The FA has confirmed the referee for today’s Tottenham vs. Aston Villa clash
Tottenham will be looking to end their four-match winless run when they host Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Saturday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ahead of the match, the FA has announced the full list of officials for Tottenham’s clash against Aston Villa. This represents a crucial tie for both sides, with Spurs desperate to build momentum after their devastating 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Wednesday, while Villa are enjoying a strong season under Unai Emery.
The match kicks off at 5:45pm UK time. Tottenham sit 14th with 27 points from 21 Premier League matches, while Villa occupy second place in the league. The Lilywhites will look to bounce back from their recent struggles, though Villa have won the last three meetings between the clubs. Now, the match official has been confirmed ahead of this important FA Cup tie.
Craig Pawson will be the referee for Tottenham vs. Aston Villa
Craig Pawson will be officiating the match on Saturday. It should also be noted that VAR will not be used for this third-round tie.
Tottenham’s win record when Pawson has been the referee is pretty decent, with the club winning 18 out of the 36 games, he’s officiated, while losing 14 and drawing 4. However, there’s a slight concern when it comes to yellow cards. Tottenham are among the few clubs to have received an average of 2 and above yellow cards per game under Pawson. He has dished out 72 in 36 games.
Tottenham face must-win situation
The pressure has been mounting relentlessly on Thomas Frank, and his side desperately needs a strong performance as the managerial carousel spins rapidly across English football. Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca recently departed Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, highlighting how quickly fortunes can change for struggling managers.
Tottenham are dealing with significant injury problems ahead of this match. James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, and Mohammed Kudus are all unavailable. However, Xavi Simons returned from his three-match suspension against Bournemouth and will be crucial for Spurs’ creativity going forward.
Tottenham haven’t won a match since December 28th when they beat Crystal Palace 2-1, and the pressure on Frank is intensifying with each passing week. A defeat to Villa, who have already beaten Spurs twice this season, including 2-1 at this venue in October, could prove catastrophic for the Danish manager’s future at the club.
