Aston Villa are into the Champions League locations following a 2-0 win over an under-strength Tottenham at Villa Park.
Ange Postecoglou rested a lot of Spurs’ huge hitters forward of Wednesday’s Europa League last in opposition to Manchester United and although they saved Villa out till into the second half, objectives from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara secured the three factors.
Unai Emery’s facet needed to be affected person, Antonin Kinsky tipping a cross-shot behind and Marco Asensio firing simply broad. However Spurs skipper Heung-Min Son supplied sufficient on the counter-attack to threaten, Wilson Odobert’s flick forcing Emi Martinez right into a save.
However from the second that Konsa turned the ball dwelling early within the second half, the stress lifted, and when Kamara fizzed a left-footed shot past Kinsky and into the online, Villa have been on their approach to an eighth win in 9 Premier League matches.
That type had propelled them into the highest 4 by the ultimate whistle, pending the results of Chelsea’s recreation in opposition to Manchester United. Emery’s facet have momentum forward of their final-day journey to Previous Trafford. For Postecoglou, it’s all on that showdown in Bilbao.
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Boubacar Kamara fired within the second
Will this backfire for Postecoglou?
Spurs missed the possibility to climb not less than two locations up the Premier League desk, staying down in seventeenth spot – the worst of the remaining this season. Twenty-one defeats now for Postecoglou’s facet and whereas Europe presents some mitigation, how a lot is up for debate.
Key gamers are being wrapped up for that last in Bilbao, however it’s hardly serving to morale because the losses pile up. Any hope of discovering some type is gone and gamers even danger being undercooked for the sport that can dictate how Spurs’ season will likely be remembered.
Postecoglou is betting all of it on the sport that, if received, would carry not solely Champions League soccer subsequent season however that long-awaited trophy, ending a 17-year anticipate silverware. If misplaced, it’s that rating of seventeenth within the Premier League that can rattling him.
Participant of the match: Boubacar Kamara
This was Kamara’s 69th Premier League recreation for Aston Villa however his first purpose within the competitors and it was not solely a magnificence however a big one. Not the winner, however the strike that took all the stress out of a nervy evening as Villa chase the Champions League.
The injured Youri Tielemans was missed at instances within the first half – that means to play these line-breaking passes proving tough to switch. It wanted others to step up, do issues they don’t usually do. His midfield companion did simply that along with his purpose. High quality by Kamara.
Story of the match in stats…
What’s arising within the Premier League?
Sky Sports activities to indicate 215 stay PL video games from subsequent season
Sky Sports activities to indicate 215 stay Premier League video games from subsequent season
From subsequent season, Sky Sports activities’ Premier League protection will improve from 128 matches to not less than 215 video games completely stay.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League video games subsequent season are on Sky Sports activities.
