They laughed (Villa), but we had the last laugh
By Don Scully
Did they know where we were in the
League? Did they know where they were in the League? Yes, close to the bottom.
I look back at that because they could have ended up having the last laugh and
we went home in tears. But like always, the Son shone for us… yes, “Nice one
Son” got there in the nick of time. That is in extra time.
To the very last minute, we were
on alert that the match could be called off. On our way to the ground, the
coach rocked here, there and everywhere. The pitch inspection gave it the
all-clear. To be honest, when you looked at their pitch, you would wonder what
all the fuss was about. Granted, there were floods around Aston and near the
stadium. The police and fire brigade were also out in full force.
Nevertheless, a quick inspection,
by the team and then a thumbs up… lovely jubbly, as Dell Trotter would say. We
were in!
A win against Villa would set us
up with a fantastic encounter against Chelsea this Saturday. And United have
given us a boost by beating Chelsea 2-0, which means there is still a point difference
between the two teams.
We’ve been criticised of late, and
some considered we’ve been lucky so far. I disagree. I thought our camaraderie
and ability got us where we are today. It isn’t Mourinho’s team, yet, he will
need some time to build and direct the players in his way of thinking. As for
the table; there is only one lucky team, and nobody is going to catch them any
time soon. As for those below Liverpool, well, I must say, I think we can catch
them.
We are 11 points behind Manchester
City and 10 points behind Leicester City. Both clubs have been wobbling of
late. We’ve lost eight games, both City’s have lost six. To catch them up we
would have to win four games, they would have to lose four. There are 12
matches left. With a possibility of 36 points on the table, and there is still
a long way to go. So I wouldn’t say beyond the possibilities of our
imagination. Nothing is over until the fat lady sings. So, yes, I am optimistic
and confident. And we’ve still got to play Leicester City at home. After the
victory on Sunday, those confident juices must be bubbling over.
To the match: they made the
stronger start and took the lead via Toby Alderweireld's own goal – our
defender nudging Anwar El Ghazi's cross past our goalkeeper.
The Belgian compensated by
equalising with a superb angled effort that flew into the top right corner of
the home side’s goal from 10 yards.
We went in front when Steven
Bergwijn, our new player, won a penalty after being judged to have been fouled
by home defender Bjorn Engels. Even
though Engels headed in from a Jack Grealish corner to again draw the sides
level, his late mistake allowed Son to race clear to place the ball past Reina
as Villa's miserable run against sides in the top half of the table continued.
Villa blunders cost them again.
Dean Smith's side have earned just one point against teams currently in the top
half, a broader concern for the Villa boss is that eight of their 15 defeats
this term have been by a solitary goal. To be fair, this was another occasion
on which they could have taken at least a point from a hard-fought contest but
for separate errors. Engels having an afternoon to forget, well, not by us.
The 25-year-old Belgian, who
started because of Tyrone Mings' nonappearance through sickness, had a difficult
time dealing with the drive and pace of Bergwijn, Son and Lucas Moura.
It was his rash challenge on
Bergwijn that allowed us to go in at the half-way stage with the lead in a game
Villa had enjoyed the better of until then.
In his late lapse, Engels allowed
the ball to run under his boots, enabling Son to score the pivotal goal.
Engels' first goal for the Midlands club will have provided little relief.
To be fair on Villa, they had
enjoyed a bright start as Grealish imposed himself on the game. We tried to get
him once, maybe there could be a next time?
Some states for you:
We have lost just one of our last
19 matches against Aston Villa in all competitions (W15 D3), losing in the
Premier League in April 2015 (0-1). Also, we are unbeaten in our last 23 Premier
League away games against promoted sides (W19 D4), since a 0-1 loss at QPR in
April 2012.
Son's goal after 93 minutes 34
seconds is Spurs' latest winning goal in the Premier League since August 2009,
when Aaron Lennon netted after 94 minutes 24 seconds against Birmingham.
Son became the first Asian player
in Premier League history to reach 50 goals in the competition (51 in total
after his brace). Indeed, he's the sixth Spurs player to reach this milestone
after Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane and Christian
Eriksen.
Toby Alderweireld became the third
Tottenham Hotspur player to score for and against his own side in the same
Premier League game, after Gareth Bale vs Liverpool in November 2012 and Chris
Armstrong vs Arsenal in March 2000.
What's next up for us?
Well, we face RB Leipzig in the
last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday (20:00 GMT). After that, we face
the Rent boys on Saturday (12:30 GMT).
One final thing I must add. As the
clock ticked away, our heads dropped, we thought it was going to end a draw.
Then out of the blue Son scored, keeping our chances alive for us to finish in
the top four. As the goal went in, we went mad. Hugs, kisses, falling over
each… it all went ballistic. Looking over at the away end (Spurs end), the same
was happening there. The Villa security, police and Tottenham security jumped
into action to stop our supporters getting on the pitch. When the final whistle
arrived, the players went over to our supporters to thank them for their
roaring support, braving the weather and enthusiasm. As all this was happening,
my mind went back to us arriving at the stadium and their fans chanting at us.
Then quickly back to the present, I thought "To Dare is To Do, and we
indeed Dared and Did on that windy swept day at Villa Park. We are Spurs, we
are magic, you know! So bring on Chelsea… we are ready and waiting! Come On You
Spurs!
It has been a pleasure,
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