Tottenham Hotspur’s persistent struggles at home continued to haunt them following a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Manager Thomas Frank, still settling into his role, admitted that there’s no quick fix for the team’s alarming form on their own turf, as Villa’s late fightback ended Spurs’ recent unbeaten streak.
Spurs Start Strong but Fail to Hold Lead
Tottenham looked set for victory after Rodrigo Bentancur’s early goal in the fifth minute gave them the advantage. However, they couldn’t capitalize on this promising start. Morgan Rogers equalized with a stunning strike just before halftime, marking his first goal in 20 matches and shifting momentum in Villa’s favor. Later, substitute Emiliano Buendia curled in a decisive goal in the 77th minute, sealing the comeback and leaving Spurs with a troubling home record: just three wins in their last 18 Premier League matches at the stadium.
Frank Faces Tough Questions Over Home Form
Since taking charge this season after his Brentford tenure, Thomas Frank has endured two defeats in four home league games. This continues the disappointing trend set by former manager Ange Postecoglou last year. When pressed on why Tottenham’s home performances remain so lackluster, Frank conceded that the solution isn’t straightforward. “Maybe it is not that simple,” he said. He described the match as one Spurs should have drawn or won, highlighting that the overall performance was solid, though improvements are still necessary.
Injury Woes Compound Tottenham’s Troubles
Adding to the team’s challenges, captain Cristian Romero was ruled out just before kickoff due to an adductor injury, and Mathys Tel finished the match with his knee heavily bandaged. These injuries further deepen Tottenham’s already stretched squad, raising concerns as they look ahead to upcoming fixtures.
Frank Defends Spurs Despite Setback
Despite the loss ending a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions, Frank remained relatively optimistic about his team’s effort. He emphasized that Aston Villa created very few chances, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario hardly tested. The difference, Frank noted, came down to Villa’s clinical finishing on rare opportunities. “They had more quality in those very little moments,” he acknowledged, pointing to the remarkable goals from Rogers and Buendia as examples of that fine margin.
