1986/87 campaign - both for Clive and the team - in style at Villa Park. It was first three of 49 goals for Clive, who claimed the Golden Boot for spearheading us to third place in the First Division, the FA Cup Final and semi-finals of the League Cup. His record goals total for a season stands to this day.

Fast forward another 26 years to Boxing Day, 2012 and Gareth Bale, enjoying the season of his life in Lilywhite in 2012/13, landed a quick one-two-three to put us out of sight at Villa Park. We'd dominated from the off but had to wait until the second half for Jermain Defoe to open the scoring. Bale then took over with clinical finishes on 61, 73 and 84 minutes to see us home. The legendary Welshman scored 26 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions before his world-record move to Real Madrid.

Our most recent hat-trick at Villa Park was claimed by Heung-Min Son in another 4-0 win in the Premier League on 9 April, 2022. As detailed above, Sonny opened the scoring before running riot in the second half, our in-form team clinical on the counter and on the way to fourth place with nine wins and plenty of goals in the final 13 games. Sonny was also flying and come May, landed the Golden Boot.

The creative midfielder's stunning curler in the 2-2 draw with Brighton is one of the eight strikes shortlisted across the month.

Making his first league start since the start of March, our number seven was at the heart of everything as he first produced a delightful clipped assist for Pedro Porro to head in the opener before he bent a beauty from the edge of the area to restore our lead in the second half after Kaoru Mitoma had equalised for the visitors on the stroke of half-time.

This weekend sees us return to the West Midlands looking to pick up another important three points in the region after Joao Palhinha's late heroics secured a 1-0 win at Wolves last time out.

Buoyed by our first league victory this calendar year, the squad were put through their paces in a competitive session at a sun-soaked Hotspur Way with full focus on a stern test against a Villa side sitting fifth in the league table.

Check out the latest training snaps to see what Roberto De Zerbi had in store in Wednesday's session.

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

The match will now take place on Tuesday 12 May, kick-off 1pm.

It remains at Hotspur Way and will be shown live on SPURSPLAY.

The date - 23 August, 1986. The opening day of the First Division season, as it was before the arrival of the Premier League, took us to Birmingham to face Aston Villa.

Clive took home the matchball that day after bagging all three goals in a 3-0 win – only the fourth Spur to hit a treble at Villa’s home since we first played over 100 years ago – more on that below – and he didn’t stop scoring.

The spearhead of a 4-5-1 system implemented by manager David Pleat in a 4-2 win at Oxford on 22 November, Clive had reached 48 goals in all competitions when he stepped out for the FA Cup Final against Coventry City at Wembley in May, 1987. He soon made it 49 – but, alas, number 50 didn’t arrive and we ended up losing 3-2.

That was the story of that season – third in the league, runners-up in the FA Cup and agonisingly losing semi-finalists in the League Cup against Arsenal despite taking the lead in both legs and then the replay.

Clive won the Golden Boot and his 49-goal haul hasn’t been topped at Spurs – Jimmy Greaves scored 42 (44 including the Charity Shield) in 1962/63, Martin Chivers also hit 42 in 1971/72, Harry Kane the only other Spur to score 40-plus with his 41 in 2017/18.

As we prepare to hit the Aston Expressway again on Sunday for another crucial Premier League fixture (7pm UK), Clive sat down for our new ‘five questions with…’ feature.

Here’s what he had to say…

The opening game of 1986/87, Villa away – you scored a hat-trick and went on to score 49 goals – what do you remember about that afternoon at Villa Park?

Clive: “I just remember we started so well - first game of the season and we literally flew out the blocks. It was unbelievable. We were in front early. If I remember rightly, Tony Galvin crossed it and I just got the bottom of my boot to it and it sort of hit my studs and flew in the bottom corner. The the start we'd made - we had chances and we were really, really playing well, well on top, I remember that more than anything. Obviously, scoring on the opening day of the season was always a great moment because you want to get off to a good start, but to do that and score so quickly was really good.”

Did you sense something special could be happening that season?

Clive: “Oh, definitely. I felt so good. I'd had the injury the season before and I'd played the last 12 games of the previous season. I'd just overcome all the problems and the worry that I wasn't going to play - lots of things during that year out. I'd really worked hard through the summer. David Pleat took over and I always remember him saying to me, ‘I want you to have a holiday’. I said, ‘no, no, no, I'm going to be training right the way through, I feel good again and I'm going to be on the start line’. Then he mapped it out for me, that we’d be doing a tough pre-season and if I wanted to do anything (more), to do it three weeks before I was back in. I followed his instructions, had a holiday and then I worked really hard for three weeks before coming back to pre-season. I was probably in the best shape of my life, really, coming back. Pre-season was good. I scored a few goals. My uncle saw us play a friendly at Aldershot and later that season, he told me he’d backed us to win the title and for me to be top scorer. He didn’t tell me that until the end of the season! So, we went into the start of the season in good shape, really good shape."

We were back at Villa Park for the FA Cup semi-final later that season – you scored again as we beat Watford 4-1 – was Villa Park always a happy hunting ground for you?

Clive: “It's one of my favourite away grounds. I scored my first league goal there for Queen's Park Rangers against Villa. I came on as sub - aged 17. It wasn’t at the Holte End, unfortunately, but it was still my first goal and I'll never forget that. Then obviously the hat-trick on the opening day of the 86/87 season, a semi-final victory. I went back there with Man City and scored. I loved Villa Park. I loved playing there and had good results there.”

Clive: "Oh really? I didn't know that! That's not bad. Yeah, I'm very happy about that. They were good players, good strikers. I obviously worked with Gareth and was there when he came to the club, so to see him grow and develop - an incredible, incredible talent."

You are such a popular pundit and co-commentator with Rob Daly on SPURSPLAY - putting your pundit's hat on, what do you think about Villa on Sunday?

Clive: “Villa have had a fabulous season, you can't get away from that. I'd say they've probably done what they need to do in the league (they're fifth, and in the final UCL spot, eight points clear of Brighton) and subconsciously that's always a tricky thing, especially with the Europa League semi-finals either side of our game. I just think there's an opportunity for us. Listen, we've come off of a win at Wolves which was so, so important. That should give the players confidence. I think you just see at the moment that there's no guaranteed result in the Premier League, not at this stage of the season. Not at all. For whatever reason, whether it's a top-vs-bottom or whether it's two mid-table teams, you just see the strength of the Premier League. Everybody's playing for places and it's going to go right to the wire - everything - top, bottom, European places, everything's up for grabs. Villa, they're nearly there, but they've got other things on their minds as well. I just think after last week's win at Wolves the whole feeling within the group will be different."

Finally, about you and the club. Your dad was the legendary double-winner Les Allen, you were born when he was at Spurs in the double year, 1961. You've always said you and Spurs, it was meant to be - so, what do Spurs mean to you?

Clive: “It's a way of life. It's been a massive, massive part of my life and obviously football is what we've been all about. The experiences that I've had with the club... I just absolutely love it. I love every minute of it. I'm just really passionate about the club being successful. I loved my time as a player. I thoroughly enjoyed it as a coach and a couple temporary managerial appointments in there as well. Now working with SPURSPLAY and my ambassadorial role. It's just such an important part of my life.”

In an action-packed first half at the Blades’ training ground, Grace Breen handed us the lead with an excellent free-kick but that was quickly cancelled out with a stunning strike from Alexandra Rigg after just 20 minutes. Rigg grabbed her second of the afternoon to give her side the advantage before Rania Oukriss converted from the penalty spot to bring the scores level on the stroke of half time and net her second goal in as many games.

We regained the lead 10 minutes in the second period through Grace Bellwood - her 15th goal of the campaign - but the hosts fought back once again to turn the game into their favour, Mollie Austin finding an equaliser before Abigail Jones struck in the closing stages to earn her side the victory in our final away game of the season.

It was an evenly-match first quarter of the game on a lovely, sunny afternoon in south Yorkshire, with the first moment of note coming just after the 10th minute when Rigg curling effort was routine for Erin Radbourne. However, we took the lead on 16 minutes and it was something that we have come accustomed to see from Breen this season, as she sent a low, powerful drive from a central free-kick, around 25 yards out, into the bottom corner.

But that was short lived as, at the other end, Rigg produced an even better strike to bring the scores level. Receiving the ball from Ruby Shore on the right edge of the box, she sent a first time effort into the far top corner and Rigg quickly had her second of the afternoon to give her side the advantage, capitalising on Radbourne’s pass through the middle before lofting it over our shot stopper and into the back of the net.

Rigg was inches away from sealing her hat-trick by the 37th-minute, but Radbourne was on hand with a strong hand to tip her free-kick over the bar. As we approached the closing stages of the first period, Ruby Mace found Daria Ordean out wide, she raced inside and played a lovely ball into the feet of Oukriss who was brought down inside the box. Oukriss stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly slotted away to send us in level at the break.

We started on the front foot after the restart, Ruby Gaitely firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box before some excellent pressing from Ruby Mace saw her win possession inside their half, then sliding the ball through for Bellwood to go one-on-one with the hosts’ shot stopper and she showed composure, curling low into the bottom corner. The Blades responded well after falling behind, Isobel Stewart unable to find the target from just outside of the area, but they managed to find the leveller once again in the 70th minute, Rigg turning provider with a low cross from the right and Austin got there first to slot home.

Then, seven minutes remaining of normal time, the home side completed the turnaround for the second time in the contest, Jones seeing her initial cut back blocked by Holly-Mae Elmes but she was able to force the ball home on the rebound. Rigg came close to grabbing her hat-trick in stoppage while, at the other end, Bellwood was unable to direct Eloise Summers-Mee’s cross on target, as the Blades escaped with maximum points in our penultimate game of the season.

Line-ups

Starting XI: Radbourne, Neill (Northwood 80), Elmes, Breen, Hills, Mace, Gaitely, Oukriss, Summers-Mee, Bellwood, Ordean (Deria 64). Substitutes (not used): Mylam, Bird.

The striker, 21, collected both the Men’s Young Player of the Year trophy and Men’s Golden Boot after netting 12 goals in all competitions during his season at the Kassam Stadium.

Unfortunately, Will’s goals couldn’t save the club from relegation to League One, their Championship fate confirmed last weekend when Charlton Athletic defeated Hull City.

The U’s finish their campaign on Saturday with a trip to Millwall.

Will has made 46 appearances in all competitions for them to date.

Fellow Spurs loanee Jamie Donley has also spent the second half of the season on loan with the U’s, scoring once in 14 appearances so far.