Tottenham 3
Aston Villa 0

by Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

at White Hart Lane

Tottenham sealed their path back into next season’s Europa League with a convincing 3-0 win over a lacklustre Aston Villa side at White Hart Lane on the final day of the Premier League.

With the hosts just needing a point to secure sixth, they raced into a three goal lead before half-time thanks to goals from Paulinho, Emmanuel Adebayor’s penalty and and own goal from Nathan Baker. 

The second half was a mere formality as the home side eased to all three points to give thier fans a happy send off and pile the pressure on Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert whose side have now lost their last six away games in a row.

The deadlock was broken in the 15th minute when Gylfi Sigurdsson’s pass was deflected into the path of Paulinho who found the back of the net at the second attempt and give Spurs an deserved lead. 

The Brazilian almost doubled the advantage moments later after being fed by Kyle Naughton but this time he scuffed his effort across the face of goal.

Villa’s first geniune attack the game game in the 20th minute when Fabian Delph’s corner was flicked on at the front post by Andreas Weimann for Gabby Agbonlahor who headed over tha bar as the away side looked for a equaliser.

But the home side’s lead was doubled in the 35th minute when Danny Rose’s cross from the left hand side was unfortunately turned in to his own net by Baker, leaving Villa with a huge mountain to climb.

Fabian Delph then made a crucial block to deny Harry Kane who was clean through on goal, but seconds later the hosts were awarded a penalty when Agbonlahor blocked Sandro ‘s shot with his arm in the area, and Adebayor made no mistake from the spot to put his side three up.

Delph went close to pulling a goal back early in the second half after latching on to Agbonlahor’s knock down but sent his effort just wide off the post, though the hosts were rarely threantened in the second period whilst easing off themselves with the points already secured.

With five minutes to go, manager Tim Sherwood called a fan down from the stands, handed him his gilet and letting him manage from the dugout in what was surely his last act being in charge of the club.