Tottenham breathed new life into their battle to stay in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Champions League-chasing Aston Villa to move out of the relegation zone.
West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday opened the door for Spurs, and Roberto De Zerbi’s side stepped confidently through it as the battle to beat the drop took a plot twist.
Spurs looked a different side under De Zerbi. The way they pressed and won back possession all over the pitch was reminiscent of De Zerbi’s Brighton, giving every indication Spurs will have enough to stay in the top flight next season.
Aston Villa, who made seven changes from their Europa League semi-final first leg defeat to Nottingham Forest, were second best from the very first whistle as first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison as good as finished the game as a contest.
Richarlison turns to celebrate after giving Spurs a 2-0 lead
The expected Villa resurgence never came in the second half and despite Emi Buendia’s stoppage-time header, it was Spurs’ night as they produced arguably their best performance of the season at such a crucial point in the campaign.
Randal Kolo Muani gees up the Spurs supporters after being substituted
Spurs, who now have back-to-back wins in the league since their first two games of the season, are now one point above 18th-placed West Ham with three games of the season left to play and favourites to beat the drop, and with a home game to come against Leeds, after the Hammers host Arsenal, their position could be even better next week.
However, De Zerbi was remaining cautious.
“It’s not finished yet, the season,” he said. “We have to play another three games, very tough games, starting Monday night, with Leeds.
“Leeds are playing very well. They deserve to stay in this position in the table. We can’t forget what the situation was before Wolverhampton – and before that it was a very sad situation. These memories have to stay in our head every day, especially this week after this win.”
While it was Spurs’ best performance of the season, Villa produced their worst display of the campaign, with their attention clearly on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.
A disappointed Matty Cash and Victor Lindelof leave the pitch at half-time
Villa, who stay fifth with a six-point cushion to Bournemouth in sixth, have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions and missed the chance to all but seal a Champions League spot for next season.
Unai Emery’s men now have to produce a response from a lacklustre display to overcome a one-goal deficit against Forest on Thursday.
That’s a huge result for Spurs. I didn’t see that coming. Villa were poor, but right from the start Spurs absolutely made the most of it with their desire and intensity.
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De Zerbi: Spurs showed what we are capable of
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi to TNT Sports:
“We played against Aston Villa and Aston Villa is a very good team, with a lot of very good players and a great manager, but we played very well for 60 minutes, I think, with the ball, without the ball.
“Then we suffered Watkins, we suffered Buendia, we concede a goal. The only bad thing on the pitch was the goal we conceded.
“We could have scored more goals, especially in the first half, but I’m pleased for this performance from my players. I know how much they suffered this season and for that I’m very proud.”
On what pleased him the most about Spurs’ performance, he added: “The high pressure, for sure, because the high pressure is a mentality. Then the possession because we played very, very well, with calm. When we had to attack the space or to go to shoot, we did. When we had to keep the ball, we did.
“I love playing football. Especially if you have these players in the squad, my job is to help them, to put them in the right condition to play, to show what they are capable of doing.”
Emery: We must accept this defeat
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery to TNT Sports:
“We didn’t deserve more. Today, Tottenham played a very good match. They scored two goals so quick and then they dominated the first half more than we planned.
“Good reaction in the second half; we were pushing more, playing better than the first half. We tried to react, scoring one goal, but we only achieved it at the end of the match. We must accept this defeat.
“Yes (we were below our standard in the first half), but we were playing against Tottenham. They are in the bottom, but they are a very good team.
“Last week we lost against Fulham and which players played against Fulham? We played against Nottingham Forest and we lost. Today we lost with different players.”
On Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg, he added: “It’s a different match, a different competition. We’re in the semi-finals and of course we are going to enjoy the match and enjoy the process. To play in the semi-final of the Europa League is fantastic. I don’t play one match like this in three years here.
“The supporters forget we are having a fantastic season and we are on the same points as Liverpool on 58.”
