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Player ratings from Tottenham road win over Aston Villa

By Aaron Coe

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Carlos Vinicius of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on March 21, 2021 in Birmingham, England. Sporting stadiums around England remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Carlos Vinicius of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on March 21, 2021 in Birmingham, England. Sporting stadiums around England remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (L) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on March 21, 2021. – RE (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Tottenham Hotspur got back to Premier League action on Sunday at Villa Park in a much-needed 0-2 victory over the Villians. In winning against a top-half side, on the road, with a shutout, several monkeys can be lifted from the team’s back. In a professional, well-worked win Tottenham Hotspur responded and can go into the international break with some hope for a top-four finish. So how did the lads play and who starred in the shutout victory?

Lucas Moura Spurs Star of the Day

Tottenham was not great overall on the day and given that Aston Villa has been struggling and are without Jack Grealish, the win needs to be kept in perspective. However, beyond three-points, the workman-like approach of the team on the day really is something fans can grasp onto for hope. Because regardless of anything else, a win on the road is a big deal right now for Tottenham.

Spurs were in a different kind of formation on the day, likely a 4-4-2 as both Harry Kane and the Brazilian Carlos Vinicius started up-top for Spurs. While Vinicius did score the opening and game-winning goal, it was Tottenham’s other Brazilian attacker who really go the Lilywhites going on the day.

Lucas Moura – as has been the case most of 2021 – was in attack mode. It seemed like every time he touched the ball he was on the run, working to avoid oncoming tacklers and propel the Spurs’ attack forward. Lucas was so active on the day only do-everything midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg had more touches for Spurs than Moura’s 83.

Tanguy Ndombele actually had more dribbles – six – to Moura’s five on the evening but it was the way Lucas was able to use those touches and dribbles to push the offensively that really impacted play. The six fouls Lucas drew, were equal to Ndombele and Kane combined, and four more than any other player on the pitch.

Most importantly with Moura, what you get is a consistent and constant effort. Sometimes the running seems like running for the sake of running, but in a team that requires players to lead by example, Lucas’ motor is something very important and it was on display Sunday, leading to a big assist to Vinicius and a big win for Tottenham.

We have established Lucas Moura played well, so how did everyone rate for Tottenham.