De Zerbi dismisses claim that Spurs’ victory was down to weakened Villa side

• Spurs fired survival chances with 2-1 win over Villa

• ‘It was a great first XI,’ says Tottenham manager

Roberto De Zerbi has rubbished the notion that Tottenham’s vital win at Aston Villa on Sunday was down to them facing heavily-rotated opposition. Spurs’s 2-1 success moved them above West Ham and out of the relegation zone with three matches to play, but much of the reaction focused on how Unai Emery made seven changes to his lineup.

Emery made the decision after Villa’s Europa League semi-final first leg at Nottingham Forest last Thursday. De Zerbi preferred to talk up a fine performance from his side that has given them hope they can preserve their Premier League status. Spurs are next in action at home to Leeds on Monday. West Ham entertain Arsenal on Sunday.