Each manager made changes, some enforced through injury or suspension, but the XIs named by both were of the expected calibre for an all-Premier League battle. Villa, on a blistering run of form under Emery, were 2-0 up by half-time thanks to Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers before a Wilson Odobert goal early in the second period shifted the momentum for a spell. Spurs failed to take full advantage of that pressure and their home crowd, though, and ultimately were fortunate to keep the deficit to one when Pedro Porro made a goal-line clearance to prevent Buendia putting the game to bed.
