The starting lineups were closely monitored ahead of the Aston Villa Vs Tottenham FA Cup clash.
Aston Villa pulled off a surprise 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup Third Round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 10 January 2026.
The match saw Emiliano Buendía open the scoring for Villa in the 22nd minute, with Morgan Rogers adding a late first-half winner in stoppage time to ensure the visitors left London with a vital victory.
Wilson Odobert scored for Tottenham midway through the second half, but his strike was not enough to prevent Thomas Frank’s side from crashing out of the competition in front of 57,718 fans.
This report breaks down the confirmed lineups, formations, key moments, and match statistics while analysing how Villa’s tactical approach overcame Spurs’ home advantage.
| Stat | Tottenham Hotspur | Aston Villa |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 1 | 2 |
| Goalscorers | Wilson Odobert – 54′ | Emiliano Buendía – 22′ Morgan Rogers – 45’+3′ |
| Possession | 61% | 39% |
| Total Shots | 14 | 7 |
| Shots On Target | 4 | 3 |
| Corner Kicks | 6 | 4 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
| Attendance | 57,718 | 57,718 |
Match Overview And Context
Tottenham Hotspur entered the Third Round match as favourites, playing at home in front of a near-capacity crowd.
Villa, meanwhile, were seeking an upset and showed a fearless approach from the first whistle.
The FA Cup fixture proved high-intensity, with both sides committed to attacking transitions and maintaining midfield control.
Villa’s early goal shifted the momentum and forced Tottenham to adapt, resulting in a tense and tactical second half.
Aston Villa Lineup And Formation
Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, mirroring Spurs’ setup and allowing defensive stability with creative support in midfield.
Guglielmo Bizot started in goal behind a back four of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Piero Torres, and Iñigo Maatsen.
READ: Nottingham Forest Vs Man City Lineups And Stats: Possession, Corners and Shots
Jordon McGinn captained the side, playing as the central attacking midfielder behind Emiliano Buendía, who supplied pace and vision on the right.
Morgan Rogers operated just behind the striker, linking play and capitalising on chances inside the box.
Ollie Watkins led the attack, supported by the midfield and wide players exploiting Tottenham’s defensive gaps.
Key Aston Villa starters included:
- Bizot in goal
- McGinn providing leadership and attacking drive
- Buendía as the primary creator and goalscorer
- Rogers as a decisive presence in the final third
Substitutions included Youssef Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Jadon Sancho, offering fresh legs and tactical variation in the second half.
Tottenham Hotspur Lineup And Formation
Tottenham Hotspur also adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to dominate possession and use the wide players to stretch Villa’s defence.
Guglielmo Vicario started in goal, protected by Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, and Pedro Porro.
Midfield responsibilities were shared between João Palhinha and Archie Gray, while Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel, and Wilson Odobert operated behind Richarlison as the central striker.
Randal Kolo Muani was introduced as a substitute, alongside Djed Spence and Dominic Solanke, to push for an equaliser late in the game.
Key Tottenham starters included:
- Vicario in goal
- Van de Ven leading the defensive line
- Richarlison spearheading attacks
- Odobert as an impact player from the wing
First-Half Analysis
Villa began strongly, taking advantage of Tottenham’s initial pressure to score in the 22nd minute through Buendía.
The goal stemmed from a rapid counter-attack exploiting gaps between Tottenham’s midfield and defensive line.
Villa continued to threaten, with Rogers doubling the advantage in stoppage time of the first half, capitalising on a well-timed delivery and defensive lapse.
Tottenham struggled to impose their possession game and created few clear-cut chances before halftime, with Villa’s compact shape and aggressive pressing limiting opportunities.
Second-Half Goals And Key Moments
Tottenham improved after the break, gradually taking control of possession and increasing the tempo in search of a goal.
Wilson Odobert scored in the 54th minute, finishing a build-up move with accuracy to pull Spurs back into contention.
Despite sustained pressure, Tottenham were unable to breach Villa’s defensive organisation and were often caught on the counter.
Villa held firm, using substitutions strategically to maintain shape and protect the lead.
The match ended 2-1, marking a significant FA Cup upset and putting additional pressure on Thomas Frank.
Match Statistics Breakdown
The statistics highlight Villa’s clinical efficiency and Tottenham’s inability to convert possession into goals.
Villa recorded fewer total shots but maximised their opportunities, while Tottenham dominated possession and territory without producing enough high-quality chances.
Key statistics included:
- Possession: Tottenham 61% | Villa 39%
- Shots: Tottenham 14 | Villa 7
- Shots On Target: Tottenham 4 | Villa 3
- Yellow Cards: Tottenham 2 | Villa 1
- Corner Kicks: Tottenham 6 | Villa 4
- Attendance: 57,718
Tactical Takeaways
Villa’s 4-2-3-1 formation allowed them to defend compactly while exploiting Tottenham on the break.
The timing of goals and effective use of width disrupted Spurs’ defensive cohesion.
Tottenham’s reliance on ball circulation and wing play failed to unlock Villa’s well-drilled backline consistently.
Villa’s midfield duo ensured central control and allowed attacking players to operate in dangerous zones.
What The Result Means
Aston Villa progress to the FA Cup Fourth Round, boosting morale and demonstrating the effectiveness of counter-attacking strategies against higher-ranked opposition.
Tottenham Hotspur exit the competition at home, increasing scrutiny on manager Thomas Frank and signalling the need for tactical adjustments.
Key Talking Points
- Buendía’s early strike set the tone for Villa’s victory
- Rogers’ stoppage-time goal doubled Villa’s advantage
- Odobert’s second-half effort kept Spurs competitive
- Villa’s counter-attacking strategy proved decisive
- Tottenham dominated possession but failed to convert chances