Match Report: Benteke Fires Villa to Deserved Victory at The Lane
It was any Tottenham fan's worst nightmare. The return of Tim Sherwood to White Hart Lane was one that many will have dreaded for this exact reason.
Aston Villa deservedly ran out 1-0 winners in the capital and their manager, not renowned for masking his emotions, was not about to act restrained in victory. The young manager felt that he had a point to prove.
It was a subdued atmosphere with the majority of Tottenham’s fans now not really sure what they want from the season having blown any chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Opinions are now split as to whether another season of Europa League action is really what the club needs, though on this showing they won’t be doing any better than that anytime soon.
Tottenham started the game well enough and were pressing early on, as you would expect from a Mauricio Pochettino side. Their best effort in the first half, and indeed the best of either side up to that point, came from a well worked move just before the half hour mark that ended at the feet of willing runner Danny Rose, but his low strike from an angle was well saved by the feet of Brad Guzan. Not long after that Villa would take the lead from their first shot on target, and it came from a likely source.
Both sides lined-up with a somewhat makeshift back four, made worse for the away side after an early injury to Ciaran Clark, who, along with Gabby Agbonlahor (hamstring) and Carlos Sanchez (suspended) looks set to miss out on next week’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. However it was the hosts’ backline that always seemed likely to struggle against Christian Benteke, who is well and truly back to his best.
The combination for the goal has become a familiar one too, with Benteke now owing three of the 8 goals that he has scored in his last 6 appearances to Leandro Bacuna assists. The Belgian took his tally to 10 for the season - matching last season’s haul - by getting on the end of a cross from the right from the young Dutchman, beating Fazio to the ball to stoop and head in off the post. All four of Bacuna’s starts this season have come under Tim Sherwood and while he rarely convinces at the back it is clear that his manager, and indeed Benteke, have great faith in his delivery into the box.
It was so nearly two for Villa before half-time as Benteke again beat the returning Fazio in the air, flicking the ball onto strike partner Gabby Agbonlahor, who cut inside Eric Dier before striking the foot of Michel Vorm’s post. In a first half, and indeed a match of very few chances Villa had the best of them on what proved a fantastic day for the football club with other results also going their way at the bottom.
Tottenham began the second half in similar vein, with intent but a lack of quality, and failed to test Guzan. Another Danny Rose effort from the edge of the box was deflected wide, while Harry Kane, who was otherwise quiet, curled an effort narrowly over the bar as Spurs failed to register a single shot on target in the second half. Indeed it was Fabian Delph, put through by Benteke late on, that should have made sure of the points but could only fire straight at the onrushing Michel Vorm having burst in front of his marker.
In truth though this was Villa’s first win over Tottenham since 2008 the circumstances dictated that it was not an entirely unpredictable outcome. Sherwood’s return to North London and Spurs’ fatigue following an arduous first six months of the season collided to send the away fans home happy and the host’s supporters off to contemplate their goals for next season and beyond.
Ultimately it was the impact of Christian Benteke once again that sealed the deal for the visitors. The front man earned a WhoScored.com man of the match rating of 8.35 having also won 11 aerial duels on the day, and the 24-year old’s goals look likely to see Villa safe for another season.
Will Villa beat the drop and should Spurs realistically be aiming any higher than the Europa League? Let us know in the comments
