Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa came from behind to claim a superb 2-1 victory in a breathless and engrossing encounter at Tottenham Hotspur.

Ollie Watkins’ 12^th goal of the season in all competitions just after the hour mark secured all three points from a high-tempo, end-to-end clash in north London.

Pau Torres’ header deep into first-half injury time levelled matters at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Giovani Lo Celso’s deflected opener in the 22^nd minute.

Dejan Kulusevski and Leon Bailey both hit the woodwork while Heung-Min Son saw three efforts ruled out for Spurs for offside, as did Watkins following a VAR review.

Victory ensured Unai Emery’s side have now registered a club-record 22 Premier League wins in a calendar year, their highest in the top flight since 1980.

The high-flying Villans have also lost just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions, winning eight, and now taken 22 points from the last 27 on offer.

Diego Carlos was named in Villa’s starting line-up as head coach Emery, otherwise, kept faith with the same XI who started the 3-1 victory over Fulham last time out prior to the international break.

There were also places in the matchday 20 for fit-again trio Jacob Ramsey, Álex Moreno and Tim Iroegbunam.

All inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium rose with applause ahead of kick-off to pay tribute to former England manager and Spurs legend Terry Venables, who sadly passed away on Saturday.

A blistering start to proceedings saw Kulusevski hit a post and Destiny Udogie and Bryan Gil go close for the hosts inside the opening exchanges, while Torres headed wide a great opportunity for the visitors.

Spurs were relentless during the first quarter, with Villa’s well-organised defence standing firm as the hosts threatened time and again.

But they duly broke the deadlock in the 22^nd minute as Pedro Porro’s corner evaded everyone in the penalty area and Lo Celso’s drilled strike deflected off Carlos and beyond Emi Martínez.

Watkins thought he had immediately headed Villa level only to be denied by VAR for offside following a lengthy review.

Spurs continued to threaten in the final third but it was Villa who levelled in the seventh minute of added time courtesy of Torres’ header from Douglas Luiz’s free-kick as an engrossing first 45 minutes came to a close.

Emery turned to Bailey and Youri Tielemans at the break and it was almost the former who put Villa ahead as his 20-yard effort was pushed on to a post by Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and collected at the second attempt.

Martínez saved smartly from Son before Villa took the lead at the other end.

Watkins received the ball from Boubacar Kamara and played a neat one-two with Tielemans before slotting across Vicario and into the far corner.

Ben Davies sent a header on to the roof of the net in response, while Lucas Digne saw his 25-yard free-kick pushed around a post and Watkins nodded inches wide.

Martínez saved superbly from Brennan Johnson and substitute Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in quick succession.

Kamara then saw his low effort well parried by Vicario before Watkins headed wide from close range as chances continued to come thick and fast at either end with the clash moving into the final stages.

Ramsey made his welcome return off the bench in stoppage time as Villa navigated over six minutes injury time to record a pulsating third successive league win over Spurs for the first time since the mid-90s.