Richarlison heads Tottenham past weakened Aston Villa and out of drop zone

Emiliano Martínez can only watch as Conor Gallagher’s early shot flies past him to give Spurs the lead. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images/Reuters

On this evidence, no wonder De Zerbi is adamant Spurs can win all their remaining matches, with a trip to Chelsea sandwiched by home matches against Leeds and Everton. It is also surely an advantage that Spurs do not leave London from here on in, while West Ham travel to Newcastle. Spurs outworked, outmuscled and outfought an anaemic Villa side. Spurs hoovered up second balls and seized on Villa’s half heartedness. De Zerbi outwitted Emery, whose seven changes with overturning Forest’s advantage on Thursday in mind, spectacularly backfired. How Villa missed John McGinn, the Villa captain absent through injury.

De Zerbi oozes charisma and has brought a gravitas that his predecessors simply lacked. But he has also sharpened this Spurs side in double-quick time. The Italian knows they still have their flaws, but he has doubled down on the strengths, even if with a bloated injury list, the biggest in the division. Rodrigo Bentancur, who beat the turf in the first half after an awkward landing under pressure from Lamare Bogarde, was forced off midway through the second half.

Injuries to Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons prompted De Zerbi into enforced changes, Richarlison’s promotion paying off handsomely, while João Palhinha, Mathys Tel and Destiny Udogie also started. De Zerbi’s messaging has been smart and after bigging up and breathing confidence into the front three who ran amok here, the trio delivered. Randal Kolo Muani, who De Zerbi pointed out Paris Saint-Germain paid £76.4m for a few years ago, was busy down the right and departed high-fiving away supporters. Tel was lively and Richarlison got the goal that killed Villa, leaping to head past Emiliano Martínez inside the six-yard box.

Palhinha cannoned a shot against the post as Spurs sought to double their lead and while Villa established some kind of order after the interval, De Zerbi’s side were never troubled. Antonin Kinsky did not have a save to make and all five of Villa’s efforts at goal came in the second half, Buendía glancing in a header with seconds to play. Tammy Abraham had just eight first-half touches and was replaced by Ollie Watkins on the hour after another blunt outing.

Gallagher’s opener was sweet and it will have hurt Emery that it was a player he admires greatly who reopened the wound after a first-leg defeat at the City Ground. The goal stemmed from a Kevin Danso long throw and, only half-cleared, Gallagher’s sidefoot control eliminated Abraham and with his next touch he sent a powerful, low shot into the corner. Gallagher punched the air and Spurs’ outfield players, all in luminous yellow, enjoyed the moment. De Zerbi, though, wanted more, calling Palhinha over for a pep talk. Spurs got that and then some.