Tottenham Hotspur

Late goals from Bethany England and Olivia Holdt saw us stage a dramatic comeback to beat 10-player Aston Villa on our return to Barclays Women's Super League action on Sunday afternoon.

Back following the recent international break, it was a slow burner at Brisbane Road until the game sparked to life on 65 minutes when Villa's Oceane Deslandes was sent off for a second yellow card.

However, the visitors rallied and took a surprise lead six minutes from time through Kirsty Hanson before, just over a minute later, captain England sent in a glancing header to level terms on 85 minutes.

In the ascendency as the clock ticked five minutes into added time, a superb reverse pass from Drew Spence unlocked the stubborn Villans' defence to set Holdt through on goal who showed composure to fire in the last-gasp winner and register our best-ever home start to a WSL campaign at this stage.

More to follow...

It's quiz time! Xavi Simons has extended our Premier League record for the most different scorers in the competition for a single club as he became our 180th different goalscorer in the league with his solo stunner in Saturday's 2-0 win over Brentford.

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, an incredible 180 different players have found the back of the net for us in the top flight. How many can you name?

Well that is the challenge we're proposing to you!

To take on the challenge, click the green 'Play Quiz' button below to get started before inputting your answers in the box titled 'enter player'.

You will have 20 minutes to name as many of the 180 players as you can. To help, the amount of goals they scored for the Club in the Premier League plus the country they are from are listed either side of their relevant answer box.

Helpful tip: If the player you are guessing has a multiple word surname, such as 'Giovani dos Santos', just type in the final word, ie. Santos, to score the point. For players with double-barrelled surnames, such as 'Cameron Carter-Vickers', you need to write the full surname, ie. Carter-Vickers.

Best of luck!

Name our 180 Premier League goalscorers

We're back in Barclays Women's Super League action this afternoon (12noon UK) as we face Aston Villa at Brisbane Road.

Watch the game below via WSL's Official YouTube Channel...

We can confirm the starting line-ups and substitutes for today’s Barclays Women’s Super League clash against Aston Villa at Brisbane Road (Kick-off 12noon).

Martin Ho has made five changes to the team that started at Bristol City in the Women’s League Cup last time out before the international break.

Molly Bartrip makes her first start of the season as she comes into the backline alongside Ashleigh Neville, replacing Toko Koga and Josefine Rybrink who are both named amongst the substitutes.

Eveliina Summanen replaces Olga Ahtinen in midfield, who is ruled out with injury until Christmas, whilst Bethany England and Jess Naz start in attack with Martha Thomas and Cathinka Tandberg making way – the latter also ruled out with injury.

Academy goalkeeper Erin Radbourne is named on the substitutes bench for the first time this term.

Here’s our team in full…

Kop, Bartrip, Nilden, Naz, England (c), Holdt, Vinberg, Hunt, Spence, Summanen, Neville.

Substitutes: Heeps, Radbourne, Koga, Rybrink, Thomas, Gunning-Williams, Dennis.

Mikey Moore marked his return from injury with a fine goal for loan club Rangers in their 3-0 win at Kilmarnock on Saturday evening.

The young attacking midfielder stepped off the bench in the 76th minute with his side 2-0 up at Rugby Park and duly rounded off the scoring with a superb turn and finish five minutes later.

He thought he had a second moments afterwards having found the net from a tight angle, only for his effort to be ruled out by VAR for a foul in the build-up.

It was Mikey’s first action since picking up an injury on international duty for England Under-19s last month.

He becomes the second of our Academy products out on loan to find the net this week after Damola Ajayi bagged a goal and an assist for Doncaster Rovers in their 5-1 home win over Chesterfield in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday night.

Damola also featured as a second-half substitute on Saturday afternoon as Doncaster beat the same opponents – this time away from home – in the second round of the FA Cup. Rovers snatched a late 2-1 win after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men on the hour mark.

Life On Loan | Will Lankshear

Thomas Frank spoke about the determined nature of Xavi Simons after his performance inspired our 2-0 win against Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Xavi was instrumental in the two decisive moments – setting up Richarlison’s opening goal on 25 minutes before a solo goal that had a little bit of everything to double our lead just before half-time.

The Dutch playmaker initially took a heavy touch from Cuti Romero’s pass but threw himself in to a tackle to win it back, then bounced through another challenge before taking off from halfway all the way into Brentford’s box before showing the composure to side foot past Caoimhin Kelleher into the corner.

It was quite a way for Xavi to open his account – and the talk afterwards with Thomas was how that could now launch his career in a Spurs shirt.

Speaking to us afterwards, Thomas said: “I'm so happy on Xavi’s behalf. He's been working so hard. He's a 24-7 pro. He's so determined. He wanted it so badly.

“After a bit of adaptation… but also the team is growing more and more in sync, I think that hasn't helped him. Then, when a new player comes into the club and then we play all the games, we need to rotate some players and all that. So, all that now just coming more together, I think the team looked bright today.”

It was put to Thomas that the way Xavi’s goal came about, with him snapping in to win back possession, would have particularly pleased him. “Yes, that’s hugely important, that quick reaction, that counter-press. The rest is fantastic. Actually, it's a top individual action, but I actually like the first goal as much - a little movement, the ball in behind from Pedro, running down there and a perfect pass for Richy.”

Asked in his press conference if that could be the breakthrough moment for Xavi, Thomas responded: "Yeah, definitely. I think every player needs that extra good performance, so happy for him. He's been working very hard. He's a top pro, he's so determined, he wants it so badly in every aspect of his game and it's just a little bit of adaptation, also that the team is a little bit out of sync.

“Now, it was more, for example, Kudos after a great start, a little dip because of the little injury, and a lot better today as Xavi is in a good place Kolo is in a better place, Richy. So, everything just coming more and more together, so now we need to build on it.”

Thomas Frank isn't expecting Destiny Udogie to be sidelined for long with the injury that ruled him out of selection for our 2-0 win against Brentford on Saturday.

The full-back completed a full shift in our 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Tuesday night. However, Thomas reported that Destiny picked up a soft tissue injury at St. James' Park and that kept him out as goals from Richarlison and Xavi Simons secured an impressive victory against Thomas' former club.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Thomas was asked about Destiny's injury. He replied: "He got a soft tissue injury, unfortunately, against Newcastle."

Asked how long the issue would keep him out, Thomas added: "Not too long"

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after our 2-0 win against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.

Here's what he had to say...

Was that just what you and the team needed, a really vibrant, attacking display?

Thomas: "Yeah, I think so. Sometimes you work hard on things and sometimes it just suddenly clicks. As I said before, the team has been a little bit out of sync in some stages. Today, a lot more players were on the same page at the same time throughout the game. I think we looked such a threat going forward, created chances, played with pace, tempo, penetration, unpredictable. I like that, it's everything we like to be, but also being aggressive in the pressure and we still have that clean sheet mentality, we gave four shots away, which is very good against a Brentford team that is very difficult to handle when they play behind with their directness and their set-pieces so, overall, just a complete performance, I would say."

Could that be a breakthrough performance for Xavi?

Thomas: "Yeah, definitely. I think every player needs that extra good performance, so happy for him. He's been working very hard. He's a top pro, he's so determined, he wants it so badly in every aspect of his game and it's just a little bit of adaptation, also that the team is a little bit out of sync. Now, it was more, for example, Kudos after a great start, a little dip because of the little injury, and a lot better today as Xavi is in a good place Kolo is in a better place, Richy. So, everything just coming more and more together, so now we need to build on it."

What was Destiny Udogie's injury?

Thomas: "He got a soft tissue injury, unfortunately, against Newcastle."

Will it keep him out long?

Thomas: "Not too long, not too long."

It was quite interesting to see how well the Spurs defence dealt with Thiago, a player you signed...

Thomas: "Yeah, I think it's fair to say that I know all the players in the Brentford well, except the two or three they signed this summer. It was, in many ways, very special to meet them. It was nice to see familiar faces. You always want to have more time before and after. If it was not a draw, there had to be a loser, and then everyone is competitive. It was very nice to see people."

Did you feel Xavi was building up to that? How important can it be for him to get that first goal?

Thomas: "Exactly. I think every player needs that extra bit of confidence. That comes from his performance, the team's performance. I think that assist and the goal gave him that extra bit of lightness in his step, and his touches and everything. For him, it was also an all-round very good performance."

How pleased were you to see Archie Gray flourish?

Thomas: "I think he did well. I must say there were a few others who shined maybe more. For example, when Djed Spence was bombarding forward, he was very disciplined, at a young age, to be there on that side, taking care of that left defending position. I think he handled all the tricky situations with the ball, got out of it. He was always a good support. He covered ground very well. So, I think it was a very solid performance."

It was notable how the fans responded - it felt like there was a conscious effort on their part?

Thomas: "The Spurs fans are great fans. Sometimes there's ups, sometimes there's downs in football and life, but I like how the team responded. I like how the whole stadium, the fans responded. Maybe it was me, but I noticed when Vicario's name was announced, I think an extra high roar. I love that. That makes me warm inside because that's where you support your player, because no-one, like no-one, should be talking bad about our players. The fans should feel like that. No-one. They should protect them and I think today there was a fantastic energy between both the team and the fans."

Have you spoken to Xavi?

Thomas: "Yeah, I said... What did I say? I said 'well done, really great response, good performance'."

For that second goal, he starts in his own half, how helpful is it to have a player like that who can, in tight games, just produce a moment like that?

Thomas: "That's what I believed from the beginning, that Xavi can produce that out of nothing. Everything just needs a little bit of adaptation sometimes, with everything - him, the team, everything. This was a very good step. Now it's the next thing to do it again and again and again. But, yeah, very happy for him."

Is there any greater sense of relief than knowing that you didn't lose to your former club?

Thomas: "I'm very happy with the win. I think that's the most important thing. We used enough time on thoughts that we can't do anything about. So, now I'm just very happy. I think we built on a good Newcastle performance as well, and today, what I would say, I was just extremely happy with the offensive performance. It just looked more right today."

Is that the message now, especially offensively, that this is the standard?

Thomas: "Yes, that is the standard. Sometimes there's more tight games, as we know, but I like what I saw from the team and that's what we need to build on and try to become even better."

Did it help that you know so much about the Brentford team - set-pieces, that type of thing?

Thomas: "Yeah, but, you know, I've been in this league for five seasons, so I know very well Pep Guardiola's City team, for example, but of course, we had some inside-out information of some of the players. So, I think it was like a normal preparation, just with small extra information bits on some players."

Have you had a chat with Keith Andrews?

Thomas: "In general, we had a few talks through the last four months, but today I hope we have a beer or a glass of red now after."

A first league win since the opening day at home, how important is that going forward to make this place a harder place for teams to come now?

Thomas: "It's hugely important - hugely important that we won at home, but also the performance and, yeah, we need to keep building on it."

You said the attack was more right - is it about connections, understanding - what was it?

Thomas: "Yeah, I think a few things. We worked very hard on the structure, how we want the structure to be, with which position we wanted for, let's say, Xavi and Mo and Richy and Kolo and also the two sitters and how we pushed Djed a little bit higher. That, and then I think more of the players were more in form, sharper together. All that, I think, helped today."

Did you seen that in training?

Thomas: "Yeah, to be fair, I think, I thought we had a very good training yesterday. I think it just looked, again, more right. I think the team in general on paper looked right today."

Three goals in a quarter-of-an-hour during a wind-swept first half did the damage as our Under-18s suffered a 4-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Younes Ibrahim scored direct from a corner before long-range efforts from Tyler Silsby and Henry Kasvosve both went in off the post as the home side took full advantage of the elements to build up a 3-0 lead by the half-hour mark on a challenging day at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.

Having struggled to get forward during the first period, we improved after the break and went close on a couple of occasions before Oliver Boast’s drive was steered into his own net by Brighton’s Tate Ferdinand in the last minute of normal time. But any hopes of a dramatic late revival were dashed when Kasvosve cut in from the right and fired past Blake Irow deep into stoppage time to round off the scoring in the first of two meetings with Brighton’s Under-18s in 10 days, with a return match still to come in the FA Youth Cup on 16 December.

With that tie in mind and Tuesday’s UEFA Youth League clash with Slavia Prague fast approaching, Under-18s Coach Jamie Carr made nine changes for his first away game in charge, but it was largely the hosts who controlled proceedings in the first half and after a couple of near misses from corners, Ibrahim put another one right underneath the crossbar with the aid of the wind to give his side a 16th-minute lead. Two goals in two minutes just before the half-hour mark subsequently put them firmly in the driving seat, Silsby firing in off the near post from 22 yards out before Kasvosve cut in from the right and curled left-footed in off the far stick virtually straight afterwards.

The hard-working Boast saw a shot charged down and then couldn’t quite reach a second ball in the box on the stretch after Armend Muslika’s free-kick was blocked by the wall as we began to make inroads in the run-up to half-time, before Muslika – twice – and Jamel Beggs went close in the second period.

We didn’t manage to use the weather conditions to our advantage as much as the Seagulls did in the first half but were more of a threat with some slick passages of play. Coach Jamie introduced three Under-16s players off the bench and all made a positive impact, Solomon Olajide denied a goal with his first touch when his angled shot was diverted behind at the near post and Courtney Coffi-Smith seeing a low shot saved before making a useful contribution in the build-up to our goal on 90 minutes, Boast’s angled drive flying inside the near post off Ferdinand. Coffi-Smith and Oscar Sandiford also had a hand in a disallowed second goal for Boast in the final moments of the game, but a fourth for Brighton just beforehand through Kasvosve meant it was the hosts who finished with a flourish.

‘We spoke about trying to turn the momentum in our favour’

Coach Jamie felt the players will have learned a lot from a tough outing on the south coast: “It was a game where we needed to deal with the conditions slightly better – it was difficult playing into that wind in the first half, so it’s part of a learning piece for our boys,” he reflected.

“I felt that in the middle stages of the first half, Brighton managed to get some momentum with the wind and in those moments we just need to understand how to flip the momentum and deal with the conditions slightly better. I felt there were spells in the first half where we showed some really good football once we got up the pitch and played in the middle areas which was pleasing – that was the plan – but it was just getting to that middle section of the pitch where we found it hard to get out at times.

“The message at half-time was to improve on our duels, we needed to understand and find ways to get out from goal-kicks a little bit better and we spoke about trying to turn the momentum in our favour. Unfortunately it took us a bit too long to score, at that stage we were pushing and obviously you go on to concede a fourth but I thought the Under-16s who came on did really well, they made a positive impact and it was also good for some of our lads who haven’t played in a little bit to get 90 minutes into their legs ahead of a big couple of weeks.”

Thomas Frank described our 2-0 victory against his former club Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday as ‘a very complete performance’.

On the front foot from the first whistle, importantly we got ourselves ahead in the game and then doubled our lead before half-time. We created plenty of chances from there, but it was also about shutting up shop – we were excellent defensively, restricting Brentford to four efforts at goal. By way of contrast, we had 15.

Xavi Simons was the architect of our 2-0 lead. First up, he curved his run down the right to latch on to Pedro Porro’s pass before delivering for Richarlison to tap home for the opener on 25 minutes. Then his magic moment – initially taking a heavy touch in our half, Xavi threw himself in to win the ball back from Mikkel Damsgaard, then got the better of Sepp van den Berg before driving from half way into the box and calmly slotting past Caoimhin Kelleher.

We could have added to our tally in the second half and Brentford rarely threatened – when they did, Cuti Romero and Micky van de Ven quickly closed the door.

Speaking to us afterwards, Thomas reflected: “I think that was a very complete performance, one of the best performances of the season overall, definitely the best at home, and not only because of the win.

“I think we looked such a threat going forward. I like the forwardness, penetration, unpredictability. We varied the attack a lot. I like the aggressiveness in the duels and in the pressure, also that clean sheet mentality we need to have. We gave away four shots in the whole game against a very difficult Brentford team.

“I felt it was a game where we were in control of most of it, but you also know we all needed this win. We all knew it was an important win for everything. So, even if you're in control, 2-0 up, you don't want it to be a little bit nervy in the end to concede a stupid goal, so we keep building on those standards and that culture, it’s so important.”