A crucial game in the race for Europe takes place in the Premier League today as Spurs travel to an Aston Villa side looking to cap their fine end to the season with a top-seven finish.
Harry Kane struck in last week’s victory over Crystal Palace to at least end Tottenham’s four-game run without a win, elevating them back into Europa League contention. Ryan Mason is determined to make his case for taking the manager’s role permanently and three more points this afternoon would certainly do that.
Unai Emery’s Villa, meanwhile, must rouse themselves after back-to-back defeats dropped them to eighth in the table. In terms of team news, Spurs are unchanged with the hosts able to welcome Matty Cash back to their bench. Follow Aston Villa vs Tottenham LIVE via Standard Sport’s matchday blog below, featuring expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick in the west Midlands!
Live updates
80 mins: Romero booked for a rash challenge. That’s the sort of sentence we keep on file.
78 mins: Kulusevski has added some vital width to Spurs since coming on, yet he needs to whip in his cross first time rather than try to beat his marker.
With men back, Villa force it out for a corner – which is cleared at the near post.
75 mins: Chants of ‘Allez, allez, allez’ ringing out from the Holte End as Villa fans smell their chance at European football.
The away end may well want them to have it, rather than another march through Thursday nights.
Dan Kilpatrick at Villa Park
Forster has kept Spurs in this game with smart saves from Bailey and Buendia but should have done better from Luiz’s free-kick, which wasn’t exactly in the corner.
It’s what Spurs deserve for another dismal display on the road.
73 mins: Could Forster have done better? Maybe, but it was a very worthy effort from Luiz.
Kane booked in amongst that, too.
It’s once again looking like a bad afternoon out for Spurs fans.
GGGGOOOOOAAALLLLL!!! Aston Villa 2-0 Tottenham
71 mins: Romero concedes a foul with a late one on Watkins, just 25 yards from goal.
Villa captain Luiz steps up… HE BURIES IT!
68 mins: Emery responds to that spell from Tottenham by subbing Buendia and Bailey for Duran and Kamara.
The French midfielder in particularly can shore things up, moving McGinn out wide.
Dan Kilpatrick at Villa Park
The introductions of Bissouma and Kulusevski for the ineffective Skipp and Richarlison have given Spurs a lift and perhaps they sense they can make Villa pay for so many missed chances.
Chance!
65 mins: Hello, hello…
Spurs are suddenly looking a bit lively and Kulusevski expertly holds Moreno off before rolling a shot narrowly wide!
The away end has perked up, that’s for sure.
63 mins: Martinez spills his attempt to collect a high ball into the box, from a free-kick that simply wasn’t a foul.
Villa escape, however, before Tottenham come again via Son who shoots over from a great position.
He was, of course, offside.
