Aston Villa vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Son Heung-min inspires big win in top-four race
Unai Emery’s Villa take on Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs in a clash for fourth
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Tottenham Hotspur inflicted a chastening 4-0 home defeat on 10-man Aston Villa as Ange Postecoglou’s men emphatically won this key battle in the race for Champions League qualification.
Sunday’s crunch clash between fourth and fifth was described in the build-up by Villa skipper John McGinn as “the most important game in the club’s recent history”.
Unai Emery’s men had the chance to move eight points clear of Spurs in the final guaranteed Champions League spot, but instead the hosts’ captain saw red in an embarrassing second-half collapse. Follow all the reaction below plus get the latest odds and tips for the match right here:
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
87 mins: Spurs make a double change, as Timo Werner and Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg come on for Brennan Johnson and James Maddison.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
85 mins: Emery makes another change as Ezri Konsa comes off for Diego Carlos. Villa have another corner, and it’s easily cleared but Vicario fumbles it as another ball is played in. Villa continue attacking, but Spurs clear easily enough for now.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
82 mins: Porro plays in an excellent early cross from the right, and Son almost takes it well but Cash produces an excellent tackle.
Villa win two straight corners, and the ball falls to Zaniolo just a couple of yards out, but Vicario saves. He’s down injured for now.
That was Villa’s first shot on target today.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
78 mins: Maddison finds Son on the wing, but Spurs are in no rush to attack in this case. They do eventually work it to the other side of the pitch, and Kulusevski plays a great cross to Johnson, who controls well but has his shot blocked.
Spurs are keeping the ball fairly easily at the moment.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
76 mins: Douglas Luiz delivers a corner that barely makes it off the ground, and is quite reminiscent of Villa’s day so far. Nothing comes from the Spurs attempt at a counter.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
75 mins: Spurs are finding a lot of space now. Son sends Bentancur down the middle, and the Uruguayan passes wide to Kulusevski. He drives diagonally to the edge of the box, but his shot is wild and well over.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
73 mins: Unsurprisingly, it’s Spurs with all the ball now. They have a decent opportunity to make it 3-0, with Bissouma doing well to win the ball, but Son can’t make the most of the chance. Villa counter, but Diaby’s shot is straight at Bissouma.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
68 mins: Spurs fans are in fine voice now, cheering every completed pass.
Even Unai Emery looks defeated, and he brings off Leon Bailey for Tim Iroegbunam. Spurs take off Sarr for Rodrigo Bentancur.
RED CARD! Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
65 mins: Oh wow. A ridiculous challenge from John McGinn – he completely takes out Udogie as the Italian runs past him, with no real intent to get the ball. There’s a scuffle between the two benches and some players, and the Scot is shown a straight red for the challenge!
He has lost his head completely there – that is really not acceptable from the captain of a team in their position. Could he have cost his club even more in the long run?
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
64 mins: CLOSE! Villa are in need of a lift and they almost get it. They press well deep into the Spurs half, and McGinn spins through and into the box, but his cross in is intercepted by Vicario.
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