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Villa Beat Tottenham in FA Cup as Frank Accuses Watkins of Provoking Post-Whistle Melee

Frank cast the confrontation as provoked by Ollie Watkins, reflecting Tottenham's fraught home form.

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - January 10, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - January 10, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven remonstrates with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, Lamare Bogarde and Ollie Watkins after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - January 10, 2026 Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates after the match as Tottenham Hotspur's Joao Palhinha looks on Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Third Round - Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - January 10, 2026 Tottenham Hotspur's Joao Palhinha remonstrates with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Overview

  • Aston Villa won 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Emiliano Buendia and Morgan Rogers scoring before Wilson Odobert reduced the deficit after the break.
  • At full-time, Joao Palhinha pushed Ollie Watkins as Villa celebrated near their supporters, triggering a mass melee that drew in players from both teams and staff from the benches.
  • Frank said Watkins was “very provoking” and walked into Palhinha, stressing the need for cool heads while defending his squad's passion.
  • The defeat deepened Tottenham's struggles at home, where they have only two wins in their last 10 Premier League matches, following a midweek loss that included heated exchanges with fans.
  • Tottenham's issues mounted with captain Cristian Romero serving an extra one-match ban and Richarlison pulling up with a hamstring injury, which Frank linked to a run of five games in 13 days.