Richarlison heads Tottenham past weakened Aston Villa and out of drop zone

Roberto De Zerbi had told his Tottenham players to silence the voices competing for their attention but his internal monologue would have been extremely good value at Villa Park. When Richarlison headed in on 25 minutes to double Spurs’ lead, De Zerbi, in pristine white high tops, motored on to the pitch as if at the wheel on Mario Kart, with Marcello Quinto, one of the coaches who the Italian brought with him upon his appointment last month, not far behind him. After recording their first victory this year at Wolves last weekend, Spurs returned to the West Midlands to chalk up successive Premier League wins for the first time since August. Significantly, this was a win that hoists Spurs out of the relegation zone, trading places with West Ham, who were defeated at Brentford on Saturday. It may be May but Spurs finally appear up and running.

Roberto De Zerbi had told his Tottenham players to silence the voices competing for their attention but his internal monologue would have been extremely good value at Villa Park. When Richarlison headed in on 25 minutes to double Spurs’ lead, De Zerbi, in pristine white high tops, motored on to the pitch as if at the wheel on Mario Kart, with Marcello Quinto, one of the coaches who the Italian brought with him upon his appointment last month, not far behind him. After recording their first victory this year at Wolves last weekend, Spurs returned to the West Midlands to chalk up successive Premier League wins for the first time since August. Significantly, this was a win that hoists Spurs out of the relegation zone, trading places with West Ham, who were defeated at Brentford on Saturday. It may be May but Spurs finally appear up and running.

Villa were guilty of going through the motions from kick-off and it is an ominous statistic that Spurs now have more away wins in the league than them this year. For Villa, another jolting defeat and another anaemic performance. Emery and Villa Park will demand a reaction. Spurs outworked, outmuscled and outfought an anaemic Villa side. Spurs hoovered up second balls and seized on Villa’s half heartedness.

How Villa missed John McGinn, the captain absent through injury. But he has also sharpened this Spurs side in double-quick time. Tel was lively and Richarlison got the goal that killed Villa, leaping to head past Emiliano Martínez inside the six-yard box. Gallagher punched the air and Spurs’ outfield players, all in luminous yellow, savoured the moment. Spurs got that and then some.

When Richarlison headed in on 25 minutes to double Spurs’ lead, De Zerbi, in pristine white high tops, motored on to the pitch as if at the wheel on Mario Kart, with Marcello Quinto, one of the coaches who the Italian brought with him upon his appointment last month, not far behind him. After recording their first victory this year at Wolves last weekend, Spurs returned to the West Midlands to chalk up successive Premier League wins for the first time since August. Significantly, this was a win that hoists Spurs out of the relegation zone, trading places with West Ham, who were defeated at Brentford on Saturday. It may be May but Spurs finally appear up and running. Richarlison heads Tottenham past weakened Aston Villa and out of drop zone