Aston Villa steal march on Tottenham in race for European spot

Who can really blame the supporters in these parts for returning to the well to sing the name of Unai Emery? The Aston Villa manager has changed what was deemed plausible inside six months. Villa preyed on a wishy-washy performance by Tottenham Hotspur to move level on points with the visitors, with an early strike by Jacob Ramsey and a second-half free-kick by Douglas Luiz enough to kill off Tottenham. For Villa, this deserved victory was a 2-1 trouncing.

Until Harry Kane lashed a penalty past Emi Martínez with a minute of normal time to play after the Villa goalkeeper was deemed to have fouled the striker inside the box, Villa were only a third goal away from leapfrogging Spurs into sixth. Villa then had to survive seven minutes of added time, in which Son Heung-min correctly had an equaliser chalked off for offside, to secure a win that guarantees a top-10 finish for the first time in 12 years. It is staggering to think that in November 14 points separated these sides. Spurs were third under Antonio Conte, three points off the summit. At that point Villa were 16th, a point off the relegation zone. The turnaround has been rather remarkable.

Villa built on their commanding start by taking the lead on eight minutes. Ramsey converted Leon Bailey’s cutback on the edge of the six-yard box, capping a beautiful team move. Villa shifted the ball from left to right, Ramsey helping the ball on to Bailey before driving into the box to send Villa in front. Ryan Mason, arms folded, wore a glum look and things did not improve for Spurs, whose team was unchanged from the side that squeaked past Crystal Palace. The visiting supporters may have been bathed in sunshine in the Doug Ellis Stand but had to generate their own excitement.