Villa was wildly out of sorts and did not register an effort on target until Emiliano Buendia's last-gasp header earned them a late consolation.

Spurs went in front after 12 minutes when Gallagher brilliantly took one out of the air and drilled into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.

Joao Palhinha saw Emiliano Martinez tip a fine drive onto the post, and Randal Kolo Muani was denied from close range as Spurs ramped up the pressure on Villa.

The visitor doubled the lead in the 25th minute when Mathys Tel's clipped cross was met with an emphatic header from Richarlison.

The second half was hugely attritional as Spurs carefully managed the game, and the away fans' jubilation was not dampened by Buendia heading home with one of the last acts of the game.

Roberto De Zerbi's side has picked up seven points from their last three games, and now sit 17th, one point ahead of West Ham – beaten 3-0 by Brentford a day earlier – with three games to play.