Ange Postecoglou's substitutions were spot-on, his tactics proved far more effective than Unai Emery's anti-football approach, and Aston Villa, their legs heavy after being given the runaround by Sarr, simply had no response to a stirring comeback from Spurs in the second half.
It felt like a victory for earning the right to play. While Villa set out to spoil, carving out a lead when a set-piece routine led to Morgan Rogers scoring just after the half hour, Spurs married creativity with a physical edge. Their second goal, claimed by Dominic Solanke with a dink over Emiliano Martinez, was a case in point: Dejan Kulusevski's through-ball created the opening, but it was significant that the move began with Ben Davies dispossessing Ollie Watkins and Sarr overwhelming Villa with one of many bursts through the middle.
"We accept the result," Emery said, after his side missed the chance to go third. There were too many mistakes from Villa, who looked jaded despite resting players during their midweek defeat against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, and Spurs pounced.
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