EPL: Tottenham Beat Villa to Move Out of Premier League Drop Zone

Gallagher and Richarlison fire Spurs to 2-1 win at Villa Park

Villa managed one touch in the Spurs box before half-time in a flat performance after seven changes.

Spurs climb out of the relegation zone with away win...

Tottenham moved out of the Premier League relegation places with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa, marking their first consecutive league wins since the opening two matchdays.

Aston Villa made seven changes following Thursday’s Europa League semi-final loss to Nottingham Forest and looked off the pace from the start. Spurs showed more intensity in and out of possession right away.

Tottenham still struggled to create clear chances in the final third, but produced a moment of quality to take the lead. Kevin Danso’s long throw wasn’t cleared properly, and Conor Gallagher controlled it before drilling a low strike from 25 yards for his first goal for the club.

Joao Palhinha hit the post from a similar distance three minutes later, and Randal Kolo Muani forced Emiliano Martínez into a save at the back post, but Tottenham didn’t have to wait long for goal number two.

Back-to-back wins lift @SpursOfficial out of the relegation zone 🪜 pic.twitter.com/NS1a2YAg1B

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2026

Destiny Udogie delivered from the right and Richarlison met it with a superb header. The Brazilian’s first-ever goal against Villa set off celebrations among the away supporters.

Aston Villa fans had little to cheer. It took their side 34 minutes to even touch the ball in Tottenham’s box, and the failure to register a shot before half-time drew jeers from the home end.

It was the first time Tottenham had led a Premier League match at half-time since early January, which made Unai Emery’s choice not to make any changes at the break look odd.

Emery eventually brought Ollie Watkins on just before the hour, but little changed. By then Villa had managed only one touch in the Spurs box, the fewest of any team in a Premier League game this season.

Tottenham focused on protecting their lead and celebrated defensive wins in duels like they were goals.

Many Villa fans left with 10 minutes remaining, missing Emiliano Buendía’s glancing header in the 6th minute of stoppage time. It proved to be only a consolation.

A huge win for @SpursOfficial to lift them out of the bottom three 👏 pic.twitter.com/DzdCBf5ZLe

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2026

Despite the defeat, Villa stay six points clear of the teams outside the top five. For Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham, it could be a turning point: they leapfrogged West Ham and have now won seven of their last eight Premier League games on the road.