Aston Villa did their job when it comes to their UEFA Champions League hopes, breaking through for a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on Friday.
The win gives Villa 66 points, good for fourth on the Premier League table for the moment.
WATCH — Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur full match replay
Ezri Konsa scored after halftime and Boubacar Kamara slashed home a beauty with 11 minutes to play as Villa turned up the heat on its top-five rivals.
A much-changed Tottenham Hotspur were good in the first half in preparation for next week’s Europa League Final, but still needed a starring performance from goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to stay in the match.
Spurs remain 17th with 38 points.
Villa go ‘in with a shout’ as they say
The favored team at home had more urgency to win, and turned it into a pair of goals. Were you expecting anything else from an Unai Emery-led side? Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was terrific with five saves amongst 16 recoveries, and Villa will know that this could’ve easily been 2-0 after 25 minutes let alone 90. It’s all good for Villa, who still need help from one team to ensure their place in the top five and a spot in next season’s Champions League. And Week 38’s opponent is a Manchester United team who will be returning from Spain with either a UEFA Cup-lifting hangover or the massive disappointment that would come with blowing their chance to return to the UCL.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings
(via fotmob.com)

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings (via fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings (via fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Villa finishes its Premier League season against Manchester United at Old Trafford In Week 38.
Spurs meet Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday for the Europa League Final, then host Brighton in Week 38 to close out their Premier League season.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Friday
Venue: Villa Park — Aston
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live online via NBC.com
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur final score: 2-0
Ezri Konsa 59', Boubacar Kamara 73'
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur live updates
Fulltime — Villa 2-0 Spurs
Mission accomplished for Unai Emery’s men.
Spurs make two subs
Son and Reguilon are off for Dominic Solanke and Rodrigo Bentancur. in the 75th minute.
Boubacar Kamara goal — Villa 2-0 Spurs (73rd minute)
That’s a sensational shot.
Rogers lays off to Kamara, who is atop the 18 and cuts in from the right to smash a low shot inside the far post.
Gorgeous.
For Rogers, he’s the seventh player to record 10 or more assists in the Premier League this season.
Ezri Konsa goal — Villa 1-0 Spurs (59th minute)
John McGinn’s back post corner kick is nodded back into the fray from Ollie Watkins, and Konsa redirects it past Kinsky.
Villa have their breakthrough.
Spurs swap midfielders
Yves Bissouma is in for Pape Matar Sarr in the 53rd minute.
Still scoreless.
Konsa and Tel scrap
VAR is having a look at a flashpoint between Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Spurs’ Mathys Tel.
Sergio Reguilon is also looking bemused by something.
It was something with Amadou Onana.
No supplemental discipline coming for any of the above figures.
0-0, 52'.
No changes at the break
Will Villa break down Spurs or find themselves behind the UCL qualification 8-ball?
Halftime — Aston Villa 0-0 Spurs
Kinsky shook off a shaky partial clearance early to be the difference-making player in the half with three saves and six recoveries against Villa’s eight shot attempts and 0.81 xG.
Kinsky saves from Konsa off free kick
Ezra Konsa gets on the end of a free kick with ease, but his header is down at Kinsky.
Villa have been more dangerous but Spurs are much improved from most of their recent Premier League showings.
0-0, 38'.
Big intervention from Kinsky!
Villa sweep a cross between slack Spurs defenders and Morgan Rogers looks en route to an opener.
But Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky makes a great adjustment to slap the ball away from goal.
0-0, 20'.
Spurs corner
Son has been bright and wins a corner for Tottenham with a hard cross from the left.
Martinez rises to collect the South Korean’s ensuing service.
0-0, 13'.
Real chance for Son
Heung-min Son gets around Matty Cash and will to do well to beat Emiliano Martinez.
He doesn’t, and Martinez makes a comfortable save.
0-0, 6'.
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, McGinn, Kamara, Onana, Asensio, Rogers, Watkins
Tottenham Hotspur lineup
Kinsky, Spence, Danso, Davies, Reguilon, Sarr, Gray, Odobert, Moore, Tel, Son
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur preview
Spurs are looking to next Wednesday’s Europa League Final against Manchester United. That match is far enough away that Ange Postecoglou could play a first-choice team at Villa in order to stay fresh for the final, but the impetus to dominate will be on the other side of the pitch.
Villa Park will be very ready for this one, and Unai Emery’s men have been a lot better than Spurs this season on a week-to-week basis.
Villa sits sixth, behind Chelsea on goal differential, but they also know that the Blues finish with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest and could open the door to a top-five place and a spot in next season’s UCL.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Jacob Ramsey (suspension), Marcus Rashford (muscular), Youri Tielemans (undisclosed)
Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus
OUT: Timo Werner (thigh), Dejan Kulusevski (knee - MORE), Dane Scarlett (groin), James Maddison (knee), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL - out for season)
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction
There are a couple of games like this in Week 37, like the one at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea need a win and Man United face Spurs in the UEL. For that reason it’s so difficult to do anything but pick the team who’s:
- been better this season, and
- needs the win
Ollie Watkins is in form to boot, so we think this could be a disappointing away day for traveling Spurs fans. Aston Villa 3-1 Spurs.