Aston Villa 2 Tottenham 0 - Report
After Unai Emery urged everyone at Villa to keep dreaming until the last second, this win guaranteed their chase for Champions League football will go to the wire.
Second half goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara earned a 2-0 win over Tottenham which lifted them into the Premier League’s top-five, for now.
Win at Manchester United on the final day and they will stand every chance of remaining there when the music stops.
Emery used his programme notes to claim Villa, who are already guaranteed European football of some kind, would feel “joy” whatever competition they are playing in.
Yet it is difficult to believe they wouldn’t feel a lot more delight by securing a second straight season in the Champions League.
For a team whose campaign will stretch to 57 matches, it would mark a truly special achievement and ensure those all-important club revenues remain high as possible.
Tottenham themselves can qualify for the Champions League by winning next week’s Europa League final.
That date with Manchester United in Bilbao was clearly in the mind of a team who showed little inclination to do anything other than defend. Their manager, Ange Postecoglou, left many of his best players on the bench until the game was good as over. It did make you wonder why the London club had made such a fuss about moving the match forward 48 hours from the original date.
Yet Villa did not find it easy to break down the visitors. There was palpable frustration in the air before Konsa hooked home just before the hour mark. Kamara then scored his first Premier League goal to ensure Villa would claim their ninth win in 11 league matches.
Ollie Watkins’ achievement in becoming Villa’s record Premier League was referenced by the stadium announcer as the teams emerged onto the pitch and he had the first effort of the game, shooting straight at Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky after a neat exchange with Boubacar Kamara.
John McGinn drilled just over the bar as the home side looked to set a quick tempo but it was not entirely one-way traffic, the returning Son Heung-min curling an effort just off target.
Tottenham were getting joy down the left and then created a big chance, Mathys Tel crossing low and Wilson Odobert flicking an effort toward goal which Martinez saved with his legs.
That was a warning for Villa and they almost responded by taking the lead themselves. Onana crossed and Rogers got the slightest touch, Kinsky keeping the ball out of the net with his fingertips.
Spurs were starting to sit deeper and deeper. Torres picked out Watkins in the box but for some reason he opted to pass rather than shoot. The striker then saw an effort blocked by Pape Sarr after latching on to an exquisite pass from Asensio, who then curled just wide from outside the box.
It meant a half of frustration for Villa and tension was building further before Konsa made the breakthrough just prior to the hour mark.
The defender had minutes before been involved in a scuffle with Tel, after the Tottenham man appeared to aim an elbow in his direction.
It was Konsa who had the last laugh. McGinn delivered a corner deep, Watkins headed the ball back across goal and Konsa hooked it home on the volley, his finish going through the legs of Yves Bissouma.
Having waited so long to score, Villa nearly had a quick second but Kinsky was able to claw Watkins’ low finish away from goal.
Villa had their tails up now though and a second goal felt only a matter of time. If eventually came with 17 minutes remaining, Kamara scoring just his sixth career goal with a powerful low drive from the edge of the box.
McGinn curled wide but there were to be no more goals. It mattered not. On to Old Trafford.
Key Moments
59 GOAL Breakthrough for Villa. John McGinn sends in a corner, Ollie Watkins wins the header and Ezri Konsa hooks home the volley.
73 GOAL Boubacar Kamara doubles Villa’s lead with his first Premier League goal, driving home low from the edge of the box.
Teams
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana (Barkley 88), Rogers, Asensio, McGinn (Bailey 90), Watkins (Malen 86) Subs not used: Disasi, Mings, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Olsen (gk).
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kinsky, Reguilon (Bentancur 74), Danso, Davies, Spence, Gray, Moore (Johnson 87), Sarr (Bissouma 52), Odobert (Richarlison 87), Son (Solanke 74), Tel Subs not used: Porro, Cassanova, Olusesi, Vicario (gk).
