Aston Villa vs Tottenham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Son Heung-min inspires big win in top-four race

HALF-TIME! Aston Villa 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

The first half comes to an end with a whimper, much like many of the attacks. Neither manager will be happy with that – too many wasted attacks and soft losses of possession.

Sarr was down as the half ended, so that’s one to keep an eye on too.

44 mins: Spurs are having the better of it as the half ends, but a Villa counter threatens. Spurs give it away cheaply and Bailey sends Watkins through with a simple through ball, but the Englishman hesitates, tries to cut back inside and has his shot blocked. There’s half a chance from the resulting corner, but Digne heads a difficult opportunity wide.

42 mins: Johnson surges into the box and takes on Cash. He manages to get past him, but the cross is straight to Martinez.

40 mins: Only three shots so far this half, and all have come from Villa. There have been no shots on target, and an awful lot of play in and around the centre circle.

You wonder if a goal may come from a mistake in trying to play from the back, as both teams are pressing high (and doing it well). Either that or a counter is how it looks at the moment, as both teams continue to lose the ball cheaply when trying to build attacks.

37 mins: Maddison is briefly playing in his own half as he looks to make something happen. Udogie tries to play through Son, but it’s intercepted.

Spurs are back with more of the possession but no real cutting edge so far. Maddison tries to send Johnson clear but again it’s just short, and the ball is back near halfway once more.

34 mins: There are shouts for a penalty as Bissouma makes a challenge in the box, but he just got a touch to it.

Spurs counter but they’re forced to go backwards, and they win a corner.

In truth this game is very reflective of the side’s league positions: both clearly good sides, but they are cancelling each other out at the moment. It seems like a game that may be decided by the star quality of either side’s leading men.

30 mins: A lack of communication almost gives Kulusevski a great opportunity, but Villa do well to clear. Spurs do well to press and suffocate Konsa, who has no option but to hit it into Johnson and win the throw. It’s been far from exciting, but it’s certainly interesting.

29 mins: Villa fans sound a little frustrated as Bailey’s pass to Watkins is intercepted by van de Ven. Shortly afterwards, Bailey makes a lovely run in-behind and is found by Cash, but the right-back shoots behind after receiving the one-two pass.

27 mins: Neither side has had a clear-cut chance, with opportunities being wasted from overhit or easily clearable crosses.

Spurs do counter very effectively, with Maddison sending Son through with a lovely through ball, but Kulusevski is offside from Son’s subsequent pass. There’s been little risk-taking so far.

23 mins: Udogie does well to intercept a Bailey pass and prevent a dangerous Villa opportunity. Vicario then catches a ball in and Spurs have the ball again, but it’s almost lost after Romero sells van de Ven short.

Spurs move up the pitch after the throw and some nice link play from Udogie, but play has briefly been stopped after an altercation between Luiz and Maddison.