Unai Emery is targeting a huge win against Tottenham later today to keep Aston Villa’s European dreams alive.
Villa have lost their last two but have won five on the spin at Villa Park with Spurs winless in their last eight away from home.
Emery’s men can go level on points with Spurs with a victory in a game that’s been labelled by Villa’s coach as “our cup final”.
To today’s teams and Emery has made just one change, drafting in Leon Bailey for Bertrand Traore, while Matty Cash returns to the squad for the first time since picking up an injury in March.
WATCH | MATCH PREVIEW: Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur
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Speaking ahead of kick-off, Emery said: “Today we have the match we fought for. The match we deserved to live in right here and now, both players and supporters. We have to forget everything, just focus on winning. No room for pressure or fear, just play, and enjoy. Our fantastic fans, you have your part to play too.”
As for Tottenham, winless in their last eight away from home, interim boss Ryan Mason has named an unchanged team, with Heung-min Son and Richarlison supporting top-scorer Harry Kane in attack.
Stay with us for all of the pre-game build-up, confirmed line-ups, kick-by-kick text commentary, goal alerts, player ratings and all of the reaction. Our dedicated live blog will automatically update, below.
16:38Ashley Preece
81 mins: Mings goes close
McGinn whips a deep ball in, Mings wins his header but it’s blocked by Kane and Spurs clear.
16:37Ashley Preece
80 mins: Romero booked
Naughty, that, as he flies in on McGinn. Free-kick Villa.
16:36Ashley Preece
78 mins: Villa clear
Villa clear the corner well. Villa Park’s on its feet here. It’s pumping down here.
16:31Ashley Preece
Super free-kick
He bends home past Forster from 25 yards out. A perfectly-curled free-kick. Superb.
16:30Key Event
GOAL DOUGLAS LUIZ
AND IT’S A GOAL. FREE-KICK. HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM! PERFECT!
16:29Ashley Preece
72 mins: Going to be Douglas
Villa have Mings, Konsa and Kamara lined up in the wall. Douglas to take it…
16:28Ashley Preece
70 mins: Free-kick Villa
Romero fouls Watkins on the edge of the box. A dangerous free-kick in Villa’s favour here 24 yards from goal.
16:27Ashley Preece
69 mins: Martinez does well
Davies runs off McGinn and scoops and effort towards goal. Martinez claims the high ball.
16:26Key Event
68 mins: Double change
Bailey off, Kamara on.
Duran on, Buendia off.
16:23Ashley Preece
65 mins: Kulusevski fires wide
He turns back on his left foot as Spurs work the ball from left to right, the Swede beats Ramsey and then Moreno before firing wide of the far post.
16:21Ashley Preece
63 mins: Son fires over
He’s in again one-vs-one, curls over and then the offside flag goes up.
16:20Ashley Preece
63 mins: Free-kick Spurs
Bissouma slips and the referee gives Spurs a free-kick which is eventually cleared by Ashley Young.
16:19Ashley Preece
61 mins: Spurs change
Skipp and Richarlison off.
Bissouma and Kulusevski.
16:17Ashley Preece
60 mins: Free-kick Villa
Lenglet brings down Ashley Young. Free-kick to Villa who’ll hit Spurs’ 18-yard box here.
However, Douglas wastes it and his effort flies out behind the Holte End. Spurs restart.
16:14Ashley Preece
57 mins: Corner to Spurs
Porro takes it, Moreno and then Watkins clear.
16:13Ashley Preece
55 mins: Corner to Villa
But Hojbjerg heads clear at the near post.
16:11Ashley Preece
53 mins: Martinez denies Harry Kane
There as a mistake in midfield from Villa. Kane’s in on goal 12 yards out and there’s Martinez with an incredible save. Douglas gave the ball away.
16:09Ashley Preece
52 mins: Buendia goes close
He tries his luck from distance but Forster parries the ball away. A decent effort, that.
16:07Ashley Preece
49 mins: McGinn fires wide
Bailey with some great feet to get away from his man. He tees up McGinn who lets fly. It’s high and wide, though. Still Villa 1 Spurs 0.
16:05Ashley Preece
47 mins: Corner to Villa
Buendia finds Ramsey with a through-ball and it’s put behind for a Villa corner by Romero.
Villa take it, Douglas picks out Young but he gets his volley all wrong. Tottenham back with it.
16:03Ashley Preece
Back underway
Buendia kicks us off. Villa attacking the Holte End for the second 45.
15:47Ashley Preece
Half-time
Villa well worth their one goal advantage. Spurs yet to have an attempt on goal without the offside flag being raised. Really good half from Villa who could be two or three ahead, let’s be honest.
15:45Ashley Preece
45 mins: Villa playing well
Douglas over-heads his pass out to Moreno who crosses first time. Bailey gets a touch on it but Forster’s there to gobble up the high ball.
15:43Key Event
43 mins: CROSSBAR BUENDIA
He rattles the crossbar with a curling left-footed effort as Ramsey picked him out just inside the 18-yard box. So close!
15:41Ashley Preece
41 mins: Swazz
Alex Moreno with an incredible volleyed cross as he looked to pick out Watkins. Watkins gets a slight touch on it inside the six-yard box but it’s not enough to steer the ball in from close range.
15:39Ashley Preece
39 mins: Almost
Buendia almost gets his pass spot on as he looked to pick out Ramsey. The ball rolls out, though, with Forster restarting with a goal kick.
15:36Ashley Preece
36 mins: Villa still pushing forward
Moreno with another cross into Spurs’ box but Forster’s there to claim it.
15:35Ashley Preece
35 mins: Free-kick Spurs
Douglas Luiz whips in the corner but the referee blows for a foul by Bailey on Spurs keeper Forster.
15:34Ashley Preece
34 mins: VAR check
We’ve had a short VAR check for a possible penalty on Watkins with Royal bringing down the Villa striker. It’s not given. Villa now have another corner.
15:32Ashley Preece
32 mins: Bailey chance
Watkins cuts the ball across goal to Bailey. It’s a carbon copy of Ramsey’s finish but, this time, Forster saves and palms away the ball. Spurs clear. Huge chance.
15:29Ashley Preece
29 mins: Strong punch Forster
Douglas whips one underneath Forster’s crossbar and, despite being under pressure by Mings, he punches clear with Spurs back in possession.
15:28Ashley Preece
28 mins: Douglas goes short
He aimed for Buendia at the front post once again – but Tottenham clear for another Villa corner.
15:28Ashley Preece
28 mins: Corner to Villa
Moreno wins the corner off Royal.
15:27Ashley Preece
27 mins: Great defending Ashley Young
Kane again turns and looks to pop a ball for Son – but Young’s there who’s alert to it. Martinez mops up the danger.
15:25Key Event
25 mins: Another late flag
Son is put through one-vs-one by Harry Kane, rounds Martinez, strikes the post, Kane follows up with a shot, Martinez saves – and then the flag is raised. What’s going on?
15:22Ashley Preece
23 mins: McGinn booked
He brings down Kane and is booked. Harsh, that.
15:21Ashley Preece
21 mins: Late offside flag
Moreno’s not happy with Lenglet’s pass putting Richarlison in on goal. Moreno races back – and then the flag is raised. Villa restart with a free-kick.
15:20Ashley Preece
20 mins: McGinn enjoying himself
In usual McGinn fashion, the skipper is getting amongst it in the middle of the park, snapping at Spurs’ heels and winning possession back for Villa. It’s a vintage McGinn performance thus far – exactly what Villa need if they’re to beat Tottenham this afternoon.
15:18Ashley Preece
18 mins: Good defending Konsa
He reads a long ball from Romero and heads it into Young’s path with Villa back on the front foot.
15:15Ashley Preece
15 mins: McGinn is furious
Son was on the break and it looked like McGinn won possession back fairly. The referee, though, disagreed and blows up for a foul in Tottenham’s favour. Villa not happy. Spurs have a free-kick on halfway. Still Villa 1 Spurs 0 here inside the opener 15 minutes.
15:12Ashley Preece
12 mins: Villa go short
It’s another short corner as McGinn eventually looks to chip Forster. Villa well on top here.
15:11Ashley Preece
12 mins: Corner to Villa
Ashley Young’s cross is put behind for a corner which will be taken by Leon Bailey.
15:10Ashley Preece
11 mins: Getting fiery
Watkins wins a foul from the aggressive Romero. It’s getting fiery out there now with Villa a goal ahead.
15:09Ashley Preece
What a goal
A superb touch by Ollie Watkins in the build-up to keep possession, Ramsey runs onto it, feeds Bailey, continues his run and Bailey teed-up JJ to steer in from eight yards out. Great goal.
15:06Ashley Preece
6 mins: Buendia flicks it on
It’s a low corner by Douglas and Buendia flicks it on at the front post but nobody’s there to poke home. Spurs have the ball back.
15:05Ashley Preece
6 mins: Corner to Villa
Moreno wins a corner off Royal as he looked to cross. It was Mings with the ball down the side again. A decent start this.