It has been nine days since Aston Villa’s disappointing performance resulted in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. Today’s opponents are Tottenham Hotspur who visit Villa Park in the Sunday evening game live on Sky Sports.
There have not been too many articles over the past week on the website due to my needing to take a step backwards. I have a great writing team on the website who submit content on a regular basis but I needed a break from the website and Villa, to be honest. Football has been constant since they resumed following the initial pandemic outbreak and it can be a little full-on.
You are probably wondering what this has to do with the preview for today’s game? Well, if I feel this way, imagine how the players felt. Maybe they needed a break also. They won’t openly come out and say it because they are able to do something they love, something so many others can’t right now.
Villa’s form hasn’t been great since their own Covid-19 outbreak in January. It seemed to upset our rhythm but since our return, we have played 12 games in 8 weeks. It is a lot to ask for when you include travelling and so forth!
Today’s opponents, Tottenham have hardly had it easy themselves. They have had to contend with the Europa League on top of everything else including the qualifying rounds.
Following defeats to Arsenal and then their shock exit from the Europa League at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night, the pressure is back on Jose Mourinho and his Spurs side. It seems the done thing in the modern game. You lose a couple and the manager is on the brink of being sacked. Madness if you ask me but I am sure Spurs fans will have their own view on the bigger picture taking place in North London.
Both sides today are better than their current form reflects so today’s game will have to see an improvement from one of the sides or we are in for a very dull 90 minutes of football.
TEAM PREVIEW
Dean Smith has stated any decision made on Jack Grealish will be made last minute. Although he is back in training, he hasn’t trained with his teammates – well hadn’t at the time of Smith’s press conference. Personally, knowing how Villa seem to deal with injuries, id be surprised if Grealish’s name was in that starting line-up this evening.
Wesley is back in full training and requires match-fitness. The club plan to have some friendlies during the international break to help with this.
Bertrand Traore should be available for selection after hurting his ribs with a collision with an advertising board against Wolves.
Son Heung-min is expected to miss out for Tottenham with a muscle injury. He is expected to be available after the international break.
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean.
Assistants: Darren Cann, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Robert Jones. VAR: Simon Hooper. Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton.
DID YOU KNOW
A win for Aston Villa today will be their first home victory over Tottenham in 10 attempts. Their last win came in 2008.
Should Villa beat Tottenham, it will be the first time Mourinho has lost 10 games in a single season during his managerial career.
Harry Kane has scored five goals in his last three appearances against Aston Villa
HOW TO FOLLOW
I CANNOT WATCH LIVE
Join fellow Villa supporters by discussing tonight’s game on our forum in our live match chat.
ON TV
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League.
PREDICTIONS
I am hoping out fitness levels will give us the upper hand over Tottenham today. Spurs went to extra time on Thursday night while we haven’t played in over a week as I have already mentioned.
A lot of our hopes tend to hang on the fitness of Jack Grealish but should he be available, how match fit will he be having had so much time out?
Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham
