McGinn sees red as Spurs sink Villa

Goals from James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Timo Werner earned Tottenham a 4-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday - the hosts' misery compounded by a red card for captain John McGinn. 

An entertaining first-half saw both sides have their moments, Ange Postecoglu's visitors often dominating territory with Unai Emery's Villa intent to sit in and look for potential counter-attacking opportunities. 

Although an intriguing tussle, there was little penalty box action of note in the first period, Spurs actually not taking a shot until just prior to half-time - the longest the north Londoners had gone without a shot in a game all season. 

Half-time: Aston Villa 0-0 Tottenham 

It was a different story after the break, however, and Spurs' fluid football was rewarded on 51 minutes when Pape Sarr made a break down the right and found an inch-perfect cross for James Maddison to turn home from close range. 

Two minutes later and Spurs were two up! On this occasion, Villa were the architects of their own downfall, a sloppy pass from Ezri Konsa intercepted by Dejan Kulusevski, whose team-mate Son drove into the box to set up Johnson for a clinical finish past Emiliano Martinez. 

Villa's poise was punctured and their afternoon took a turn for the worse on 65 minutes when captain McGinn clattered into Destiny Udogie. It was a hefty late challenge and the Scot could have no complaints when he was sent packing for an early bath. 

With Spurs now enjoying themselves, it was a case of damage limitation for Villa - but the Midlanders were unable to contain their free-flowing opposition: Son expertly firing into the net from Kulusevski's cross before sub Werner buried a neat right-footed finish after further good work from Son. 

Spurs' victory moved them two points behind fourth-placed Villa in the table, with the London club also having a game in hand. 

Notably, the win also equalled Tottenham's longest scoring streak from the beginning of a league season (matching the 27 straight games they scored in back in the 1950/51 season). Spurs are on a club league record run of scoring in 39 consecutive games - last failing to score in a 1-0 defeat to Wolves back in March, 2023.

xG: Aston Villa (1.29) 0-4 (1.58) Spurs