North London Braces for High-Stakes FA Cup Clash as Pressure Mounts on Thomas Frank
Tottenham Hotspur faces Aston Villa in a highly anticipated FA Cup third-round tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today, January 10, 2026, at 5.45pm GMT. This all-Premier League encounter carries significant weight, especially for Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who finds himself under increasing pressure after a string of disappointing results.
Frank's position at Tottenham has come under scrutiny following a recent 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, a team that had not won in 11 games prior to that match. This loss, coupled with inconsistent league form that sees the Lilywhites languishing in 14th place, has fueled fan unrest and raised questions about Frank's ability to turn the season around. Some fans even booed the team off the pitch after recent draws with Sunderland and Brentford. A vocal section of supporters expressed their frustration, chanting "boring, boring Tottenham".
Despite the mounting pressure, reports suggest that Tottenham's management is willing to give Frank time to prove himself. However, the upcoming FA Cup match against Aston Villa and a subsequent Premier League fixture against West Ham are viewed as crucial tests that could determine his future at the club.
Frank is acutely aware of the importance of a strong FA Cup run, stating, "I'm very, very aware that a cup run will be fantastic,". He has vowed to field a full-strength team against Aston Villa, signaling his commitment to the competition. "We will go full strength, all in. We want to win both the game and the tournament," Frank declared.
However, injuries and international duties have impacted Tottenham's squad selection. Mohammed Kudus is ruled out for several weeks, while Rodrigo Bentancur is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. Cristian Romero is suspended. Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke remain unavailable, and Pape Matar Sarr is on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. Destiny Udogie is nearing a return.
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, enters the match in impressive form, currently sitting third in the Premier League. They are unbeaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions. Villa will be without key players such as Emiliano Martinez, who is sidelined with a calf injury, Amadou Onana, and Ross Barkley. Evann Guessand is at AFCON with Ivory Coast.
Villa defeated Tottenham 2-1 in the fourth round of last year's FA Cup. They eventually reached the semi-finals before losing to Crystal Palace.
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and TNT Sports 1. It can also be streamed via BBC iPlayer and the Discovery+ app.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Tottenham will wear a special kit to commemorate the 125th anniversary of their 1901 FA Cup win. Before kickoff, a minute's applause will be held to honor the recent passing of Spurs legends Martin Chivers and Terry Yorath.
With both teams eager to advance in the FA Cup and Thomas Frank fighting to secure his position at Tottenham, this match promises to be a captivating encounter.
