Pressure on Antonio Conte after Aston Villa deepen gloom at Spurs

The mood at Tottenham is never far from turning sour and the restless natives made their feelings clear after an unhappy start to the new year following a dispiriting home defeat. Aston Villa struck the first blow after a mistake from the returning Hugo Lloris, with Emiliano Buendía taking advantage, before Douglas Luiz finished off a sharp move to continue Villa’s marked progress under the new head coach, Unai Emery.

Spurs’ supporters have never appeared to buy into Antonio Conte’s pragmatic approach and this dismal loss – greeted by vociferous boos from the masses – will do little to quieten talk of a change of coach. Conte’s contract only runs until the end of the season.

The Spurs manager made four changes from the team that drew at Brentford in their first match back after the league’s resumption. Cristian Romero made his first appearance since his role in Argentina’s World Cup triumph. He and Ben Davies returned to the defence with Eric Dier and Japhet Tanganga demoted to the bench. Lloris also made his first start since returning from France’s run to the final in Qatar. Bryan Gil was handed his first Premier League start for Tottenham, with the influential winger Dejan Kulusevski sorely missed due to a muscle injury.

Emery selected the same team that lost at home to Liverpool on St Stephen’s Day, with the World Cup winner Emiliano Martínez having to settle for a place on the bench as Robin Olsen kept his place in goal, the Argentinian having only returned to training on Friday.

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Villa created the first opportunity with a long ball releasing Ollie Watkins and the striker cut inside but dragged his low shot wide of the post. Spurs’ first sight of goal came from an unlikely source – Matt Doherty nutmegging Tyrone Mings – but the defender’s effort deflected off Boubacar Kamara for a corner.

Tottenham were struggling to create openings with Villa content to sit deep and frustrate their opponents. The game needed something to spark it into life and Romero’s lunging tackle on Watkins resulted in a brief skirmish between the teams and a yellow card for the Spurs defender.

Villa’s gameplan appeared to be working effectively with the onus on Spurs to open them up. The home fans grew impatient as the half progressed.

Ashley Young had already been on the receiving end of a strong challenge from Davies earlier in the half and the Spurs defender’s lunge on the Villa veteran resulted in another booking. Young’s everlasting energy was underlined before the break when the 37-year-old flung himself on the goalline to divert Harry Kane’s header following a cross from Ivan Perisic.

Son Heung-min floated in an ambitious attempt from a free-kick on the right edge of the penalty area but Olsen was safely behind it to claim the ball. At the other end, sightings were rare for Villa but Buendía curled a long-range shot past Lloris’s far post just before half-time.

Villa made the perfect start to the second half as they pounced to stun Spurs. Douglas Luiz’s long-range shot was not dealt with by Lloris, the goalkeeper parrying the ball out to Watkins and the striker set up Buendía for a low finish into the unguarded net. It was the 10th consecutive game Tottenham had conceded the opening goal but there was no comeback this time.

Spurs looked for an immediate response but Perisic could only blast over the bar after controlling Yves Bissouma’s lofted ball. Conte’s options from the bench were limited but he acted just after the hour by introducing Ryan Sessegnon in place of Gil. Kane had been afforded precious few opportunities and the frustrated striker could only lash a strike off target after a knock-down from Son.

Villa grew in confidence and they stamped their authority on the match with an exquisitely taken second goal. John McGinn chipped the ball over the static Spurs defence for Douglas Luiz, and the Brazil midfielder controlled it before flicking a finish beyond Lloris’s flailing arms.

Emery’s team were playing with confidence and conviction. A third goal almost arrived but Douglas Luiz’s shot was held by Lloris as Villa toyed with their troubled opponents. A third win in four league games under Emery is an impressive return but for Conte the storm clouds are gathering. – Guardian