The final scoreline of 0-4 gives the impression that Tottenham Hotspur crushed Aston Villa, and while Spurs did run roughshod over the Villians, Hugo Lloris saved Spurs.
Some pundits felt like Tottenham Hotspur got lucky in the first half against Villa this past weekend, but the reality is that club captain Lloris stepped up for Spurs. After conceding a goal he probably could have kept out the week prior against Newcastle, Lloris had a statement to make, and he did so in terrific fashion.
Villa registered 14 shots in the first half, with an incredible seven on target. Spurs finished the match with only five shots on target, resulting in four goals as a point of comparison. Even more impressive from Lloris, none of the saves were ordinary, although Lloris regularly makes most of them.
Lloris parries the danger away.
The first three saves Lloris made were similar in that he parried the ball in each instance but never allowed Villa a rebound as the ball went out or to his team. First, Matty Cash hit a long volley at the near post, Lloris got down to his left well, and Ben Davies cleaned up the rebound to avoid any problem.
Whereas Cash’s effort was 30 yards away, Lloris’ second save was at point-blank range. Jacob Ramsey had split defenders Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal as he glided into the box. Ramsey then went with power to try and beat Lloris, who had a solid right hand to push the ball wide and over the bar. It was likely the best save Lloris made all day, and it kept Spurs with the 1-goal lead.
The third save came after a corner was recycled around to John McGinn, who blasted from a distance. Lloris was again up for the challenge and deflected the swerving shot out of harm’s way.
Controlling the Tottenham box
If there is a complaint about Lloris as a keeper, it could be that he does not always command the penalty box as we might like. However, Lloris showed good presence as he claimed a Philippe Coutinho free-kick just before the half-hour mark, after Pierre Hojbjerg‘s card. In the play, Lloris went up in a crowd, came down with the ball in control, and set the tone for future free kicks.
Just before that claim, we saw Villa try to use a bit of trickery with their free-kick when they used a quick chip to free Danny Ings one-on-one in the box. Ings appeared to slip on the play, minimizing his contact and making for the easiest save Lloris had all day on a far from routine play in the box.
Three more saves for the captain
Although the save on Ramsey was probably the best, all three of Lloris’ final saves of the half were darn good too.
First was a save against Ollie Watkins. Coutinho had played Watkins in on Spurs’ right side, and the English forward hit the ball well the first time, but Lloris got down quickly to his right and blocked the shot. Eric Dier cleaned up the rebound and kept the clean sheet intact.
Lloris’ sixth save was also his second against Cash. The Villa wide man hit a lovely first-time volley off a cross, forcing Lloris to get down to his left. This time, Hugo himself jumped on the rebound and ended the danger. At two minutes into first-half injury time, that seemingly was the last save for Lloris, but he had one more to make.
Coutinho had a tight angle free-kick and decided to go for goal. Had Lloris not reacted, it certainly would have gone in as Lloris scooped the ball off the line in midair.
That last save of the half was Lloris’ next to last save of the game. Villa did not get another shot on target until the second-half added time, and at that point, Hugo was not letting his clean sheet go. He deserved the break after such a busy half, but do not let anyone fool you; Spurs were not lucky; Lloris was just good.