Villa ease past Spurs for big boost to UCL hopes

High-flying Aston Villa dispatched Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 successful the Premier League connected Friday to amended their chances of much Champions League shot and permission their visitors firmly focused connected adjacent week's Europa League final.

With Villa dominating possession successful a enactment ambiance for their last location crippled of the season, the breakthrough came successful the 59th infinitesimal erstwhile centre-back Ezri Konsa whipped location aft Ollie Watkins headed the shot into his way from a corner.

Midfielder Boubacar Kamara rifled location Villa's 2nd successful the 73rd infinitesimal to extremity the tepid absorption of Spurs, who anticipation to salvage an different miserable play successful Bilbao adjacent week if they tin bushed Manchester United to assistance the Europa League.

With 1 fixture left, Villa are connected 66 points and 5th successful the Premier League, the past qualifying berth for the Champions League. Chelsea are supra them connected extremity quality aft beating Manchester United besides connected Friday.

Manchester City are sixth connected 65 points but with 2 games left.

Villa goalscorer Konsa said his extremity came from a country regular the squad had worked connected during the week, mounting them connected their mode for a singular eighth consecutive location win.

"I'm conscionable gladsome that we managed to get the triumph connected our past location crippled and springiness the fans thing to cheer for," helium said.

"We knew contiguous was a must-win. We privation to play Champions League shot again. We had a sensation of it this season, got to the quarters. For america arsenic players, it's the contention that you privation to play in."

After suffering a 21st decision successful this season, Spurs beryllium a woeful 17th successful the Premier League with 38 points, conscionable supra the bottommost 3 already relegated sides.

Plagued by injuries, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou astatine slightest had the pleasance of seeing his skipper Son Heung-Min, precocious backmost from injury, looking unscathed for the Bilbao clash.

"He is acceptable and available," Postecoglou said. It was important contiguous and helium feels similar helium is getting backmost to immoderate rhythm."

Son was progressive successful each the Londoners' champion attacking play, but successful information they hardly laid a mitt connected Villa who won easy adjacent without showing their accustomed intensity.

The location side's Morgan Rogers astir saw a glancing header tipped circular by Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky portion Marco Asensio tormented the visitors with his footwork and Watkins saw a debased changeable alert conscionable past the post.

"Very precise happy," said Villa manager Unai Emery, punching the aerial successful joyousness earlier posing with fans for selfies aft the game.

"We person to effort support being accordant similar we are now, focused and demanding. .. There's inactive enactment to do, to person the accidental of playing Champions League."

Villa's last Premier League crippled is distant astatine Manchester United portion Chelsea spell to Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City look Bournemouth astatine location past Fulham away.

Spurs under-fire brag Postecoglou praised his team's endeavour astatine Villa Park but said yet they ran retired of steam.

Now winless successful six Premier League games, Spurs' champion effort came erstwhile winger Wilson Odobert's backheel astir deceived Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez earlier helium recovered to marque the save.

"Up until they scored, the boys worked hard, we didn't fto them make excessively galore openings, we had our moments too," helium said.

"Once they scored, I deliberation we mislaid content and we were fatiguing, past the crippled conscionable got distant with us."