Ryan Mason's verdict on Villa

Ryan Mason couldn’t look beyond the first half as we suffered a 2-1 loss in the Premier League at Aston Villa on Saturday.

After conceding early in recent away matches at Newcastle and Liverpool, we found ourselves behind again, this time after eight minutes as Jacob Ramsey converted from Leon Bailey’s cross. Villa continued to press in that first period as Fraser Forster denied Bailey from close range and Emiliano Buendia struck the woodwork.

Things started to change in the second half as we pressed further forward and started to make things happen. Harry Kane was denied one-on-one by Emiliano Martinez and substitute Dejan Kulusevski angled a shot just wide, but just as we were getting back into it, we went 2-0 down as Douglas Luiz curled home a free-kick, 72 minutes on the clock.

Harry Kane gave us a late lifeline on 90 minutes with Premier League goal number 27 of 2022/23 from the penalty spot after being brought down by Martinez and there was hope of a comeback as the fourth official showed six minutes of added time. There was late drama as Heung-Min Son broke away from Villa’s high defensive line to slot home - but he was denied by an offside flag.

The result sees Villa move level with us in sixth on 57 points - we're ahead on goal difference - Brighton are eighth, two points behind, but with three matches in hand.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY from Villa Park, it was put to Acting Head Coach Ryan that our start had cost us, and he responded: “Yes, again, and it’s happened far too many times this season. To concede the first goal so early in the game makes it difficult.

“I thought they were better than us in the first half, although I don’t think Fraser made too many big saves, because he didn’t have to, but they were definitely the team that had a bit more.

“I thought that changed in the second half. I felt like we were the team that were pushing a bit more. We had a big moment at 1-0 where their goalkeeper pulled off an outstanding save but then, I’m not how long afterwards, they scored from a free-kick, so it’s disappointing.

“The Premier League is tough, and you have to be on it for 95 minutes. Unfortunately, today, I don’t think we were. I felt like they came out with more energy and it’s not something you want to be doing, going a goal down so often. We have to be better at that and try to improve that because we do have two more games, important games to the end of the season.”