Inspired Spurs destroy Villa

Tottenham 5 Aston Villa 1

Rampant Tottenham kept their European hopes very much alive with a five-star show against clueless Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

Spurs raced into a three-goal lead in the opening half with Mali striker Fredi Kanoute hitting a double either side of skipper Ledley King’s 18th-minute effort.

Villa grabbed a lifeline when Gareth Barry converted a spot-kick in the closing stages of the first half but Andy Reid unleashed a stunning 25-yard shot in the 66th minute for the fourth and Stephen Kelly lifted Spurs into seventh in the Barclays Premiership with a final goal in the last minute.

In the 75th minute Jol opted to introduce Defoe and Egyptian forward Mido into the action as replacements for Kanoute and Keane.

The changes almost brought Spurs a fifth in the 83rd minute when Defoe’s 18-yard effort was deflected on to the top of the crossbar. The striker was then thwarted by Postma three minutes from time as Spurs cut through the Villa defence with ease.

Stephen Kelly added a fifth for Spurs in the final minute when he held off Samuel and drilled a shot beyond Postma at his near post after Davis cleverly flicked the ball into the full-back’s path.