Analysis: Emery's selection backfires

[Getty Images]

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has barely put a foot wrong in his four-year spell at the club - but this was a starting line-up that took his team's eye off the ball in pursuit of a Champions League place.

He chose to make those seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest in their Europa League last-four tie, with thoughts clearly fixed on overturning that deficit in the home second leg.

Emery may feel the wisdom of his decision will only be fully measured by Thursday's outcome, but this was a team selection that gave Spurs huge encouragement and would have been greeted by sinking hearts at West Ham and those still in the relegation mix.

And so it proved as Villa felt the fury of their own fans at half-time, with resounding boos as they trooped in two goals behind - and lucky to only trail by that margin after a lazy, lacklustre and insipid display.

Their second-half improvement was only slight, even after the belated introduction of striker Ollie Watkins for Tammy Abraham, although they still remain well placed to make the Champions League with a six-point advantage over sixth-placed Bournemouth and three games left.

All eyes will now be on that Forest meeting, where Emery needs a victory to maintain hopes of a first major trophy in 30 years - and justify the side he put out against .