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Dean Smith is keen not to get dragged into worrying about his opposition's woes, and insists Aston Villa must concentrate on their own game plan this evening.

"We have to make sure that we concentrate on ourselves rather than Tottenham," said the Villa boss.

"It's a squad that is littered with very good players, none more so than Harry Kane. We have to be at our best to get anything out of this game.

"I can expect Jose Mourinho to get a backlash from his players and for them to come out fighting at Villa Park.

"The thing that helps us more than anything is the fact that their game went to extra time."

Aston Villa are enjoying a markedly better season than last, but Dean Smith's side have stuttered of late and have won just once in six Premier League matches - and four of 14 since Boxing Day.

They scored 27 goals in their first 13 league fixtures of the season, but only 12 in the last 14 and haven't scored more than once in any of their past nine top-flight games, managing six goals in total.

But 11 of Villa's 12 Premier League wins this season have been accompanied by a clean sheet and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will equal Brad Friedel's Premier League club record of 15 cleans sheets in a season if he keeps another today.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

I am at this game for BBC Radio 5 live, and I am not really sure what to expect from Aston Villa. They have been up and down for many weeks now, and have only won one of their past six games.

Mind you, it's not easy to predict what Tottenham will do either. Their performance - or lack of one - against Arsenal was very strange after their good form leading up to it. They were very disappointing.

Son Heung-min's injury is a blow for Spurs too, but whether he is fit or not, I don't see their approach changing too much here. Jose Mourinho will sit in again and try to pinch something - and it might work.

Prediction: 1-2

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Football Focus

John McGinn does a job that no other Villa player can do, he doesn’t mind the physical aspect, he gets stuck in and does all that ugly work.

If you haven’t got players like that, Jack Grealish can’t shine, Barkley can’t shine, Ollie Watkins can’t shine. You need a John McGinn in your squad.”

Karen Carney
Former England and Chelsea winger on Football Focus

It goes back to the north London derby, they didn’t play well then either - it is attitude, application. Saying afterwards we weren’t good enough doesn’t bring the result back, this Villa game is massive for them now.

Jermaine Jenas
Ex-Tottenham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I called it early against Dinamo Zagreb. I could tell by the body language they weren’t engaged in the game. They didn’t seem to be responding to what Jose probably asked them to.

I don’t feel they were playing for him at all. There’s only one thing happens after that and that’s the manager losing his job. The hangover from the north London derby was as clear as day. It was one of the worst performances I’ve seen from a Tottenham side.

Last week I felt like they had a chance [of qualifying for the Champions League]. They’re not going to get anywhere near it now. The biggest worrying factor is Jose historically wins his titles with teams who have grit. They’re mentally strong teams. The last two games – in their biggest moments of the season - they’ve melted.

I don’t even think the League Cup saves him. The fans are probably looking at what he’s done and it looks negative. There’s no consistency in their style of play. I’d say 90% of Spurs fans would say they’ve had enough.

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There was also a pretty telling assessment of where Tottenham are currently at from club captain and World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

"We are a club full of ambition but the team at the moment is a reflection of what is going on in the club. Lack of basics, lack of fundamentals. Mentally we should be stronger, more competitive," he said.

"One thing is to come in front of the camera and say 'I'm ambitious'. The other is to show it every day. To behave as a team is the most difficult thing in football.

"If you follow the team only when you are in the starting XI, that can be a big problem and today is the consequence of that.

"We had great moments in the past because we could trust the togetherness in the team. Today I am not sure about that."

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Football Focus

Fans will accept you losing, but it is the manner - I couldn't see anyone who really wanted to win that trophy. The fans will be absolutely disgusted.

There was no holding back from Jose Mourinho after his side's exit on Thursday night and he apologised to the Spurs supporters for their performance.

"My team - I repeat, my team - didn't look like it was playing an important match. If for any one of them it is not important, for me it is," said the Spurs boss.

"I am disappointed for a difference of attitude of one team to another. I feel sorry that my team is the team that didn't bring to the game not just the basics of football but the basics of life, which is to respect our jobs and to give everything.

"I can only apologise to the Tottenham supporters. I hope they feel the same way I feel. Today is live or die - and in this moment, we die."

Spurs have confirmed Toby Alderweireld and Serge Aurier both miss out through illness today.

• Aston Villa have won just one of the past 19 meetings in all competitions, drawing three times and losing 15.
• Tottenham have triumphed on their last six visits to Villa Park in all competitions, doing so by an aggregate score of 17-3.
• Villa could lose six straight Premier League home games against a particular opponent for only the third occasion.

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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith remains without captain Jack Grealish and makes two changes following his side's draw with Newcastle over a week ago.

Matty Cash and Morgan Sanson start, replacing of Ahmed El Mohamady and Jacob Ramsey.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Luiz, Sanson, Traore, Watkins, Trezeguet.

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Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho makes seven changes from the side which started in the shock Europa League defeat by Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.

That sees Sergio Reguilon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Japhet Tanganga, Joe Rodon, Giovani Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Carlos Vinicius come in.

Gareth Bale and Dele Alli are among those who start on the bench for Spurs, who are missing Son Heung-min through injury and Erik Lamela due to suspension.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Vinicius, Kane, Moura.

Let's dive into some breaking team news.

Jack Grealish is not yet deemed fit enough to make the Aston Villa squad, while Jose Mourinho has rung the changes for Spurs.

Among them, Gareth Bale is benched and Carlos Vinicius, Joe Rodon, Japhet Tanganga and Giovanni Lo Celso all start for the visitors, who are also without the injured Son Heung-min.

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Tottenham arrive at Villa Park in mild turmoil after successive defeats this week.

Their Europa League exit at the hands of Dinamo Zagreb, having taken a 2-0 lead into the away leg, was incredibly poor and followed an abject defeat in the north London derby against Arsenal last weekend.

Can Jose Mourinho salvage Spurs' season?

An Aston Villa side also in the hunt for a European spot stand in the way this evening, looking to reignite their own season after slipping off the blistering pace they set before Christmas.