Aston Villa 2 Tottenham 1: Spurs suffer huge blow in battle for Europa League after goals from Ramsey and Luiz
UNAI EMERY’S vibrant Villa sent out a clear message that when it comes to flying the flag for England in Europe next season – they look a far better bet than Spurs.
From relegation dodgers to Euro contenders, the former Arsenal boss’s influence has been sensational since he replaced Steven Gerrard.
Goals from Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz had Spurs reeling and, although Harry Kane pulled one back on 90 minutes from the penalty spot, Villa deserved this win over Tottenham who now face a struggle to make the Europa League.
Only goal difference separates sixth-placed Spurs from seventh-placed Villa, with Spurs now mathematically out of the Champions League hunt.
Meanwhile Villa continue to rise, having plundered 45 points from a possible 69 since Emery’s arrival.
His opposite number Ryan Mason has made it clear he wants to become Spurs head coach and insists he has the right credentials to transform Tottenham’s fortunes and turn them into winners.
As far as job interviews go this was always going to be a toughie.
Villa Park is no longer the cushy venue for the likes of Spurs to pop along to and pocket three easy points.
Tottenham had won on their last EIGHT visits to B6 racking up a 23-3 scoreline in their favour, while Villa had only won once in their last 15 home games against the Lilywhites – in 2008!
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But that was pre Unai Emery.
Under their immaculate Spanish boss Villa finally look like a club who resemble former European champions.
Despite the recent blip of two 1-0 defeats at Manchester United and Wolves, their home form under Emery has been irresistible.
They came into this one with the swagger of a side who had won five Premier League games here on the spin for the first time in 25 years.
Meanwhile Emi Martinez was itching to become the first Villa goalkeeper to keep six consecutive clean sheets at home since 1971 when the club were in the third tier!
This was an acid test for Mason.
Unfortunately for him, Spurs didn’t know what had hit them as Villa bossed their bewildered opponents in every department during a one-sided first half.
While Emery bounced around his technical area, urging his players forward, pointing out possible passing routes or potential danger spots, Mason stood, arms folded and sucked it up.
The only saving grace was that Villa were not ultra clinical in front of goal and had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break which utterly flattered Spurs.
It took the sweet-flowing home side just eight minutes to seize an early lead as Spurs surrendered a goal in the opening 10 minutes for the SEVENTH time in five games.
Jacob Ramsey who tormented Emerson Royal for much of this game drove towards the heart of the Spurs defence and picked out Leon Bailey on the right.
The Jamaican winger surged past Ben Davies and fired in a low ball which Ramsey expertly drilled beyond Fraser Forster into the bottom corner.
It was slick stuff against a defence which had retreated way too deep and it set the tone for the rest of the half.
McGinn dug out a little sand-wedge of a cross and the ball spun over Forster but bounced off the roof of Spurs’ net as Emery applauded the Scot’s cheek.
McGinn then showed the gritty side of his game when he was booked for clattering Harry Kane.
Spurs thought they had sprung Villa’s high line when Kane sent Son sprinting clear on Martinez.
The South Korean rounded the Villa keeper but smacked his shot off the post and Martinez recovered to push away Kane’s fiercely struck rebound.
However standside linesman Edward Smart then raised his flag to confirm Tyrone Mings claim that Villa had timed their offside trap to perfection.
Ashley Young hurled himself full-length to toe Kane’s cute cross away from Son to further frustrate Spurs.
Forster frantically fisted a Douglas Luiz in-swinging corner from under his crossbar before Villa almost replicated their opener.
However Bailey’s netbound shot was touched away low down by Forster after Watkins had cut Spurs apart.
Ollie Watkins threw himself at a sublime Alex Moreno volleyed cross but was a fraction away from connecting with his head.
And Villa ended the half with an Emi Buendia shot which smacked off the crossbar with Forster beaten.
Spurs never managed one shot on target during that 45 minute schooling and Forster was in action again when he did well to beat away Buendia’s shot just after the break.
The visitors improved but it was difficult not to.
Kane should have scored when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg blindsided Douglas Luiz to nick the ball and set up his skipper.
But Emi Martinez stood tall and Kane’s shot crashed off the keeper’s chest.
It was a crucial miss because Villa then doubled their lead with a sensational free kick from Douglas Luiz.
Romero recklessly fouled Watkins and from 25 yards the Brazilian midfielder curled the ball over Spurs six man wall and Forster looked suspect as he palmed the ball into the roof of his own net.
Villa now needed just one goal to leapfrog Spurs on goal difference.
Instead Spurs pulled one back from the penalty spot.
Sub Dejan Kulusevski sent Kane clear and Martinez sprinted off his line to send the striker spinning as the ball flew wide.
Ref Peter Bankes sided with Martinez but VAR Jarred Gillet invited him to take a squint at the screen and Bankes pointed to the spot.
Kane sent Martinez the wrong way to set up a dramatic six minutes of stoppage time.
Son thought he had nicked it when he burst clear of Villa’s high back line at a free kick and slid the ball beyond Martinez.
But VAR confirmed he had gone a fraction too early – unlike Spurs who simply left it too late!
Jacob Ramsey who tormented Emerson Royal for much of this game drove towards the heart of the Spurs defence and picked out Leon Bailey on the right.
The Jamaican winger surged past Ben Davies and fired in a low ball which Ramsey expertly drilled beyond Fraser Forster into the bottom corner.
It was slick stuff against a defence which had retreated way too deep and it set the tone for the rest of the half.
McGinn dug out a little sand-wedge of a cross and the ball spun over Forster but bounced off the roof of Spurs’ net as Emery applauded the Scot’s cheek.
McGinn then showed the gritty side of his game when he was booked for clattering Harry Kane.
Spurs thought they had sprung Villa’s high line when Kane sent Son sprinting clear on Martinez.
The South Korean rounded the Villa keeper but smacked his shot off the post and Martinez recovered to push away Kane’s fiercely struck rebound.
However stand side linesman Edward Smart then raised his flag to confirm Tyrone Mings claim that Villa had timed their offside trap to perfection.
Ashley Young hurled himself full-length to toe Kane’s cute cross away from Son to further frustrate Spurs.
Forster frantically fisted a Douglas Luiz inswinging corner from under his crossbar before Villa almost replicated their opener.
However Bailey’s netbound shot was touched away low down by Forster after Watkins had cut Spurs apart.
Ollie Watkins threw himself at a sublime Alex Moreno volleyed cross but was a fraction away from connecting with his head.
And Villa ended the half with an Emi Buendia shot which smacked off the crossbar with Forster beaten.
Spurs never managed one shot on target during that 45 minute schooling and Forster was in action again when he did well to beat away Buendia’s shot just after the break.
The visitors improved but it was difficult not to.
Kane should have scored when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg blindsided Douglas Luiz to nick the ball and set up his skipper.
But Emi Martinez stood tall and Kane’s shot crashed off the keeper’s chest.
It was a crucial miss because Villa then doubled their lead with a sensational free kick from Douglas Luiz.
Romero recklessly fouled Watkins and from 25 yards the Brazilian midfielder curled the ball over Spurs six man wall and Forster looked suspect as he palmed the ball into the roof of his own net.
Villa now needed just one goal to leapfrog Spurs on goal difference.
Instead Spurs pulled one back from the penalty spot.
Sub Dejan Kulusevski sent Kane clear and Mafrtinez sprinted off his line to send the striker spinning as the ball flew wide.
Ref Peter Bankes sided with Martinez but VAR Jarred Gillet invited him to take a squint at the screen and Bankes pointed to the spot.
Kane sent Martinez the wrong way to set up a dramatic six minutes of stoppage time.
Son thought he had nicked it when he burst clear of Villa’s high back line at a free kick and slid the ball beyond Martinez.
But VAR confirmed he had gone a fraction too early – unlike Spurs who simply left it too late!
You can read how the game unfolded with our live blog below…