Aston Villa secured a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Goals from Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead before halftime, with Wilson Odobert pulling one back for Spurs in the second half. The result increases pressure on Tottenham manager Thomas Frank amid a poor run of form.
Aston Villa progressed to the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur on January 10, 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The match, an all-Premier League third-round clash, saw Villa capitalize on their strong recent form, having lost just once since November.
Villa took the lead in the 22nd minute when Emi Buendia lashed a fierce shot into the roof of the net following a sweeping move. Tottenham suffered a blow shortly before the half-hour mark as their top scorer Richarlison hobbled off with a hamstring injury. In stoppage time of the first half, Morgan Rogers doubled Villa's advantage with a well-finished goal after another slick team play.
Boos rang out from sections of the home fans at halftime, but Tottenham mounted a valiant comeback after the break. Wilson Odobert reduced the deficit by driving low past Villa keeper Marco Bizot from a through ball by Randal Kolo Muani. Xavi Simons then rattled the post, and momentum swung toward the hosts.
The game remained thrilling, with Buendia nearly restoring Villa's two-goal lead, only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Pedro Porro. Tottenham had goals disallowed for offside—first by Kolo Muani before halftime and later by Simons—but could not find an equalizer. Villa's defense held firm, ensuring their impressive run continued under manager Unai Emery.
For Tottenham, wearing all-white kits to mark the 125th anniversary of their 1901 FA Cup-winning team, the defeat leaves them three games without a victory following a 3-2 loss to Bournemouth. They languish in the bottom half of the Premier League table, with only two home wins this season. The result piles further pressure on manager Thomas Frank.
Lineups:
- Tottenham: Vicario; Danso, Davies, Van de Ven, Porro; Palhinha, Gray, Simons, Tel, Odobert; Richarlison
- Aston Villa: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Maatsen; Bogarde, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers; Buendia, Malen
The match kicked off at 17:45 GMT and was broadcast on BBC One and TNT Sports in the UK.
