Aston Villa's 4-1 Defeat to Tottenham: Player Ratings After Second-Half Collapse

Aston Villa's seven-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to a sudden halt with a 4-1 loss to Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The match, which saw Villa initially take the lead, was turned around in the second half as Spurs dominated with four goals after the break. Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead with a first-half goal, but Brennan Johnson equalized early in the second half, and Dominic Solanke’s brace sealed the victory for Spurs, with James Maddison adding a free-kick in added time.

Here’s how the Villa players rated after the match:

Emi Martinez (5):
Martinez had little to do in the first half but was kept busy in the second, conceding four goals. He made a few saves, but his efforts couldn’t stop the collapse after Spurs gained momentum.

Matty Cash (6):
Cash had a solid first half, particularly in dealing with Son Heung-min, but had to come off in the 60th minute due to a knock. His absence affected Villa’s defensive structure as Spurs took control.

Ezri Konsa (5):
Konsa was steady early on, but struggled in the second half after being shifted to right-back due to Cash's injury. His positioning was poor when Solanke scored, and he was part of the defensive issues as Spurs broke Villa down.

Pau Torres (4):
A tough afternoon for Torres, who gave away possession for Spurs' third goal while trying to play out from the back. His overall performance was disappointing as Spurs capitalized on Villa's defensive mistakes.

Lucas Digne (6):
Digne provided Villa's only positive moment in the first half with his corner that led to Rogers' opening goal. However, he struggled to contain Johnson, who was dangerous for Spurs, particularly after the break.

Amadou Onana (5):
Onana was effective in the first half but was overwhelmed as the game progressed. His inability to cope with Spurs' second-half surge highlighted Villa’s struggles in midfield.

Youri Tielemans (6):
Tielemans was composed on the ball and played a key role in Villa’s build-up play. Despite being outmanned in midfield, his class was evident, though he couldn’t stem the tide as Spurs took control.

John McGinn (6):
McGinn was one of Villa’s more industrious players, winning duels and helping relieve pressure. However, he couldn't prevent the team from being overrun in the second half as Spurs turned the game in their favor.

Jacob Ramsey (6):
Ramsey was positive in the first half, looking to take on defenders and create chances. However, he faded in the second half and appeared tired before being substituted in the 80th minute.

Morgan Rogers (7):
Rogers scored Villa’s opening goal and was involved in creating another chance for Ollie Watkins, but he missed it. He was forced off with a knock, but his overall contribution was one of the bright spots for Villa.

Ollie Watkins (5):
Watkins had a couple of chances, including one from a Rogers assist, but was unable to capitalize. Tottenham's Cristian Romero dealt with him well, and he couldn’t make a significant impact in the match.

Substitutes:

Diego Carlos (4, for Cash, 60’):
Carlos' introduction disrupted Villa's defensive balance, and Spurs quickly took advantage, scoring twice after his arrival.

Jhon Duran (5, for Rogers, 69’):
Duran didn’t have much impact as Spurs dominated after Villa’s early lead.

Leon Bailey, Jaden Philogene, Boubacar Kamara (N/A, for Ramsey, McGinn, and Tielemans, 80’):
The late substitutions had little effect on the game as Spurs were already in control by the time they were made.

Overall, it was a disappointing second-half collapse for Villa, as they failed to maintain their early advantage and fell apart defensively against a dominant Tottenham side.