With Tottenham's captain underperforming and injuries affecting performances and results, manager Ange Postecoglou has come under increasing pressure.

But BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Clinton Morrison believes the Australian should be given the chance to steer the club through this difficult period...

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min is certainly a great case in point as a player who has struggled for form for some time.

He's found the net just once in the last eight matches in all competitions and provided just one assist in that time also.

The former Golden Boot winner has looked a shell of his former self of late and whether that's due to the number of minutes he has been forced to play or not - his dip in form couldn't have come at a worse time for an already fragile Spurs side.

And his struggles continued in the defeat at Villa Park on Sunday.

The South Korea forward missed a glorious chance at 1-0 to level the game when he fired straight at Emi Martinez from close range and away from that he struggled to have any real impact on the game.

He had just 23 touches on the night - seven of which came in his own half. Only Mikey Moore, who was replaced at half-time, had less with 18.

Joe Hart
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC One

At the top level it's the intensity. It's having the freedom and clarity to move forwards, play forwards and to know as a team when you have to put the breaks on and defend for a little bit.

I saw that from Villa, I didn't see it from Tottenham.

They were half-committed to everything that they were doing. They mean well and they want to do well but they are playing in fear a little bit at the moment.

Tottenham's manager is not the only person at the club who is seemingly under pressure.

Ange Postecoglou called for detractors to lay off his players, who he says have performed admirably to fill in for their injured team-mates.

BBC One pundit Joe Hart noted during Sunday's live coverage of Spurs' FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa that they looked to be "playing in fear"...

Michael in Lincolnshire: Absolutely agree with Ken earlier. Spurs' injuries are a reason not an excuse. Other teams have had problems but not as many and as long term. It annoyed me to hear 'fans' chanting about Levy during the game. They are entitled to their opinion but keep it for before and after, during should be about supporting the team on the pitch. Should never be done at away matches either. And no they don't speak for ALL fans.

Image source, Getty Images

Football moves quickly. Injured players return and all of a sudden, with a few decent results, what seemed like a bleak future for a team under pressure can suddenly look a lot brighter.

Ange Postecoglou will certainly hope that scenario pans out for him and his returning players, with fewer midweek games and more time to prepare his side.

But things don't get much easier for Tottenham in terms of upcoming fixtures:

• 16 Feb: Man Utd (h)
• 22 Feb: Ipswich (a)
• 26 Feb: Man City (h)
• 06 Mar: Europa League, opponent TBC
• 09 Mar: Bournemouth (h)
• 13 Mar: Europa League - opponent TBC
• 16 Mar: Fulham (a)
• 02 Apr: Chelsea (a)

Joe Hart
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC One

On the Europa League being important to Tottenham...

100%. No getting away from it now.

That has got to be the narrative of the season. That's where the focus of Tottenham has to come to light and unite.

It looks like they will bodge their way through the Premier League season.

The Premier League smells Tottenham - they know how to play against Tottenham.

The Europa League is a different animal. That's where you can create those special nights.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou has assured fans that he always wins a trophy in his second season as manager at a club.

This last week has put a dent in the chances of his Spurs side living up to that bold claim, with defeats in the EFL Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup fourth round.

Spurs are languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, so all hopes now lie with the Europa League - a competition in which Postecoglou's side have qualified for the last 16.

Here is a rundown of Spurs' recent results:

• Aston Villa 2-1 Spurs (FA Cup)
• Liverpool 4-0 Spurs (EFL Cup)
• Brentford 0-2 Spurs
• Spurs 3-0 Elfsborg (Europa League)
• Spurs 1-2 Leicester
• Hoffenheim 2-3 Spurs (Europa League)
• Everton 3-2 Spurs
• Arsenal 2-1 Spurs

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Hart
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC One

On what he would say to Ange Postecoglou

Stay strong - it's a real tough moment. You can see that he feels it, his heart is on his sleeve.

At this moment in time he is really being tested. He is being tested in his beliefs. He is asking questions of himself - we all do in difficult moments in time.

That's when you need support, the club behind you and the team behind you and at this moment that is what they really need.

From a manager living the dream - Plymouth's Miron Muslic - to one struggling through a nightmare run of injuries to key players - Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou...

Image source, Getty Images

Plymouth manager Miron Muslic speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: “It was a magical day for us as a club, for us as an organisation, for the Green Army.

“It was a historical day so you can imagine a lot of emotions, a lot of smiling faces all over the place but today is already Monday so we are looking forward to the next obstacle for us and it’s a massive one for us on Wednesday against Millwall.”

On his emotions during the game: “I was just pretending [to be calm]. I was calm outside but like a volcano inside. It was just important for me to manage, to keep a good balance also with my emotions because I have to consistently deliver a message to the lads.

“It's important because the heat is on, the game is anyway emotional. It is important for me to keep a good balance so I can stay focused and support the lads but believe me it was also very, very special for me.”

On his approach: “Our plan was just to use this beautiful competition - it's the FA Cup, the most famous cup in the world and it's a huge stage. The world is watching because it's Liverpool, it's a live game so it was a perfect opportunity to represent Argyle as best as possible. It was a perfect stage for the lads to show themselves and I think we did it well.”

We will return to Aston Villa's victory over Tottenham in a moment, but Plymouth manager Miron Muslic has been speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Let's have a look at what he had to say...has Sunday's momentous FA Cup win at home to Premier League leaders Liverpool sunk in yet?

You may have noticed the poll at the top of today's page is on the subject of VAR.

This is a topic we will be looking at in more detail later as VAR has been notable by its absence in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

As a result, there have been plenty of debatable decisions that have been poured over by fans and pundits alike.

Despite the fact some managers, players and supporters have been left feeling wronged by decisions that have not gone their way, there have been many lauding the fact that the football flowed better and match officials were able to exercise their autonomy on the pitch, without fear of being contradicted by technology.

So what do you think? Is football better without VAR?

Use the poll at the top of the page to have your say and we will be looking into this topic in more detail later this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

In fairness to Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, he does have a point with his repeated comments on having to constantly rely on 18 and 19-year-old players.

According to Opta, Spurs have used players aged 18 and under for 4,039 minutes of football in all competitions so far this season - that's very nearly more than double the next closest team Arsenal, with 2,035.

They also lead the way with minutes played by teenagers in the Premier League, though it isn't by as much of a clear margin. Manchester United are close behind in second with 1,832 minutes.

Stats correct up to 7 February 2025.

Just as a quick aside, we asked Liverpool fans earlier how they felt about being knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth.

Needless to say, the fact Arne Slot fielded a weakened team after going into the game on the back of a midweek victory over Spurs to book their place in the Carabao Cup final, the feelings expressed are a little bit different to those coming from Tottenham supporters following their cup defeat at Aston Villa...

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport

Another day, another cup disappointment for Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham.

With a chance to put Thursday's loss to Liverpool behind them, Spurs made the worst possible start at Villa Park as a howler from Antonin Kinsky allowed Jacob Ramsey to wheel away in celebration inside the opening minute.

It looked like a matter of time before Unai Emery's side would score again as the Villa attack cut through the Spurs defence but Kinsky was able to atone for his error with a number of strong saves.

Spurs captain Son Heung-min should have found an equaliser against the run of play but his first-time effort was brilliantly saved by the diving Emiliano Martinez.

New signing Mathys Tel provided the only positive for Spurs with his lovely flicked finish, giving his side hope of a stoppage-time comeback, but it was not to be.

Cries of "we want Levy out", aimed at club chairman Daniel Levy, could be heard coming from a disgruntled Spurs faithful - first in the 15th minute and then in the 61st.

Image source, Getty Images

After achieving Tottenham's best start to a Premier League campaign in his first season in north London, Ange Postecoglou's side have struggled to progress this term.

Following a disastrous week, the Europa League now represents Spurs' final hope of ending a 17-year wait for silverware, given they are languishing in 14th with more than two-thirds of the Premier League season played.

But throughout each new low, Postecoglou has pointed critics towards the names absent from his matchday squads.

As many as 12 first-team players were absent for the late January win over Elfsborg, which secured passage to the Europa League last 16.

"[It's been] Two and a half months of asking 17-year-olds, 18-year-olds and senior players with no rest to play Thursday and Sunday [every week]. If you think that is not at all a factor in how this team is performing, then there's nothing else I can say," said Postecoglou.

"I think this group of players, once we get the rest of the group in, will be an outstanding team. I have no doubt about that. Whether other people can see that is of no interest to me."

Here is your weekly reminder of Tottenham's seemingly never-ending injury list.

• Dominic Solanke
• Cristian Romero
• Wilson Odobert
• Radu Dragusin
• Micky van de Ven
• Richarlison
• Brennan Johnson
• James Maddison
• Timo Werner
• Destiny Udogie
• Guglielmo Vicario

Several players are expected to return within the next game or two.