Aston Villa player ratings from vital Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur
Villa keep their Champions League dream alive with an eighth consecutive home win
It was a must win. Then it was a just win.
Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to move on to 66 points of a possible 69 in their quest for a place in the Champions League for the second season in a row.
Spurs offered next to nothing as they prepare for the Europa League final but a professional performance for Villa against occasionally frustrating opposition got the job done. It took them, temporarily, into fourth.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 7
Sharp reaction to keep out an improvised attempt from Wilson Odobert in the first half. Calm in pressurised situations with the ball at his feet. Commanding at set pieces and crosses. He didn’t have much to do in the grand scheme of things.
Matty Cash - 6
Caught out by a pass to Heung-min Son in the fifth minute but recovered well. Targeted by Spurs both on the pitch and in the stand. Booked in the 23rd minute for waving an imaginary yellow card. Too quick to step back in onto his left foot in crossing positions, which were increasingly frequent. Shot wide in the 70th minute.
Ezri Konsa - 8
Spurs allowed him to settle on the ball with Torres more of a trigger for Mathys Tel at 0-0, but wasn’t rushed into forcing a pass. One-on-one defending typically top-drawer. Found Asensio with a pinpoint clipped ball into the box in the first half and finished smartly to make it 1-0 from a deep McGinn corner in the 59th minute.
Pau Torres - 6
Picked out an excellent cross towards Watkins with five minutes played and an even better pass into the striker’s feet in the middle of the first half. Threatened by driving forward late in the first half. Less convincing defensively; Odobert isolated him to start the move that ended with Martínez saving from the Frenchman.
Ian Maatsen - 7
Reliable when Villa attacked on the left, which wasn’t often in the first half, and threatening with the ball in the attacking third. Shot on target blocked by Kevin Danso just before the hour. Grew into the game and defended well when called upon. Essential cover when Villa were caught on the break early in the second half.
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John McGinn - 7
Heavily involved when Spurs had the ball. Moved it well in possession and gave Villa incision from the left and looked at his very best in attacking areas in the first half. Fired a shot just over the bar early on. Quieter in the second half but zipped a low shot just wide in the 69th minute. Curled another wide six minutes later. Substituted for Bailey at 2-0 (90).
Boubacar Kamara - 8
Effective with the ball. Near enough spotless without it. Excellent on the cover when it counted. Buried a cracking left-footed shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 in the 73rd minute – his first Premier League goal.
Amadou Onana - 7
Provided an anchor for the midfield in possession. Brilliant cross to pick out Rogers in the 19th minute and his attacking passing in general was impressive. Important defensive cover on several occasions when required. Substituted for Barkley at 2-0 (88).
Marco Asensio - 8
Took a while to get into the match with Spurs looking to sit back but started to drop into midfield to get involved in the build-up and changed the game. Stupidly talented with the ball in the opposition half. Got more and more involved, and more and more difficult to stop. Almost curled in a pearler in the 36th minute.
Morgan Rogers - 5
Quiet game for one of Villa’s major threats. Forced a save from Antonín Kinský in the first half but didn’t cleanly meet Onana’s cross. Terrific movement off the ball but profligate with it despite some lovely ball manipulation under pressure. Not enough support for Cash against Son.
Ollie Watkins - 7
Showed his usual work-rate from the off. A couple of half-chances not taken or blocked in the first half. Held the ball up well in wide areas. Headed McGinn’s corner down for Konsa to put Villa 1-0 up. Had a chance immediately afterwards but Spurs defended it well and Kinský denied an own goal. Substituted for Malen (86) at 2-0.
Substitutes
Donyell Malen (for Watkins, 86) - not enough time to rate. N/A
Ross Barkley (for Onana, 88) - not enough time to rate. N/A
Leon Bailey (for McGinn, 90) - not enough time to rate. N/A