Tottenham Hotspur will host Aston Villa in their FA Cup 3rd round clash.
Tottenham Hotspur are all set to divert their focus from Premier League woes to domestic competition as the North Londoners get their FA Cup campaign underway this weekend.
Usually, when you walk to the stadium for the third round tie, there is a sense of optimism and assuredness. But you can feel that absence among the lanes at N17, as Thomas Frank & Co. has been handed one of the toughest possible tests.
Spurs will be hosting a thriving Aston Villa side this weekend. They currently sit third in the Premier League and have been one of the most potent sides in the English top tier. Facing them will be a bit of deja vu for the Lilywhites supporters, given that Villa knocked Tottenham out of the FA Cup last season.
And going into another game, it will be injuries that will take up the build-up space for Tottenham, as that Bournemouth defeat came with a bit of aftereffects. There will be doubts around Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur, which will further thin what is already a stretched midfield at Hotspur Way.
Chris Sutton predicts Tottenham defeat for Spurs vs. Villa tie
Going into the game, BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton insists that Frank & Co. will have an early FA Cup exit. He did note how the Lilywhites desperately need a cup run at the moment to bring a sense of belief in the roster. But he also spoke of his belief that the gap between both sides is too big to ignore at the moment (and he reflected that in his score prediction as well).
Speaking with BBC Sport ahead of the game, Sutton said, predicting one clear winner:
“Poor old Thomas Frank. He looked so happy at Brentford but Spurs have a habit of turning happy managers into total miseries…He really needs a win here, and a good run in the cup too, but when you compare the two teams, and the way they are playing, then there’s only one winner here – and that’s Villa.”
Sutton’s prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Aston Villa
Author Opinion
Even if it was not for Sutton’s prediction, the supporters are already aware of how tough a tie this one is. The thing here is not only the current form (and standings) but also how Tottenham have always struggled against Unai Emery’s side recently.
Villa have beaten Tottenham in all three of the last times that both clubs have rubbed shoulders. And to add to that, Thomas Frank is yet to register a win over the Villa boss.
At the moment, going into this game, it feels less like a tie to mark the start of a cup run and more like a harsh reality check at Hotspur Way. And if Tottenham are to come out on the losing side, the pressure on Frank will surely start to increase, especially with patience in the hierarchy already wearing thin.
What is your final score prediction for Tottenham vs Aston Villa? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.