Aston Villa versus Tottenham Hotspur LIVE: Rivals for Champions League qualification in action

Tottenham closed the gap in the race for fourth place and guaranteed Champions League football next season with an emphatic 4-0 win over Aston Villa this afternoon.

A quick double hit of goals just after half-time from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson put the visitors in front. Villa looked tired and could not get into the game at all, a task made even harder after their captain John McGinn was sent off midway through the second half.

Injury time goals from Son Heung-min and Timo Werner completed the route as Villa fell apart after the sending off.

The second half was in sharp contrast to the first. A tense and edgy first 45 minutes was a virtual non-event, with the only real chance being a Lucas Digne header that drifted wide of the far post for Villa.

Tottenham stay in fifth but are now just two points behind Villa with a game in hand.

A statement win from Spurs? They've eviscerated Villa in the second half here, and are now two behind them with a game in hand.

Both Spurs' players and fans are really enjoying this now. Bar the away fans, Villa Park has largely emptied.

It does indeed get worse for Villa. Spurs are walking through their defence now, as Son moves unopposed into the area on the left. He cuts it back to Werner, who sidefoots a lovely effort just inside the far post to make it four.

This could get worse for Villa, whose legs have left the building completely.

Villa crack at last. Kulusevski gets into space down the right of the area, unmarked. He pulls it back to the penalty spot where Son whomps the bouncing ball emphatically past Martinez.

Son tries to fire a low cross to Werner at the back post. Carlos intercepts it, and then blocks Kulusevski's follow up to put the ball behind for a corner.

Tatty bye goalscorers. Maddison and Johnson are off, Hojbjerg and Werner are on.

Carlos replaces Konza for Villa.

A Villa corner ricochets up to the back post, where Zaniolo is free. It's a chance, but from close range Vicario smothers the hsot bravely and the ball goes behind for another corner. Vicario caught a boot in the head there, and needs treatment.

Diaby has been lively since his introduction. He crosses into the middle, a decent ball, and Porro puts it behind for a corner.

Porro skids a low cross into the penalty spot to Son, who tries to control it and shoot but has the ball hooked away from him by Cash.

Spurs are knocking it around for fun now, back and forth across the pitch. If there is to be another goal here they look like the most likely to score it.

Spurs break three on three, with Kulusevski leading the charge. With Son on to his left he opts to shoot instead, and hoiks it high over the bar. Son doesn't rate that choice of options, and vents his frustration.

Diaby fins some room on the right, and cuts in to shoot from 25 yards out. Bissouma blocks it.

Villa are still playing a high line, and Dragusin makes a hash of a relatively simple pass to put Kulusevski clean through. A third here would be icing for Spurs, because this one looks finished already.

Iroegbunam replaces Bailey for Villa, while Bentancur replaces Sarr for Spurs.

It's hard to see a way back for Villa now. That was daft beyond words from McGinn, who will now miss a chunk of upcoming matches.

McGinn hacks straight through Udogie on the left touchline, instigating a lot of pushing and shoving between players and coaching staff. It's a straight red for the Villa captain, and it's hard to argue; Udogie was getting away and McGinn's wild challenge was no attempt to play the ball.

McGinn picks up a stray ball and crosses low into the six yard box, where a combination of Vicario and Porro get the ball clear.