Villa stays ahead of Spurs as both win in EPL

LONDON — Aston Villa and Tottenham didn’t give up an inch in their fight for fourth place in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Battling for Champions League soccer next season, both clubs won their respective games as the league resumed following the international break. Villa in fourth and Spurs in fifth remain separated by just three points.

Tottenham, which has a match in hand, kept the pressure on Villa early in the afternoon when a late goal from Son Heung-min sealed a 2-1 win over struggling Luton. Villa restored its lead barely two hours later by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0.

Villa did not play particularly well in a scrappy match that lacked intensity. A great first half strike by Frenchman Moussa Diaby for his first league goal this year put the hosts in the lead. Ezri Konsa, assisted by Diaby, capped an excellent buildup to make it 2-0 with 25 minutes remaining.

Third-placed Manchester City and leader Arsenal meet today with just one point separating them. Also today, second-placed Liverpool host Brighton.

Spurs came close to conceding their first home draw against a Luton side locked in the relegation battle, but captain Son decided otherwise in the 86th after a quick break, concluding the move with a shot that took a deflection.

Tottenham was lethargic in the first half and was made to pay for it when Tahith Chong finished a fine collective move from the visitors. Spurs equalized in the 49th after defender Issa Kabore, under pressure from Timo Werner, put the ball into his own net.

Kabore made up for his mistake with decisive blocks in the second half as Tottenham pressed for a winner that finally came five minutes from time.

Eight points behind Tottenham, sixth-placed Manchester United delivered yet another mediocre display and was lucky to escape from Brentford with a 1-1 draw after a dramatic finish.

The Bees kept United goalkeeper Andre Onana busy — he made four saves — and hit the woodwork four times.

Against the run of the play, United took the lead in stoppage time through substitute Mason Mount’s effort past Mark Flekken.

With victory in sight, United conceded three minutes later when Ivan Toney cut the ball back inside the area for the unmarked Kristoffer Ajer, who bagged his second goal in two matches to level.