Yankees officially option shortstop Anthony Volpe to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Yankees option shortstop Anthony Volpe to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has revitalized the team as they secure a win against Aston Villa, moving out of the relegation zone. The performance raises questions about Villa's position in the Champions League places.
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Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi and midfielder JoĂŁo Palhinha celebrate after the full-time whistle at Villa Park - Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Play like this and there is no way Tottenham Hotspur will go down. Play like this and it is extraordinary that Aston Villa are in the Champions League places and not facing relegation themselves.
The difference was summed up in two starkly contrasting moments. For Villa, Jadon Sancho took a short corner but was not alert enough to stay onside. So, when the ball was immediately played back to him the flag went up.
For Tottenham JoĂŁo Palhinha chased down defender after defender in the Villa half before forcing Tyrone Mings into a panicky backpass which went for a corner.
The Portuguese midfielder â who played like a man possessed â turned to the Spurs supporters demanding more noise and behaving as if he had scored.
Tottenham's recent victory moved them out of the relegation zone, improving their standing in the league.
Roberto De Zerbi is the manager, and he has reinvigorated the team, leading to improved performances.
Despite their loss, Aston Villa remains in the Champions League places, raising concerns about their consistency.
Midfielder JoĂŁo Palhinha was notably celebrated for his contributions during the match.
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The response looked like something demanded by Roberto De Zerbi with other players â such as Pedro Porro â reacting with similar intense celebrations after winning back possession or having a decision go their way.
The impressive Randal Kolo Muani did the same after he was substituted and walked past the Tottenham fans.
Randal Kolo Muani interacts with the Tottenham fans after being substituted - Adam Vaughan/Shutterstock
The striker had also kissed the back of Palhinhaâs head when the midfielder won the ball and earned a free-kick. Palhinha knelt on the turf pumping his fists.
And then there was Conor Gallagher. He scored the first goal; his first for Spurs with a low shot from outside the penalty area with Emiliano MartĂnez slow to react. It will have hurt Villa even more that Gallagher signed for Spurs ahead of them in January.
Spurs were prepared to stump up the £34m fee demanded by Atlético Madrid. Villa proposed a loan with an option to buy which will have frustrated Unai Emery. But not as much as this shocking performance even if, in truth, Spurs have had a poor return from Gallagher up until now.
Having declared last week that âonly losers cryâ, doubling down on his belief that Spurs will survive then this was the perfect reaction for De Zerbi. It also showed that Spurs have the âbig managerâ they craved and how they have lucked out in hiring the Italian.
âHe makes you feel so good. He brings the best out of you,â Gallagher said. It felt like a universal belief and that might just be enough.
âI am honest. I have one face. If I say all our players are great level itâs because I feel. I donât want to sell something if I donât believe in my words,â De Zerbi said. âMy job is just to transfer the confidence and believe in themselves. To show passion, to show value, pride.â
He grabbed his shirt just as Palhinha had done. âI love Palhinha,â he added, declaring that this version of Gallagher was like having â12 playersâ.
Okay, Villaâs Emery made seven changes ahead of Thursdayâs momentous Europa League semi-final second leg at home to Nottingham Forest.
But after Spurs scored their second goal there were boos and an exodus of fans to the concourses â and maybe the exits. Just 25 minutes had elapsed. And it could have been four.
That crowd reaction â and there was more â must have provoked a maelstrom of emotions for Emery at a club where he rules the roost and has Messiah-status. On the touchline his demeanour radiated the definition of âif looks could killâ.
For Spurs De Zerbi may be conferred similar God-like status if he keeps them up. With three games to go, albeit three demanding fixtures, they are a point ahead of West Ham United who have replaced them in the bottom three. It is that tight. But they are up for the fight.
De Zerbi has clearly got into these Spurs players. Finally they performed as if they wanted to stand their ground rather than flee. That they were not going to accept their fate and buckle under the pressure.
What a difference a win â and a confident manager â can make. Spurs were woeful at Wolverhampton Wanderers last week but got the points. Here they were far, far better and played like a team that will stay up.
Between January 1 and April 17 Spurs gained just five points (from a possible 42). In three games since then they have seven points (from a possible nine). That is some bounce.
Spurs swarmed all over Villa and exploited the weakness at the heart of their defence â with MartĂnez looking worryingly veteran-like in goal.
After Gallagher scored Palhinha struck a post with another low shot from distance and Richarlison rose unopposed to head home from close-range.
De Zerbi was on the pitch, celebrating. Emery just looked disgusted with his side registering a 0.00 chance of expected goals in an atrocious first-half which ended with even more boos.
And after that? It was little better from Villa with Emery having clearly decided he would hold players back for the European tie and Spurs working ferociously hard.
Spurs did concede â with a header from substitute Emiliano BuendĂa in the 96th minute but the game was won by then and the final whistle came seconds later. After the Villa cheers there were more boos by the smattering of their fans still in the stadium. Spurs celebrated once again. It all felt very together and very telling for them. And very worrying for West Ham.
09:30pm
We didnât deserve any more. Tottenham played a very good match and dominated the first half more than we planned.
We reacted a bit in the second half and played a bit better, but we must accept this defeat.
Tomorrow we will rest, then we will prepare for this special match [against Forest].
Our huge, huge target is to be in the top five.
09:21pm
We played very well with and without the ball for 60 minutes, then we suffered Watkins, we suffered Buendia. We could have scored more, especially in the first half.
Iâm pleased for my players - I know how much they have suffered this season and I am very proud of them.
[What pleased you today?] The high pressure, for sure, because that takes courage, mentality. And in possession we were calm. When we needed to attack the space, we did. When we needed to keep the ball we did.
[On Conor Gallagher] When he plays well, we play with 12 players. Heâs amazing.
The season isnât finished yet. We have three tough games to play, starting with Leeds, and we canât forget the situation we were in before Wolverhampton. Those memories need to stay in our heads this week.
[On Spursâ dismal home form this season] It was a mental problem, but after these two wins I think - and I hope - we can play with more confidence and with the same courage and attitude.
09:14pm
Roberto De Zerbi celebrates a superb win for Tottenham. - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP
09:13pm
Pedro Porro roars in triumph at the final whistle. - Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Joao Palhinha and Roberto De Zerbi celebrate at the final whistle. - David Klein/Reuters
09:01pm
It was a fantastic performance, exactly what we needed. Itâs been a perfect night; hopefully itâs only the start and we can carry it on for the last few games.
[On his goal] Itâs a good goal, Iâm really happy to get my first one.
I canât speak highly enough of [Roberto De Zerbi]. Heâs been so good. Every player in the squad has taken to him, everyone trusts him. He makes you feel so confident and this is only the start - we can learn so much from him.
The fans have had a really tough time and weâre really happy to give them this feeling tonight.
08:59pm
This is how the relegation battle looks after that victory for Spurs.
16. Nottm Forest P34 Pts 39 GD-4
17. Spurs P35 Pts37 GD-9
18. West Ham P35 Pts36 GD-19
08:56pm
Spurs have flattened two claret-and-blue teams with one blow. An emphatic victory over Aston Villa moves them above West Ham and out of the relegation zone with three games to play. Conor Gallagher and Richarlison scored during a painfully one-sided first half, and Villa did not have a shot on target until Emi Buendia headed a consolation goal in the 96th minute.
08:54pm Goals
90+6 min: Villa 1 Spurs 2 (Buendia) The substitute Emi Buendia, who loves scoring against Spurs, does it again with a superb looping header from Matty Cashâs cross. There surely wonât be time for Villa to push for an equaliser though.
08:49pm
Spurs bring on Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr for Richarlison, who is limping, and Mathys Tel.
Five minutes of added time.
08:47pm
Baileyâs excellent corner hits Mings on the shoulder, five yards out, and flies over the bar. That was Villaâs best chance of the night.
08:45pm
Eighty-seven minutes have gone and Villa are still to have a shot on target.
Expected goals? Villa fans arenât expecting any tonight.
08:43pm
Double substitution for Villa Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey replace Jadon Sancho and Ross Barkley.
08:42pm
Pedro Porroâs outswinging corner is met by Danso, whose powerful header is held two-handed by Martinez.
08:41pm
Spurs have a decent away record in the Premier League this season. If they hold on here it will be P18 W7 D5 L6 Pts 26. The problem has been at home, where they have managed only 11 points in 17 games.
08:39pm
Now Danso is booked for pulling back Watkins, who has given Spurs a few problems since coming on as a substitute.
08:35pm
Rogers is booked for dissent after reacting angrily when Villa werenât awarded a corner.
08:32pm
Mathys Tel is booked for kicking the ball away.
Spursâ next match is at home to Leeds a week tomorrow. By then West Ham will have played Arsenal, which will give Spurs a better idea of what they need to do in the last three games.
08:30pm
Tielemans clips a deep cross that evades the stretching Watkins at the far post. Villa have been woeful in possession all night.
Spence shoots just wide at the other end, though he was offside so it wouldnât have counted.
Roberto De Zerbi watches on from the touchline. - Matthew Childs/Action Images
08:27pm
Many impressive performances from Tottenham tonight, but Joao Palhinha has been outstanding.
The midfielder has unsettled Villa all evening, pressing opponents and breaking up play.
08:26pm
Villa have had one touch in the Spurs box in 68 minutes. Itâs been an unfathomably poor performance â and even though they will have a very different XI against Forest on Thursday, this will surely have an impact on morale.
08:24pm
Spurs substitutions Yves Bissouma and Djed Spence replace replace Rodrigo Bentancur, who is limping slightly, and Randal Kolo Muani.
08:21pm
Palhinha makes an excellent tackle on Barkley, who commits a foul in an attempt to win the ball back. Palhinha clenches both fists and roars in triumph.
08:20pm
Spurs break dangerously from a Villa corner, but Kolo Muani runs into the crowd and then loses the ball.
08:17pm
Villa substitution Ollie Watkins replaces Tammy Abraham, who received precisely no service.
08:16pm
Ollie Watkins is getting stripped off, so Villa are about to make at least one substitution.
08:16pm
When will Unai Emery make changes?
It would be no surprise if he made all five substitutions at the same time.
Spurs are remaining in control and Villa still havenât managed an effort on goal.
08:15pm
Spurs are controlling possession as they did in the first half. Villa have yet to make any substitutions, and Unai Emery must be wondering whether itâs worth risking players like Ollie Watkins ahead of Thursdayâs game against Forest.
08:13pm
Randal Kolo Muani runs at Ian Maatsen. - David Klein/Reuters
08:09pm
The last Spurs defender Van de Ven shows terrific pace to charge across and tackle Tammy Abraham, who would otherwise have been through on goal.
08:09pm
Barkley is booked for a hack at Gallagher. Villa have been a bit livelier at the start of the second half but they have yet to put together a decent move.
08:04pm
08:03pm
Both sides are unchanged, for now, as Villa get the second half under way.
07:49pm
You could easily assume Aston Villa are the ones fighting relegation and Tottenham are close to Champions League qualification on the basis of this first-half.
Villa were booed off loudly at the break - very loudly - and it was no surprise at all.
Unai Emery has been quietly stewing in his technical area and the home dressing room will not be a place for the faint-hearted.
Villa have clearly got a big European semi-final second leg looming on Thursday night but there is no excuse for this abysmal performance. Emery is already facing severe scrutiny for his team selection.
Spurs are in dreamland and out of the bottom three if they can complete the job in the second half.
Villa manager Unai Emery endured an exasperating first half. - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP
07:48pm
Spurs are on course to move out of the relegation zone after a dream first half at Villa Park. They completely dominated the home side, who were booed off at the break, and could have led by more than two. Theyâll be happy to settle for excellently taken goals by Conor Gallagher and Richarlison.
07:46pm
Bentancur is booked for a cynical foul on Bogarde.
07:43pm
Kolo Muaniâs deep cross is kept alive by Udogie beyond the far post. Tel collects the ball and splashes a shot on the turn high and wide. He had better options inside, most notably the unmarked Gallagher on the edge of the area.
07:40pm
Spurs are doing as they please. Villa will be glad to get to half-time only 2-0 down.
07:37pm
Bentancur punches the ground after a painful clash of legs with Bogarde. Heâs limping a bit but looks okay.
07:34pm
Given the overall success of Villaâs season, the level of discontent, even anger, at Villa Park is remarkable. Villa have been very poor, itâs true, but we should remember that Unai Emery made seven changes with the Europa League semi-final in mind.
07:33pm
This is the relegation battle as things stand. Spursâ goal difference could yet be extremely handy.
Richarlison celebrates after doubling Tottenhamâs lead. - Michael Steele/Getty Images
07:29pm
Kolo Muani is booked for delaying the restart.
07:28pm
It is difficult to overstate how poor Villa have been so far. Many fans have already headed for the exits and thereâs only 25 minutes or so gone.
Tottenham thoroughly deserve their two-goal lead and are on course to clamber out of the relegation zone.
Richarlison heads the second goal. - Michael Steele/Getty Images
07:26pm Goals
25 min: Villa 0 Spurs 2 (Richarlison) Itâs 2-0, and the scoreline doesnât flatter Spurs one iota! A corner was half cleared and then curled back into the area by Tel on the right. It was a lovely, inviting cross, and Richarlison leapt decisively to thump a header past Richarlison.
07:25pm
Another change for Spurs. Gallagher swings an inswinging cross from the left towards the far post. Richarlison canât reach it and Kolo Muani cushions a volley that bounces up and is pushed over the bar by Martinez.
07:24pm
Villa wonât play this poorly all night, so Tottenham are trying to put this game to bed right now. I doubt even an optimist like Roberto De Zerbi imagined they would dominate the first quarter of the match to this extent.
Roberto De Zerbi gives instructions to his team. - David Klein/Reuters
07:22pm
Tel is shaping to volley Gallagherâs cross towards goal when Cash stretches to poke the ball away. Spurs are well on top.
07:20pm
This has been a very worrying start by Aston Villa.
They look dishevelled and disjointed so far, and Tottenham are dominating.
Unai Emery does not look chuffed.
Conor Gallagher celebrates after opening the scoring. - ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP
07:19pm
Palhinha hits the post! Villa havenât got going at all and they could easily be 2-0 down. Joao Palhinha, who scored at Wolves a week ago, crashes a superb shot from 25 yards that hits the inside of the left-hand post and bounces across the face of goal. Martinez may have got a slight touch on the shot as he dived low to his right - if so, it was a brilliant save.
07:13pm Goals
12 min: Villa 0 Spurs 1 (Gallagher) Conor Gallagher scores his first goal for Spurs! Dansoâs long throw was only partially cleared by Villa and Gallagher made them pay. He controlled the dropping ball deftly, 25 yards from goal, and rifled a low shot that beat the diving Martinez to the right. Thatâs an excellent goal.
07:10pm
Richarlison is challenged by Victor Lindelof. - Michael Steele/Getty Images
07:07pm
That effort from Richarlison aside, itâs been a quiet start to the game. Spurs are trying to press Villa high up the field.
07:03pm
A poor pass from Martinez is intercepted 25 yards from the Villa goal. The ball is worked through to Richarlison, whose early shot on the half turn deflects behind off Tielemans.
07:01pm
And theyâre off.
Tottenhamâs players gather in a huddle before kick-off. - Nigel French/PA
06:54pm
Big opportunity for Tammy Abraham here to take advantage of a rare start.
Itâs been a frustrating few months for the ÂŁ18m signing who has been Villaâs second striker behind Ollie Watkins.
Will be interesting to see how Conor Gallagher gets on tonight too. Villa agreed the terms of a loan deal to sign Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in January until Spurs swooped at the last minute to blow them out of the water with a ÂŁ35m deal.
06:46pm
The players are working very well. Iâm very happy to work with these guys, and my target is to help them to show [how good] we are.
I have a big confidence in my players. Mathys Tel is a big young talent; Kolo Muani is not playing so well but he has big, big potential.
06:27pm
There has been a very warm reception for James Maddison here from the Tottenham fans.
Maddison has not played since last May after a serious knee injury and is among the Spurs substitutes today.
James Maddison warms up at Villa Park. - David Klein/Reuters
06:24pm
06:18pm
Unai Emery is the Europa League specialist so Thursdayâs semi-final second leg is perhaps inevitably at the front of his mind.
Emery has made seven changes to the team which lost to Nottingham Forest in the first leg, and John McGinn does not make the squad after a slight hamstring injury.
Villa can inch nearer to Champions League qualification with a win here.
Emery has signed off his programme notes with the words âkeep dreamingâ. Champions League football next season has been his target all season, and it is now tantalisingly close to becoming a reality.
06:13pm
Tottenham finally ended their long wait for a Premier League victory last weekend, so the big question now is what happens next.
Is this the springboard they desperately needed to scramble their way to safety, or was the win over already relegated Wolves a false dawn?
West Hamâs poor result at Brentford was unquestionably another boost, and Unai Emery has made a number of changes here with a Europa League semi-final second leg looming on Thursday.
What is certain is that itâs another huge match for Tottenham. Defeat here would be deeply damaging with time running out.
06:02pm
05:59pm
05:58pm
By Matt Law
Doubt has been cast over Dominic Solankeâs involvement in Tottenham Hotspurâs crucial Premier League run-in because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It is believed that early scans have suggested that the forward may have suffered a grade-two hamstring injury, which can take between three and eight weeks to recover from.
That opens up the nightmare possibility of Solanke joining the list of Spurs players who will not play again this season, although the relegation-threatened club have not commented on his fitness or confirmed the extent of his injury.
05:47pm
Unai Emery has made seven changes ahead of Villaâs Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest. The only survivors from the first leg are Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers.
05:47pm
Roberto De Zerbi makes four changes from the victory at Wolves. Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha, Mathys Tel and Richarlison replace Djed Spence, Yves Bissouma, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.
05:38pm
The good news for Spurs is that their destiny is in their hands. The bad news is they have to win away to Aston Villa to keep it there. West Hamâs defeat at Brentford has given Spurs the chance to move out of the relegation zone with three matches to play â and with the comforting knowledge that one of West Hamâs games is against title-chasing Arsenal.
Weâre getting ahead of ourselves. All that matters right now for Spurs is tonightâs game at Villa Park. Villa have all but secured a place in next seasonâs Champions League and may be more concerned about their Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.
Spurs finally won their first Premier League match of 2026 last weekend, thanks to Joao Palhinhaâs late goal at Wolves. But Roberto De Zerbi will have to make at least two changes to his side because of injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke.
De Zerbi may also call on James Maddison, an unused sub in the last two games but one whose dressing-room influence has been invaluable. âExperience, personality, calm,â said De Zerbi when asked what Maddison had brought to the squad. âIf you have much experience, you are calmer.
âYou can consider the timing when you have to speak, when you have to say something or not. And I want him to stay inside even if he doesnât play, because when he will be ready to play, I want him 100 per cent inside of the plan of the team. I would like to play with him because heâs a special player. Heâs a different player.â
Despite Spursâ injuries, De Zerbi is very happy with the attacking options at his disposal. âKolo Muani: two years ago, PSG paid ÂŁ70million. Heâs not stupid, heâs a top player. Mathys Tel is one of the best young players in Europe. Richarlison is in the Brazilian national team.â
Kick off 7pm.