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Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz ignited Aston Villa’s Europa League charge after a vital win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Unai Emery’s side moved level on points with sixth-placed Spurs with two games left in the race for Europe following Saturday’s 2-1 victory. They were superior in every way, with Emi Buendia hitting the bar, and remain in the hunt for a surprise European spot after recovering from successive defeats following strikes from Ramsey and Luiz – despite Harry Kane’s late penalty. Wretched Tottenham, aimless and lifeless, looked anything but a side competing for the top six. Just 13 months ago at Villa Park they ran riot as a Son Heung-min hat-trick inspired a 4-0 win but, despite a brief second-half improvement, it was a performance which underlined their continued regression. In his programme notes Emery said it was the game Villa had been fighting for and it was worth the wait as the hosts grabbed the lead after eight minutes. Ramsey spread play wide to Leon Bailey, Villa’s only change from last week’s derby defeat at Wolves, and motored into the box to meet Bailey’s low cross ahead of Pedro Porro and find the corner. There was little or no reaction from Tottenham. The away fans’ focus was on continued chanting for the exit of chairman Daniel Levy while their side remained passive, even with the ball. With the lead, Villa were the more cohesive unit with Spurs’ only chance ending with a much-delayed offside flag when Son hit the post after running clear. Tottenham drifted through the half, almost in a daze, and needed Fraser Forster to stop them falling further behind after 32 minutes. Porro’s error was seized on and Ollie Watkins darted into the area to centre for Bailey, only for the goalkeeper’s fine save to keep him out. It felt like a second would seal the game for the hosts and they almost doubled their lead five minutes before the break when a diving Watkins just missed Alex Moreno’s teasing cross. A non-existent Tottenham midfield was being cut through by Villa and the bullish Buendia hit the bar having collected a return pass from Ramsey after breezing through the centre. Normal service continued in the second half, John McGinn slicing wide from distance and Forster denying Buendia, as Spurs floundered. Yet they were presented with a glorious chance to level out of the blue when Oliver Skipp robbed Luiz and the ball rolled to Kane. The England captain had time and space but shot too close to Emi Martinez from just inside the box. It was a let-off for Villa and sparked an improvement in the visitors as their hosts retreated and began to invite pressure, with Dejan Kulusevski curling wide. But any comeback hopes were snuffed out by Luiz with 18 minutes left. Cristian Romero clattered Watkins 25 yards out and all Forster – with his positioning in question – could do was help Luiz’s free-kick into the top corner. There was still time for Kane to score a 90th-minute penalty after he was fouled by Martinez – following a lengthy VAR check – but it was too late. Read More Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur LIVE: Latest Premier League updates Unai Emery urges Aston Villa to grasp European chance ahead of Tottenham clash Emery warns Tottenham that top four spot harder to achieve than ever Look back at Gothenburg Greats as Aberdeen mark 40th anniversary of European win Who will win the Premier League top-four race? Roberto De Zerbi believes Brighton deserve a European place

Player ratings from the Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Tottenham at Villa Park on Saturday, which ended 2-1 in favour of the home side.

Raheem Sterling rediscovered his scoring touch as he netted both of Chelsea’s goals in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge that could prove vital for relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. Home fans had booed their team off at the break, trailing to a Taiwo Awoniyi goal for Steve Cooper’s side and looking no nearer in the first half to finding a solution to the lack of firepower that has derailed their season. Then, in the space of seven second-half minutes, Sterling transformed the match. First a deflected shot bounced up into the corner after he was set up by Trevoh Chalobah, then he let rip with a brilliant solo goal that evoked the England forward at his electric best. Yet instead of pressing on, Chelsea folded. Non-existent marking left Awoniyi free to head home and extinguish the lead four minutes later. It ensured Forest stayed three points clear in their bid to beat the drop, and meant Frank Lampard’s long wait for a victory at this ground on his return as boss will go to the season’s final game. Forest nearly stunned the hosts inside four minutes. Renan Lodi’s corner was whipped to the near post where Felipe met it with a firm header that flashed wide. They took the lead soon after and it was Lodi again the provider, though Edouard Mendy – returning in goal for Chelsea – was badly at fault. The ball into the penalty spot did not look unduly threatening, but as the keeper raced from his goal Awoniyi climbed above two defenders to get to it first and head into an unguarded net. It seemed to shake Chelsea to life, and they went close to levelling immediately when Sterling’s effort was blocked by the recovering Joe Worrall. Noni Madueke, increasingly influential in recent games despite the team’s indifferent form, showed excellent balance and feet on the right whenever he got on the ball, bursting through Forest with speed and skill. On the other flank, Lewis Hall nominally at left-back showed barrels of attacking intent when Chelsea were in possession. He got forward after 30 minutes and, after making space with a clever shimmy, crossed for Joao Felix to dive into a header that was brilliantly held on the stretch by Keylor Navas. Moussa Niakhate was an inch away from making it two for Forest in the first moments of the second half, he stretched out a leg to meet a flicked-on corner at the back post but could not make the contact required. Chelsea did not need another warning. The equaliser arrived on 51 minutes, and Sterling owed his goal to good link-up play between Madueke and Chalobah. The pair worked their way in behind Forest and into a channel down the right, giving Chalobah the time and space to pick out a pass which Sterling swept home first time via a deflection off the stricken Ryan Yates. Chelsea looked to ride the wave of noise that the goal had drawn from Stamford Bridge. Felix tried to catch out Navas with a driven effort from range that dropped onto the roof of the net, then Sterling took the roof off the stadium with his and Chelsea’s second. There seemed to be little on when the ball was worked to him 12 yards out on a wide angle, but in a deft movement he took it under control, opened his body and shot perfectly beyond the dive of Navas. It was Sterling at his long-forgotten best. It should have been a catalyst to drive Chelsea on to a rare home win. Instead, it invited a meekly predictable implosion. Orel Mangala’s cross into the centre of the box for Forest was an inviting one, and no one in blue had gone with Awoniyi who stunned home fans into silence with a firmly planted header. Chelsea’s frustration started to show. Felix was booked for simulation, and attacks began to break down before the final third. Still Forest carried a threat, Lodi hit a bending drive that swung outwards and fractionally past the post. Sterling had a chance to complete his hat-trick, racing forward to get on the end of Hakim Ziyech’s searching ball but lifting his header up and over the bar as he arrived. There were few chances for either side after that, as Forest claimed a point that could prove of incalculable value. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aston Villa turn up heat on European rivals Tottenham with vital win Alejandro Garnacho returns to put seal on Manchester United win over Wolves Southampton’s relegation confirmed after Aleksandar Mitrovic-inspired Fulham win

Alejandro Garnacho returned from injury with a bang as the Manchester United teenager wrapped up a victory against Wolves that gets their Champions League qualification quest back on track. Back-to-back defeats at Brighton and West Ham allowed rivals Liverpool to move within a point of the Red Devils in fourth, as Erik ten Hag’s side risked allowing a positive season to end badly. United alleviated the pressure somewhat by returning to winning ways thanks to Anthony Martial’s close-range finish and substitute Garnacho’s stoppage-time goal in Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Wolves. Antony’s intelligent pass set up the France international to score the opening goal – just his fifth in the Premier League this term – in front of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 1999 treble hero was serenaded by fans as he attended his first match at Old Trafford since being sacked 18 months and received a warm welcome in the directors’ box. United’s 25th home win of the season will not live long in the memory but would have been more comfortable had Dan Bentley not made some impressive saves on his top-flight debut. But the Wolves goalkeeper would be beaten once more in stoppage time as substitute Garnacho scored as he made his first appearance since injury an ankle two months ago. Injured Marcus Rashford was among three players to make way for the hosts on Saturday, when Ten Hag’s side had a glorious chance to take an early lead. Max Kilman’s slip gifted Antony the ball but the winger could only continue to bend a left-footed strike wide. The hosts dominated the early possession and tempo, playing with such comfort that could explain why returning defender Raphael Varane tried a wild, uncharacteristic effort from distance. But for all of United’s control there was not much for Wolves goalkeeper Bentley to do on his Premier League debut. The 29-year-old – in for Jose Sa – caught a Bruno Fernandes free-kick that had been slowly heading towards the top left-hand corner, then watched a hopeful Christian Eriksen attempt bounce wide. Well-placed Antony should have done better than poorly heading over from Luke Shaw’s fine cross when United next attacked, but he soon atoned for that latest miss. Fernandes played the winger behind Wolves’ backline and he smartly cut across to Martial after Bentley raced off his line, allowing the France forward to apply a simple finish. That 32nd-minute opener would have been followed by another had Bentley not been alert to tip over his own bar from a corner. The first half ended with Martial seeing a weak effort comfortably stopped after a roaring Antony run on the counter. The Brazil international had an attempt blocked shortly after the break and Wolves returned in a better shape, albeit failing to test David De Gea. Lively Antony saw a low drive deflect just wide of the near post and Fernandes’ effort from an acute angle was denied as the home side attempted to put the game beyond Wolves. United would have scored a second in the 73rd minute had Bentley not got down exceptionally to get a strong hand on a Jadon Sancho effort that was bound for the bottom corner. The Wolves shot-stopper’s impressive display continued as he turned away a Casemiro attempt. Each missed opportunity increased the nerves and Adama Traore’s driven cross to the near post was blocked by substitute Harry Maguire as Raul Jimenez lurked. Fernandes curled over a free-kick and Bentley denied Antony towards the end of a match that ended with a special moment in front of the Stretford End. Fernandes slipped through Garnacho and the teenager smartly made space under pressure from Nelson Semedo to score off the inside of the post. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Raheem Sterling’s double earns Chelsea draw against Nottingham Forest Aston Villa turn up heat on European rivals Tottenham with vital win Southampton’s relegation confirmed after Aleksandar Mitrovic-inspired Fulham win

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says his confrontation with a Leeds fan in the 2-2 draw at Elland Road should act as a wake-up call for those responsible for the safety of players and staff. An angry home supporter climbed out of the stands and entered the technical area to confront Howe before being quickly whisked away. Howe says he is fine after the incident, which came in injury-time of a pulsating game, but that the safety of those involved should not be “violated”. “I actually can’t remember whether he pushed me or not, I’ve got no idea, it’s such a strange thing because you’re concentrating on the game and you don’t expect it to happen,” Howe said. “He confronted me, said something that I can’t repeat and was then led away. “I’m OK, moments like that do make you think about the safety of staff and players is paramount for me at any matches in the Premier League and Football League. We need to be mindful, security is so important. “I don’t know if I had time to be fearful because it was over in a flash but it certainly makes you think ‘what if’ and I think it is moments like this that should make people look and analyse how we can improve safety for staff and players. “No one should have to face that, playing a sport we love and trying to entertain the country, no one should feel like their own personal safety is violated. It is something for us to reflect on.” Howe was more disappointed that his side could not win at Elland Road as they looked to strengthen their grip on Champions League qualification. Luke Ayling put Leeds ahead early on but a pair of Callum Wilson penalties gave Newcastle the lead only for Rasmus Kristensen’s deflected effort to deny them three points. Howe added: “It was a strange game, lots happened, a lot of different feelings from it. At 1-0 down and a penalty down you are fearing the worst but we managed to get ourselves in front and are ultimately disappointed not to win.” Leeds stay in the bottom three, but it was a positive afternoon for new boss Sam Allardyce on his first match in charge at Elland Road, though he needed to calm down after the enthralling nature of the match, where Patrick Bamford missed a first-half penalty and Junior Firpo was sent off at the death. “I needed two valium when we came off to calm me down,” he joked. “I enjoyed it actually, I did. I was nervous before the game because we were playing at home and I wanted to give the fans something. “But what the lads did for me and the rest of the staff, the fans and themselves gave me some hope going forward because they tried their very best and I can’t ask for any more than that. “Two-two in the end is satisfying. I hope it goes to the wire, when we play Tottenham I hope there is somehting in it for us. “We have to keep our fingers crossed that the others don’t win. It’s not in our hands so all we can to do is what we did today and do it better.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Mark Robins relishing play-off opportunity as Coventry ‘rise together’ Man Utd boss Marc Skinner fires FA Cup final warning to favourites Chelsea Eurovision has disrupted Man City’s schedule, Pep Guardiola says

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