A Juan Pablo Angel goal maintained Aston Villa’s push for Europe. The Colombian struck early on when he nodded in Gareth Barry’s knock back from a Thomas Hitzlsperger free-kick. Villa created a glut of chances early in the second half, when Hitzlsperger hit the bar, but could not score the second their dominance deserved. Tottenham have now picked up only two points from a possible 30 but results elsewhere ensured they will be playing in the Premiership next season. The gap in class in the table was translated on to the pitch and after Villa converted their first opportunity on goal they always looked more clinical and cohesive. Angel’s fifth-minute header, which stemmed from a needless Mauricio Taricco foul on the right, gave the hosts confidence to play fluent football. Tottenham were pinned back for large parts of the game, and when they did push forward their play was punctuated by poor passing and wrong options when they instead needed composure on the ball and some creativity. Freddie Kanoute fired in a snap shot shortly after Angel’s opener which Thomas Sorensen pushed round the post. Dean Richards did not test the goalkeeper with a free header and Jermain Defoe failed to get an effort on goal to cap Tottenham’s best move of the match. But all the better football was invariably played at the other end. Angel missed an arguably easier header when Hitzlsperger flighted in another free-kick, and the man they call ‘The Hammer’ set the tone for a blitz on the Spurs goal early in the second half. The German hit the crossbar, Barry blazed a brilliant left-footed effort wide and Gavin McCann and Angel also went close. Somehow Tottenham stood firm and while they did there was always the hope that they could manufacture a comeback, as they had against David O’Leary’s team earlier in the season. Despite Villa’s dominance, the fragility of their goal lead was emphasised when, out of nothing, Tottenham conjured a chance and Simon Davies forced a smothering save from Sorensen. That shot sparked some life into Spurs, but Villa’s rearguard was equal to the task. They kept their composure to protect their advantage and close out the match for another crucial three points in the race for fourth spot and a Champions League berth.