Check out the new ironclad, slightly more pragmatic version of Angeball. From opting for Pape Matar Sarr's powerful runs in midfield to finding the right words of motivation when all seemed lost at half-time, this was a good day for Tottenham's romantic manager. Ange Postecoglou's tactical decisions were right, his substitutions worked and the margin of victory was no greater than Spurs deserved after they made light of their latest set-piece and overwhelmed Aston Villa with a stirring second-half performance had.

Things looked threatening when Villa, who missed the chance to go third, gained a lead through Morgan Rogers. In the end, however, Spurs were thrown into turmoil when James Maddison came on as a substitute in stoppage time and scored their fourth goal. Brennan Johnson had equalized and a touch of class from Dejan Kulusevski had sent Dominic Solanke through to score the first of two quick goals. Unai Emery, who had managed to take Spurs' life away in the first half, just looked on in disbelief.

It quickly became clear that pressing questions would be asked about how much Spurs could grind. Postecoglou had adjusted his tactics accordingly, sacrificing Maddison for the double shot from Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield, but conditions were initially far more favorable to Villa.

Spurs were limited to hopeful long-range attempts and the crowd's concern was palpable. Everyone could see what Villa wanted to do. They resolutely refused to play into Spurs' hands. Villa's trademark high line was not in evidence and the sight of Emery repeatedly telling his players to control their pressing suggested the Spaniard's plan was to deny Son Heung-min and Johnson space to move freely on the flanks.

It was up to Spurs to react and find different angles of attack and the half was predictable. After 30 minutes there was a sudden turnaround: Villa came out of nowhere, a sharp exchange of passes giving Jacob Ramsey space to push past Pedro Porro and fire a shot that went back to the corner.

Keyword panic. Cue: Austin MacPhee, Villa's set-piece coach, stands to give a series of instructions. The first ball was cleared but came back to Lucas Digne. He raised a high cross, Amadou Onana headed it into the woodwork and Spurs just managed to put the ball behind them.

The pressure was too great. This time Villa highlighted an obvious weakness by pushing Guglielmo Vicario while Rogers held the goalkeeper to his line. Moments later, Rogers struck the ball into the goal from a yard out and the chance came his way after Digne's inward throw was deflected by Porro and Bentancur almost flew into the goal.

Spurs' appeals for a foul on Vicario were unconvincing. They knew it was soft. The concession unsettled them and they could have fallen further behind, but Ollie Watkins missed a tempting chance.

It was a crucial mistake. Spurs went out early in the second half and it was a more intense and determined game. By increasing the tempo they equalized in the 49th round^Th Minute, Son's cross from the left was viciously beautiful, Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa were taken out of play as Johnson arrived at the far post and converted.

Emery urged calm. By now, however, the action was hectic. Solanke had the chance to make it 2-1, but Emiliano Martinez made a good save. Porro was cautioned for taking down Watkins. Cristian Romero was injured while taking out Rogers in a ridiculous challenge.

While Radu Dragusin deputized for the injured Micky van de Ven, Spurs played with their second-choice centre-back after Ben Davies came on for Romero. Emery would soon substitute Jhon Durán for the limping Rogers. Postecoglou had previously signed Richarlison for Son, who didn't seem particularly impressed by the idea of ​​him being protected after his recent hamstring problems.

But as Son sat on the bench, shaking his head and muttering to himself, Spurs got a new lease of life. As the minutes passed and Villa's legs grew heavier, Davies stepped forward to challenge Watkins. Sarr then pushed forward and found Johnson before Kuluseveski stunned Villa with an immediate back pass to Solanke, who ran from left to right and was cool enough to fire a lovely shot over Martínez.

The composure was breathtaking and Spurs knew it would do them no good if they tried to defend a 2-1 lead. Instead they went at Villa again, with Sarr irrepressible as he intercepted a loose pass from Torres and released Richarlison, who crossed for a joyful Solanke, who scored again.

Villa were ready. The addition of 10 extra minutes merely gave Spurs the chance to increase their yield, an invitation which Maddison accepted when he fired a free-kick past a flat-footed Martínez.