Villa boost European hopes with vital win over Spurs

Aston Villa boosted their chances of European football with a 2-1 home win over sixth-placed Tottenham to move level on points with them.

Jacob Ramsey’s eighth-minute finish and Douglas Luiz’s second-half free-kick (72) lifted Unai Emery’s side up to seventh, which is set to be a Europa Conference League place.

Tottenham endured a miserable first half at Villa Park as they failed to have a shot, had only one touch in the opposition box and registered an expected goals of zero.

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Ryan Mason’s side did, however, come close to equalising in the second half before Luiz’s set-piece strike as Emiliano Martinez denied Harry Kane, while substitute Dejan Kulusevski curled an effort just wide of the post.

But Kane scored a 90th-minute penalty to set up a nervy finish at Villa Park with Heung-Min Son having a last-minute goal ruled out for offside.

Villa managed to hold on to dent Spurs’ hopes of playing European football next season as they remain sixth and are only ahead of Villa on goal difference, with both sides having two games left, while eighth-placed Brighton have three games in hand on the pair.

More to follow…

What’s next?

Up next for Aston Villa is a crucial game in their quest for Europe as they face fellow contenders Liverpool at Anfield next Saturday, kick-off 3pm. Unai Emery’s side then host Brighton on the final day of the season.

Tottenham will also get a better understanding of which European competition they will be in after their next game against Brentford next Saturday, kick-off 12.30pm. Spurs then visit Leeds on the final day of the season on May 28.