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Tottenham boosted their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League with an emphatic 10-man win over Aston Villa Villa at Villa Park.
In a game seen as in the race for a Champions League position next season, goals from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson early in the second half put Spurs on the right track.
And a probably tired Villa team, who played at Ajax on Thursday night, rarely looked able to return to the festival once captain John McGinn was sacked for a reckless attack on visiting left-back Destiny Udogie in the 65th minute.
While Spurs were safe and sound in the closing stages, goals from Son Heung-min and Timo Werner in stoppage time only served to add salt to Villa’s injuries.
The hosts remain fourth in the standings but are now just two points behind Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, who have a game in hand.
In a disappointing first half, the teams cancelled each other out with Johnson’s low cross attempt from the left, which he gently cleared through home goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who came closest to shooting on goal.
However, a very good cross from Pape Matar Sarr from the right saw Maddison interfere shortly after the break and when home defender Ezri Konsa carelessly ceded ownership to the back of his own half, Johnson collected Son’s pass to double Tottenham’s lead.
With the stands already empty after 10 minutes, South Korean striker Son scored his 159th goal for the north London club and set up the ball for Werner, whose close-range shot snuck into the right-hand corner.
Sooner.
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