Evening Standard
·3 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·3 November 2024
Radu Dragusin excellent and James Maddison offers timely reminder of his quality
Tottenham produced an outstanding and characteristic second-half comeback to beat Aston Villa 4-1 and underline their top-four credentials.
Trailing to Morgan Rogers’ goal from a corner, Spurs flew out of the blocks after the interval and equalised when Brennan Johnson met Heung-min Son’s brilliant cross at the back post.
Dominic Solanke finished a slick move with a dink over Emiliano Martinez to make it 2-1 and the England striker converted Richarlison’s cross to give Spurs a cushion.
Substitute James Maddison added gloss to the scoreline by curling a brilliant free-kick in off the post in stoppage-time.
Here’s how we rated the Spurs players…
Guglielmo Vicario 7
May face fresh questions after Spurs conceded from a corner but it was a collective failing from Lucas Digne’s whipped dead-ball. Did not have a serious save to make.
Pedro Porro 7
Inadvertently headed on Digne’s corner for Villa’s goal. Committed defensively but booked for a lunge on Ollie Watkins.
Cristian Romero 7
Appeared to injure himself flying into a rash challenge on Rogers. His passing was eye-catching.
Radu Dragusin 8
Excellent defensively, ensuring Spurs did not feel the absence of the injured Micky van de Ven.
Destiny Udogie 8
Made some important covering challenges and got forward purposefully, creating a chance for Solanke shortly after the equaliser.
Rodrigo Bentancur 8
Looked fired up after being injured by Matty Cash in this fixture last season. Lucky to avoid a booking but made some important challenges.
Dejan Kulusevski 8
Made the second goal with a cute through ball for Solanke in another all-action display at No8.
Pape Matar Sarr 9
Pressed well in an outstanding performance and was involved in the excellent build-up to both Solanke’s goals. Increasingly feels like one of Spurs’ most important players.
Brennan Johnson 8
Scored with another trademark finish at the back post to level the game and helped to create the second goal.
Heung-min Son 7
His brilliant cross made the equaliser for Johnson. Looked stunned to be withdrawn, suggesting it was not a planned change.
Dominic Solanke 9
Showed a predatory instinct in the penalty box to twice score in the second half, dinking a smart finish over Emiliano Martinez and tapping in from close range. Won the free–kick for Maddison’s lovely goal.
Subs
Yves Bissouma (Bentancur 56’) 8
Impressed again off the bench, snapping into tackles and helping Spurs to win the midfield battle in the second half.
Richarlison (Son 56’) 7
Made Solanke’s second goal with a cut-back but injured himself in the process.
Ben Davies (Romero 61’) 8
Made a really important challenge on Ollie Watkins ahead of the crucial second goal.
James Maddison (Richarlison 82’) 8
Offered a timely reminder of his quality with a brilliant curling free-kick.
Archie Gray (Udogie 82’) 7
Filled in at left back to give Udogie a welcome breather.
Not used: Forster, Bergvall, Werner, Davies, Moore.