That is all from me today but join Rob Smyth for the final bit of Chelsea v Manchester United. Surely his entry for the 66th minute will entice you.
66 min This is a horrible game of football. Seventeen years ago, these were the two best teams in Europe.
And here is what you can expect this weekend at the Guardian.
Ben Fisher was at the bouncing Villa Park.
Villa had started slowly after the interval. Emery waved his players forward with both hands and hopped on the touchline, urging Amadou Onana to make life uncomfortable as they had for much of the first half. Then Kevin Danso blocked an Ian Maatsen shot and at the subsequent corner Villa sparked into life. John McGinn, the Villa captain, sent the ball towards the back post, where Ollie Watkins directed a header towards the six-yard box and Konsa, who eluded his marker Mathys Tel, sent a shot in through the legs of the Spurs substitute Yves Bissouma. It spoke volumes of the significance of the strike that every outfield player joined the celebrations. There was probably an element of surprise, too, given it was Konsa’s second league goal in 14 months.
Read his full verdict below.
This is Villa’s final home game of the season so the players are doing a lap of honour with their family and friends as they thank the Villa support.
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Your post-match thoughts.
David has some advice for the man up top at Spurs:
With Spurs suffering another defeat tonight might Levy be thinking that there’s still time to get Ryan Mason in for the Europa League final? It wouldn’t be the first time that he’s sacked a manager in the run-up to a cup final.
And Andy with some Spurs stats:
Sometimes football is complicated, other times it’s simple; currently, Spurs have scored the joint 5th most goals in the league, beating the likes of Villa and Forest, but they’ve conceded the 5th most goals too, with only Wolves and the three relegated teams having conceded more. I think that’s a massive pointer towards Spurs’ league problems this season.
Ezri Konsa speaks to Sky Sports after the win:
We knew today was a must-win. We want to play Champions League football again. We know Tottenham have a final but we had to be prepared, stay focused and get the win.
We had a taste [of the Champions League] this season and we got to the quarters. It is a competition you want to play in. For us it is the main goal going into the last game.
We work on set pieces almost every day, we have a set-piece coach and we worked on that specific corner and it came off. We knew we had to come out and score early in the second half and we did that and I am just glad we got the win.
[The message from Unai Emery] has been to take it game by game. We haven’t looked to far ahead. With the Bournemouth game we had to go there and win. We done that. Then straight away the focus was on today. We will rest now and then focus on United. We are going to do what we can to get into that top five.
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A roundup of the stats:
Since the start of March, Aston Villa have won 24 points in the Premier League from their nine games (W8 L1), more than any other side in that period (Newcastle next on 22 points).
Tottenham have now lost 25 games in all competitions this season, their joint-highest number of defeats in a single campaign in their history along with 1991-92 (25).
Unai Emery oversaw his 100th Premier League game in charge of Aston Villa, with the Spaniard enjoying 54 wins, eight more than any other Villa boss in their first 100 top-flight fixtures (Ron Atkinson and Tony Barton both on 46).
Ollie Watkins has been directly involved in 109 Premier League goals for Aston Villa (75 goals, 34 assists), the outright most of any player for the club (one more than Gabriel Agbonlahor).
As it stands.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Newcastle | 36 | 23 | 66 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 37 | 9 | 66 |
| 5 | Man City | 36 | 24 | 65 |
| 6 | Chelsea | 37 | 19 | 64 |
| 7 | Nottm Forest | 36 | 12 | 62 |
Chelsea are still being held by Manchester United in west London. Follow along here.
Full-time: Aston Villa 2-0 Tottenham
There goes the whistle! Villa surge into a Champions League spot with one game to go as goals from Konsa and Kamara secure all three points and extend their unbeaten home record to 18 games. Finishing in the top five is now in their hands. Villa’s final game of the season will be at Old Trafford and the three points there will be crucial.
As for Spurs, there were a few positives tonight but focus is clearly on the Europa League final. This is their 25th defeat this season in all competitions.
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90+5 min: Rogers bends one and it looks to be heading on target but Danso gets a crucial head on it. Villa take the resulting corner short before Asensio has a go but it is straight at Kinsky. A Villa fan holds up a sign that says: ‘Every game is a Cup final. We want European football.’
90+2 min: Now Rogers attempts to go for goal but his effort is blocked away for a corner that comes to nothing.
90 min: We will get at least six minutes of added time. Bailey tries to make an impact with his first touch but the shot does not come back.
89 min: Villa are just managing the game now as McGinn gives the armband to Martínez before coming off for Bailey. The camera pans to Postecoglou. His team are facing their 21st league defeat this season. Penny for his true, uncensored, thoughts?
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88 min: Onana makes way for Barkley after a solid midfield performance.
84 min: Villa’s Watkins comes off to applause as Malen replaces him. The speculation about his future will continue this summer. Is this his last home match at Villa Park? Spurs bring on Richarlison and Johnson for Moore and Odobert.
80 min: Spurs try to get forward but the attack falls apart. All of a sudden the ball is in the visitors box and Danso almost loses it in a dangerous area but just evades the challenge.
75 min: Right after the goal Solanke and Bentancur came on for Son and Reguilón.
75 min: Villa almost get a third! McGinn’s right-footed effort goes just wide after a corner.
GOAL! Aston Villa 2-0 Tottenham (Kamara 74)
What a power packed strike! Kamara cuts in from the left and pings his shot into the bottom corner after space opens up from Asensio’s run. Kinsky is close to it but the effort just has too much force behind it. That is the defensive midfielder’s first-ever Premier League goal.
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69 min: Close! A nice flick from Torres finds McGinn who is allowed inside. His shot is well-wide. Asensio then gets the ball and he has options but he goes for the worst one – a shot. An open Rogers is frustrated with his teammate.
68 min: Another Villa corner … McGinn takes it from the other side in which they scored but this time it finds a white shirt as Bissouma heads it away.
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67 min: The Villa fans were audibly nervous less than 10 minutes ago but they’re now in full voice.
65 min: Moore is barged to the ground by Maatsen right on the edge of the area on the right. A chance for Spurs to respond? Two back-to-back shots are blocked from the set-piece. That was a bit of a waste.
62 min: Konsa and Rogers are both down as Tel clips the former before rolling into the latter. Tel gets booked for the challenges.
61 min: Villa almost double their lead! Kamara finds Watkins in the box and tries to force a shot but Kinsky manages a hand to it.
GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Tottenham (Konsa 59)
Maatsen reacts first to a ball but sees his shot blocked away for a corner by Danso.
The corner is swung to the far post and headed down by Watkins for Konsa to turn and finish it from point-blank range through Bissouma’s legs. It is so simple for Villa. And so poor defensively from Spurs.
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57 mins: Torres tries to find Cash with a through ball but Bissouma cuts it off. Groans are audible from the nervy home fans. Asensio wins a corner but Tel heads it clear.
53 min: Bissouma comes on for Sarr who is wincing as he walks off the pitch and straight down the tunnel. Another Spurs injury?
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51 min: The replay shows that Konsa did tussle Tel to the ground. That has been checked and cleared by the VAR officials according to the commentators. Reguilón then tries to claim that he was scratched on his stomach by Onana who tried to take the ball back. Also checked by VAR and obviously nothing in it. Emery points to his head, telling the Villa players to focus on their objectives and none of this faff.
Updated
50 min: A disagreement between Konsa and Tel breaks out. They both get speaking to from the referee as Son tries to mediate.
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48 min: Villa win their first corner of the half. Asensio swings it in and Kinsky claims. He plays a brilliant throw to a rushing Odobert and the forward is through on goal but Maatsen races back to poke it away. Another nearly moment for Spurs!
46 min: We are back at a tense Villa Park! There were some murmurings around the ground with fans thinking Manchester United had scored but the goal was chalked off.
Half-time postbag is here.
Matthew writes:
Spurs tend to lose when you expect them to win and win when you expect them to lose, so I kinda feel confident today.
Also, any thoughts on the ESPN Spanish-language commentators referring to Emery all season as “Dracula”?
They have been holding their own in the first half. A much better showing than against Palace. As for Emery’s look-alike … I remember a few comparison photos of him and Bela Lugosi (Count Dracula in the 1931 film) making the rounds on TwiXer when he first got the Arsenal job. But surprised official commentators are using the nickname. Then again, Spanish-speaking commentators are known for their creative flair.
Arunachalam on the power of conceding:
Every game I watch Spurs play I can’t believe that they are 17th. And then the game ends and they have lost.
Will today change for Arunachalam? A big 45 minutes coming up!
And Peter with the much-appreciated puns, as always:
Re: ‘Cash surges forward’ (2 min.). Unai Emery may be demanding a Cash advance but it doesn’t take a financial advisor to caution that this could cause Villa to get caught out in arrears. I mean, the rear.
A booking is only what Villa deserve after waving around their Cash like that!
Half-time: Aston Villa 0-0 Tottenham
Son looked dangerous for Spurs on the counter but Villa’s Asensio the clear standout player of the half yet nothing to show for it after 45 minutes.
45 min: Villa win a corner. Asensio goes short and the cross comes from McGinn but Cash can’t get a shot off. Villa keep it alive but the offside flag goes up.
42 min: Tel tries to get forward but Konsa, a fantastic 1v1 defender, waits for the right moment and knicks the ball off the Spurs forward from behind without fouling him.
40 min: Son breaks through on the counter and he runs almost the full length of the pitch. His final ball is poor though as it dribbles behind Odobert.
Updated
38 min: Asensio tries to get forward but Sarr fouls him a couple times before the whistle is blown. The Spaniard looks most likely to make something happen for the hosts at the moment. From the resulting free-kick Konsa’s header is saved.
36 min: Asensio bends one from right outside the box! It is just wide as he can’t get the curve on it that he needs. Kinsky was absolutely rooted in his spot.
Updated
34 min: Gray gets booked for a late foul on Watkins. No complaints from the teenager.
32 min: Wow! Villa with some great one-touch passes around the box. Watkins, from a tight angle, looks like he is going to shoot but pulls it back into the middle of the penalty box but none of his teammates have anticipated that pass and it is cleared away.
28 min: The camera flashes to Rashford who is watching his team on from the stands. Has he played his last game for Villa? Asensio dances past three white shirts before he finds Watkins! Great feet and an equally fantastic pass! Watkins’ shot from close range is blocked by Danso.
27 min: Asensio attempts an audacious little flick with his back to goal but it is off target.
26 min: Maatsen gets past Moore and Spence but his cross is easily cleared.
23 min: Cash is booked for gesturing to the referee to book Sarr after a foul. Silly decision by the player.
22 min: Beautiful ball from Torres! It’s a low through ball that breaks the lines for Watkins but uncharacteristically the striker tries to find Asensio instead of going for goal. He had the space for a shot!
Updated
19 min: Chance for Villa now! Onana whips a gorgeous ball for Rogers who gets the faintest of touches before the ball bounces down on the ground as it goes goalward. Kinsky is full-stretch and makes a big save to deny the hosts.
Updated
16 min: Spurs do well to break after being pressed near the halfway line. Some great play from Son to Odobert gets the ball forward to Tel on the left. He holds on the ball for a moment before finding Odobert in the middle of the penalty box. The No 28’s first-time flick is some good improvisation but Martínez sticks his foot out to save. Spurs are pushing!
14 min: Spurs counter after a Villa free-kick. Odobert does well to hold up the ball and finds Son who bends one in from the left that is just over the bar. Close!
13 min: Spurs win a corner. They’ve scored from 10 corners this season. Can they make it 11? Son whips it in … straight into the hands of Martínez.
10 min: Son is starting on the left, with Odobert and Tel playing in a front two. No No 10 is fit for the visitors so Postecoglou has opted to play without one.
7 min: McGinn gets the better of Spence and goes for goal right outside the box but fails to hit the target. He makes it clear how disappointed he is with the miss.
6 min: Torres crosses it into the box and Kinsky does really well to get a touch on it and palm it away before the ball lands straight onto Watkins’ head.
5 min: Davies finds Son with a fantastic pass. The South Korean times his run well to stay on-side and he gets ahead of Cash but opts to be unselfish and pass, which Martínez intercepts. Should he have gone for goal there?
Updated
2 min: Cash surges forward but his cross is blocked before any damage can be done in the Spurs box.
Updated
1 min: Watkins chases an early long ball over the top but Kinsky rushes out and clears it straight into the press box. Hopefully Ben Fisher ducked!
Kick-off: Aston Villa 0-0 Tottenham
Here we go for the final time at Villa Park! Aston Villa in their home claret and blue and Tottenham in white and navy blue.
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The teams are out and kick-off is moments away at Villa Park!
Updated
The pre-match postbag is here!
Jim on what the Spurs line-up tells us about next week’s final:
The front line for Spurs today is interesting. I think Tel may be playing as the striker with Son as a number 10. With Kulusevski out it’s not clear who will fill in for Madison on Wednesday, and any of Tel, Son, or Odobert could be auditioning for that role this evening.
Jeremy with some Rashford analysis:
Rashford will not be playing any part in Villa’s last two games this season, just like last season at VeryOld Trafford, but he remains a constant source of fascination for fans and neutrals, an enigma wrapped in clouds of doubt and uncertainty. If only he could deliver on the pitch as he has on the social level, let’s not forget, he shamed a government and became an overnight people-person. We all think of him as a 22-year-old with chin fuzz and great attitude, he’s nearly 28 and should be in the prime of his life, but here he is, struggling for identity, form and a club. We all want him to be brilliant/the new Harry Kane for England, but time may run out on the lad before he gets to realise his potential. Whatever, 3-0 Villa, despite their protests about the game brought forward …
And Antony hears something in the distance:
UTV. Hear that Yara? Listen carefully …. Squeaky bum time. In a season of massive games for us this is yet another. Enjoy the match.
Tonight is Unai Emery’s 100th Premier League match in charge at Aston Villa.
Games: 99
Wins: 53
Draws: 21
Defeats: 25
Goal difference: +36
Clean sheets: 25
Villa playing Champions League football next season partly relies on results of teams around them. One of them is Chelsea, who host Manchester United at Stanford Bridge.
Rob Smyth will bring you all the updates from that game.
The European Cup Aston Villa lifted in 1982 is on display at Villa Park tonight. Fans have been lining up to take a photo with the trophy alongside Tony Morley, who was in the starting team for Villa’s triumph over Bayern Munich in 1982.
Opta has crunched the numbers and here are the standout stats for this match:
Spurs have won 11 away Premier League games at Villa Park. Only away to Manchester City (12) do they have a better record.
Aston Villa re unbeaten in their last 20 home games in all competitions (W 14 D 6). It is their best streak in 48 years, with their last longer run coming between September 1976 and May 1977 (24).
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Despite Tottenham’s make or break game of the season coming next week, Ange Postecoglou said he will “put out a team that hopefully gets the job done” against Aston Villa and “go out there to try to win the game.”
The head coach said tonight’s game could be a chance for his players to prove themselves for the final.
It’s an opportunity for them to put their name forward for the big game the following week because, as we have already seen in the past couple of weeks, as much as you would like to think there is an ideal starting line-up things happen and players have to be ready for that.
Marcus Rashford is not involved tonight, as expected. The striker, on loan from Manchester United, has failed to recover from a hamstring injury he suffered last month. Rashford cannot play in Villa’s final game of the season at his parent club United on 25 May.
Rashford has made 17 appearances for Villa, scoring four goals, since joining from Old Trafford in February and earned an England recall in March after a 12-month absence. It is unlikely he will play for United again while Ruben Amorim is the head coach owing to a breakdown in their relationship. Another loan deal is an option. Villa have a £40m option to buy the player but his future remains unclear. Rashford has made clear he wants a Champions League club and is reluctant to join a team in London.
In our 10 things to look out for this weekend Ben Fisher wrote that Aston Villa could use their “anger” and the rescheduling of this fixture to motivate them to a win. The Premier League agreed to bring forward Tottenham’s trip to Villa Park by 48 hours in order to help them prepare for a Europa League final (before they even reached said final).
The flipside to all of this is Villa can get on the front foot, kicking off 45 minutes before Chelsea entertain Manchester United and two days before Nottingham Forest head to West Ham and Arsenal host Newcastle. Victory for Villa could hoist them as high as fourth before a final-day trip to Old Trafford and, psychologically, that could prove a knockout blow.
Read more from Ben and the rest of our writers on what to keep an eye out for this weekend.
Team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; McGinn, Kamara; Onana, Asensio, Rogers; Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Diasi, Bogarde, Digne, García, Mings, Barkley, Bailey, Malen
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Spence, Danso, Davies, Reguilón; Gray, Sarr; Odobert, Son, Moore; Tel
Subs: Vicario, Porro, Bissouma, Cassanova, Bentancur, Olusesi, Johnson, Richarlison, Solanke
Referee: Peter Bankes
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the penultimate matchday of the 2024-25 Premier League season. The champions have been decided. Those going back to the Championship have been decided. But second place, Champions League spots and qualification for next’s season’s Europa and Conference League still hang in the balance.
Aston Villa, who host Spurs tonight at Villa Park, have an outside chance of finishing second but they would need to win tonight and their final game of the season and hope several results go their way for that to happen.
Instead Unai Emery’s men will be targeting a finish in the top five which guarantees Champions League football next season. Only five points currently separate Arsenal in second and Villa in sixth. As things stand, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester City and Chelsea occupy the top five, but Villa along with Nottingham Forest are well-placed to capitalise on any slip ups.
As for Tottenham, full focus is understandably on the Europa League final against Manchester United. Ange Postecoglou’s side are a lowly 17th in the table and the manager will likely rest many of his starters tonight.
Join me for team news and buildup before the 7.30pm BST kick-off. And, as always, feel free to send me an email with your thoughts, questions, predictions, complaints and rituals. I want to hear it all!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 36 | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 36 | 33 | 68 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 36 | 23 | 66 |
| 4 | Man City | 36 | 24 | 65 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 36 | 19 | 63 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 36 | 7 | 63 |
| 7 | Nottm Forest | 36 | 12 | 62 |
| 8 | Brentford | 36 | 10 | 55 |
| 9 | Brighton | 36 | 3 | 55 |
| 10 | AFC Bournemouth | 36 | 12 | 53 |
| 11 | Fulham | 36 | 1 | 51 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 36 | -2 | 49 |
| 13 | Everton | 36 | -5 | 42 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton | 36 | -13 | 41 |
| 15 | West Ham | 36 | -17 | 40 |
| 16 | Man Utd | 36 | -11 | 39 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 36 | 4 | 38 |
| 18 | Ipswich | 36 | -42 | 22 |
| 19 | Leicester | 36 | -47 | 22 |
| 20 | Southampton | 36 | -57 | 12 |
