Tottenham Hotspur

Olivia Holdt feels right at home in north London and her performances are backing that up.

The midfielder spoke of her ‘enjoyment playing football right now’ as she inspired us to a 3-0 win over Birmingham City in the Subway Women’s League on Saturday – bagging her first brace in Spurs colours while also registering an assist.

Having netted two goals already this term - both coming in the Barclays Women's Super League - our number 11 was on form once again at Brisbane Road, scooping home the opener followed by setting up Amanda Nilden to double our advantage.

The Denmark international then rounded off her stellar display by rounding Blues’ goalkeeper Lucy Thomas and slotting home into an empty net, helping us climb to top of Group E with five points and putting us in pole position to progress to the knockout stages ahead of our final round of fixtures next month.

“We got the three points, kept the clean sheet and scored three goals, it was nice,” she told us, reflecting on the game with SPURSPLAY. “I’m just happy with the performance.”

Asked about her first goal in the contest, she added: “It’s not something I prepare before the game - it’s just intuition.

“The goalkeeper stormed out to try and save the ball, so I felt the only way I could score was to chip it over her – and I went for that.”

Those two goals and assist took her goal involvement to five (four goals and one assist) across all competitions – and the 24-year-old has pinned her terrific start to the campaign by feeling ‘settled’ at the Club.

“I think I’ve settled well now,” she explained. “Being here for a full pre-season and starting a new season with the team has really helped me.

“Also, with Martin [Ho] coming in - he’s brought a great style of football, a lot of confidence, where we want to play, enjoy the ball and work hard.

“The team has come together after a tough season last year, and I’m just really enjoying my football right now.”

Wednesday 22 October

Men's Under-19s

UEFA Youth League vs AS Monaco U19s, AS Monaco Perfromance Centre - 1pm

Follow live updates on our European blog on our website and app. Read the report and watch highlights of the game post-match on our channels

Men's First Team

UEFA Champions League vs AS Monaco, Stade Louis II - 8pm

Live on TNT Sports (UK), listen on our Audio Commentary, follow live updates throughout, including on our Live Blog on tottenhamhotspur.com and our app.

Saturday 25 October

Men's Under-18s

Under-18 Premier League vs Leicester City, Hotspur Way - 11.30am

LIVE on SPURSPLAY. Follow on socials. Read the report and watch the highlights on our website and app.

Men's Under-21s

Premier League 2 vs Manchester United, Leigh Sports Village, 12noon

LIVE on SPURSPLAY. Follow on socials. Read the report and watch the highlights on our website and app.

Sunday 26 October

Micky van de Ven felt ‘it wasn’t necessary to lose today’ after we were undone by two wonder strikes as Villa took the points via a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Key moments in the game went against us after a perfect start, Rodrigo Bentancur firing us into the lead on five minutes. It would have been 2-0 minutes later, but Mo Kudus strayed offside before a brilliant finish from Micky’s pass.

It was a tough one to take for Micky, who wore the captain’s armband after Cuti Romero’s withdrawal in the warm up.

Speaking to us on the Review Show, Micky reflected: “It was a tough game, really tough. Aston Villa are a good side. We knew from the beginning it was going to be a tight game, but I don’t think they created big opportunities. They scored two goals outside of the box. I have to see it back if I can say there is something we could have done about it, but I think it was not necessary to lose today.

“We scored early and you want to build on that. We created opportunities but the longer the game goes on, you also need control. You can’t keep pushing forward the whole game. In the end, they scored out of nowhere. First goal, great strike, we can't really do something about it. Second goal, I don't know exactly from where he shoots, but I think it's quite far, so out of the box into the long corner.

“We also had some great opportunities, but we didn't play the best pass, so I think sometimes in the final third we need to be calmer and just play the best pass to make the biggest opportunity out of it. I don't think we did that today.”

Thomas Frank explained Cristian Romero’s late withdrawal from the team after our 2-1 home loss against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

The skipper led the team out for the warm up, but returned to the dressing room early – and it wasn’t long before Kevin Danso had taken his place in pre-match defensive drills. Kevin started and Micky van de Ven wore the armband in Cuti’s absence.

Thomas updated us on Cuti when he spoke to us afterwards on the Review Show. “He had a minor issue with his adductor. I expect it to be a minor thing. I thought Kevin did well today. I’m very happy with his performance.”

Thomas was also asked about Cuti’s fitness in his post-match press conference and if he’ll be fit in time to face AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League at Stade Louis II on Wednesday evening.

"I don't know,” he said. “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 and then I spoke to the players and then I prepared a little bit for the questions (in the press conference). And then I worry about the players tomorrow."

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after our 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Here's what he had to say...

What did you make of the game today?

Thomas: "I think the way the game panned out was exactly how I expected it to be, if I'm honest. A very even game against a very good Villa team, set up very well by Unai, where I think we performed quite well. What is, maybe not through the roof, I'm thinking what is through the roof is that totally dominating Villa, which has been a very good team in the last couple of seasons, clearly a very good team with good players. But I think we dominated in good spells, I think we came out with very good intensity, very aggressive, I think we were good in high pressure. I think first half especially we wanted some very good times and broke and had four or five very good nearby moments where it was good transition opportunities, got in front. Continued second half, actually created some good opportunities, we could have scored both the 2-0 with Mo, ruled out for offside and the Wilson chance. And defensively I think we were excellent. There are a couple of things you can look into when you look defensively. We gave away eight shots, I think, not even a cross, more or less. Very, very low xG and Vicario didn't have to make a save. So we've done that and then you've done well. We gave two goals away, that is in a position outside the box with a lot of players behind the ball, where if you said to me before the game, they will shoot from there, Rogers and Buendia, with that situation. I said, yeah, of course, no problem, it's not dangerous. But a fantastic quality shot from Rogers. So, in those nothing moments or very little moments, they had more quality."

Would you have liked to have seen more from the team in open play?

Thomas: "Yeah, I think that's fair to say. I think Villa defended well, which we know they in general do. I think that's something we worked very hard on, tried to improve. The area I'd like to improve were the four or five very good transition moments where we are in good positions, could have done more. And I mean it, I think we performed a good game without being through the roof and part of it was we could have had a bit more offensively."

What happened to Cuti Romero?

Thomas: "It was a minor adductor issue, nothing big."

You've 10 points on the road, four at home - can you explain why you can't win at home?

Thomas: "I hope I can. Maybe, I don't think it's that simple. 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 it's 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 look at the bits we need to improve."

Bergvall and Kolo Muani were waiting on the touchline to come on before the second goal - why did it take so long?

Thomas: "When they were waiting, yeah, the big detail there is there was a set piece. So we didn't want them to get on in the set piece. That's normally the go-to rule you have as a coach. So, unfortunately I think maybe it was one or two and then definitely extended it and then they scored. So, I think that's why it looked long. I would have loved to have them on at 1-1. I think that could have made a difference."

You spoke on Friday about the need for the fans to lift the players in the tough moments and also the players to sort of lift the fans by playing an exciting way - how did you view that today?

Thomas: "I think it was okay both ways. I think the fans were good. I think they helped what they could and I think we, in moments, looked exciting and in moments we could have done a little bit better. So, of course, we would have loved a 3-0 win and the players were rocking and everything looked fantastic, but it didn't. It looked quite good. Unfortunately, we lost 2-1 because of two quality moments.

Do you expect Romero to be available to face Monaco?

Thomas: "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 and then I spoke to the players and then I prepared a little bit for Anthony for the questions they're going to have. And then I worry about the players tomorrow."

Is Xavi Simons still finding his rhythm?

Thomas: "I think we defend with 11 players. We also attack with 11 players. It's the whole team. Of course, it will always be, let's say, the front four. Today, Wilson, Mo, Xavi and Mathys. They are the main guys that will be judged on it, which is fair. Other players coming on from the bench. 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. 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."

Speaking to us on the Review Show afterwards, Thomas summed up: “I think we overall played a fine, good game against a very good Villa team. It was exactly as tight as I expected before the game.

“I think we started very well, not only the goal, but I think we came out very aggressive, very intense, pressed high, tried to take initiative, scored the goal, had four, five, six very good moments where we should and could have done better.

“The second half, I think we keep it up, especially the first 15. Then I think it's very even spell in the middle, where it's a little bit back and forth. I still think we've a little bit more of the initiative. Then unfortunately they scored their goal, and then it's very hectic in the end where we throw everything in and try to get the equaliser.

“Defensively, I thought we were very good. Vic has zero saves. There are two shots on target - both of them are positioned, if you asked me before the game if they can shoot from there with that many players behind the ball… any day. We lose because of two moments quality, especially from Rogers. That's an unbelievable finish. On the day, they had more quality in not only nearly moments, but in a nothing moment, especially the first one.

“I expected an even game against a team I think we are as good as at least. It's exactly what I expected. Of course, you hope to have more cut through chances, but I think it's also fair to say that we need to do a little bit more in the final third. We need to look into that. It's my job, my responsibility to do everything we can to make them feel confident, play forward and structure and all that. On the day, I think it's also fair to say we probably didn't hit our highest offensive level, but that can happen.”

A valiant comeback from our Under-19s ended in heartbreak as we fell 4-3 in extra-time to Gwalia United in the FA Women's National League Plate.

Facing the Women's third-tier senior side, we raced into a 1-0 goal lead in the first period in Wales as Heidi Hills continued her fine goalscoring run for the Under-19s – scoring in consecutive games across all competitions.

The Cardiff-based side responded well after the break and three goals in a 12-minute minute spell in the second half gave them a healthy advantage as they looked on course to victory. However, our youngsters’ spirit didn’t dampen and we fought back, as Hills was on hand to convert from close range to halve the deficit.

Then, in the closing stages, Hills secured her hat-trick with a stunning goal from edge of the box to force the game into extra-time. But, four minutes into the additional 30 minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty and at the second time of asking and, despite Erin Radbourne saving the initial first attempt, it was retaken for encroachment and they calmly converted at the second time of asking.

We pushed for a late equaliser but it wasn’t to be for Sabiha Jamal’s side, with Gwalia progressing to the next round of the competition, while there will be plenty of positives for our young side to take into the rest of competition.

More details to follow…

(Image credit - Ian Lovell)

Martin Ho was pleased with the dominant display as we ran out 3-0 winners over Birmingham City in the Subway Women’s League Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Olivia Holdt produced a lovely, composed finish to put us ahead at the break before she turned provider eight minutes after the restart, teeing up Amanda Nilden for her first goal of the season. Holdt then oozed further class for her second goal of the afternoon, taking it round Lucy Thomas before slotting home into the empty net.

And, once again, the icing on the cake saw us preserve another clean sheet – our fifth of the season already – as the victory over the Women’s Super League 2 side sends us top of Group E ahead of the final set of fixtures next month.

Speaking afterwards with SPURSPLAY, Martin said: “Three points, three goals. I’d say it was a dominant performance for large spells. Maybe the last five or ten minutes, we got a little bit scrappy with the ball and gave away a few too many easy chances through our own build-up.

“Apart from that, I thought it was a really good performance. Some good individual performances, but collectively a really positive one off the back of Chelsea.

“The first goal was really good in terms of her instinctiveness in the box - to lift it over the keeper when she comes out. Then, her ability to go around the keeper on the second one. The build-up play to that point was good, really clever - a great through ball for the second goal.

“Amanda’s goal where she cuts inside and puts it in the bottom corner - that gives us a really nice 3–0 win and, more importantly, an opportunity to get closer to progression out of the group.”

As we now head into the October international break, Martin was asked to reflect on his first few months into the campaign.

“I think up to this point we’ve done really well - 12 points in the league and five points in the cup. I couldn’t ask for more,” he replied.

“The group has given me everything so far and I want to make sure we continue to build on that. We can’t get comfortable or think we can take our foot off the gas. We have six really big games after the break, and we need to go into those games ready to win.”

Watch | Key highlights from win over Birmingham City

Olivia Holdt netted a brace as we enjoyed a dominant 3-0 win over Birmingham City in the Subway Women’s League Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Returning to the starting XI for the clash at Brisbane Road, the midfielder produced an excellent scooped finish just five minutes before the break to open the scoring. Then, eight minutes after the break, she turned provider as she picked out Amanda Nilden inside the box who curled low into the bottom corner for her first goal of the campaign.

The Denmark international wasn’t done there though, later adding another composed finish to double her tally for the afternoon - her fourth goal of the campaign - as we climbed to the top of Group E with five points from our two games so far.

Holdt was one of three players brought into the starting line-up by Martin Ho, with Maite Oroz earning her second start of the season and Josefine Rybrink returning into our backline, as we also claimed our fifth clean sheet of the season in all competitions.

We looked to make an instant impact in the opening stages against our WSL 2 opponents in east London, Oroz denied from the edge of the box before Jess Naz flashed an effort wide across the face of the goal. Despite our dominant spell in the first quarter of the contest, Lucy Thomas was only tested once as she got a strong hand to push Naz’s strike from inside the right area of the box around the post. The visitors slowly grew into the game as the first half progressed, with Ava Baker a lively figure down the right-hand side, and she fired an effort into the side-netting in the closest opportunity for the Blues on the half-hour mark.

The game turned a bit scrappy as we approached the end of the first period, so it needed a moment of quality to burst the game into life and that came from Holdt. After Oroz and Matilda Vinberg combined, the latter played it through to our number 11 inside the box and she lifted it over the sliding Thomas to break the deadlock. The away side will be indebted to Thomas for maintaining the deficit at one as she tipped Vinberg’s effort from distance over the bar on the stroke of half time.

Having netted her third goal of the season, Holdt was full of confidence as the game restarted for the second period and went close to doubling her tally but this time her lofted effort over Thomas found the side-netting after a lovely pass from Summanen to set the midfielder through. However, eight minutes into the restart, Holdt turned provider for our second of the afternoon. After some lovely footwork just outside the box, she picked out Nilden inside the box, on the left, who cut inside before curling low into the far bottom corner.

The two-goal advantage gave us some breathing space before, in the 74th minute, Holdt was inspirational once again to grab her second of the afternoon. Similar to the first goal, Vinberg played the ball into Holdt inside the box and she showed complete composure once again, rounding the Blues’ keeper before slotting the ball into the empty net. With a healthy advantage in the bag as we entered the closing stages, we needed to remain defensively switched on as Birmingham pushed for a late consolation goal, Sarri firing well over the bar from the edge of the box in the only opportunity to note, as we preserved another clean sheet – our fifth in seven games across all competitions - to send us into the international break on a positive note.

Aston Villa fought back to take the points with a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

We made the perfect start when Rodrigo Bentancur fired us ahead just five minutes in and we looked good in the early stages. However, the visitors worked their way back into the game, levelling it up through Morgan Rogers before half-time and then snatching their fifth consecutive victory with an excellent winner from Emiliano Buendia in the 77th minute. They were Villa’s only two shots on target in the game.

Our best chances in the second half came from long throws and crosses into the box, but we couldn’t make any of them count and Emi Martinez was rarely troubled as we slipped to a second league defeat of the campaign, both on home soil.

Back in action following the international break, we were dealt a blow just before kick-off when captain Cristian Romero was replaced in the initial starting line-up by Kevin Danso but we seemed to shrug off the setback quickly, opening the scoring early on. Villa initially cleared a corner but we recycled it quickly, Djed Spence knocking it wide left to Mohammed Kudus, his deep cross was headed back into the danger zone by Joao Palhinha and Bentancur was on hand to slam home from eight yards out, the ball flying in off Amadou Onana.

The visitors replied with a low Matty Cash drive from 20 yards out that bounced a couple of yards wide and there was a good tempo to the game with both sides moving the ball around well in the north London drizzle. We were frequently getting into promising positions but lacking a final pass to carve out the chance, while we went close in the 28th minute as Pedro Porro hit a big switch of play from right to left out to Wilson Odobert, who cut inside and hit a curling shot which Martinez spilled but was up quickly to gather the loose ball.

We were preventing Villa from really getting into any rhythm, thanks in part to some fine interception and tackles from Palhinha and Bentancur, only to concede an equaliser with 37 minutes gone. It looked like Xavi Simons had stopped Rogers but the ball landed back with the Villa midfielder who then hit a 20-yard dipping shot over Guglielmo Vicario and into the back of the net. The closing stages of the half saw us apply some late pressure but the closest we came to regaining the lead was a Kudus cross which looked like it was going to be slotted home at the far post by Mathys Tel but he missed the ball and we went in level at the break.

After a quiet opening to the second half, we had a couple of opportunities in quick succession, the first from a classic Danso long throw which ended up falling to Odobert only for his shot to hit Ezri Konsa in front of the goal. Moments later, Palhinha struck a curling right-foot effort which Martinez pushed around the post with a fine diving save. Suddenly the game was opening up and at the other end, John McGinn threaded a ball into Donyell Malen but he fired into the side netting.

Both sides were having attacking opportunities without taking them as the game wore on until Villa scored a very good goal with 13 minutes remaining. Cash struck a sublime half-volleyed 40-yard pass out to Lucas Digne down their right, he controlled with one touch and flicked the ball to substitute Buendia with his second and the Villa midfielder moved infield before curling a wonderful right-foot shot beyond Vicario and into the far corner.

As we searched for a late equaliser, the closing stages saw a number of balls into the box from corners or Danso long throws, one Kudus corner looking like it was landing at the feet of substitute Randal Kolo Muani – on for his Premier League debut – but he missed his kick in front of goal, while another substitute Brennan Johnson had a chance after controlling at the back post but he then slashed his shot well wide and another home defeat was in the books.