SUPERB SON HAT-TRICK PUTS SPURS IN CONTROL

SENSATIONAL Son Heungmin fired a magnificent hat-trick as Tottenham took control of the race for a Premier League top-four spot with a thumping win at Aston Villa.

After Manchester United and Arsenal both lost earlier in the day, Son’s treble and a fine Dejan Kulusevski strike sent Spurs three points in clear in fourth.

Antonio Conte’s deadly front three, with Harry Kane creating two of the goals, sealed the victory, but Spurs also have skipper Hugo Lloris to thank just as much.

After Son’s early opener they were on the rack for most of the first half, with the Frenchman’s heroics keeping a rampant Villa at bay.

But Spurs could not have dreamed of a better start as they went ahead in just the third minute through Son.

Kane’s drilled shot hit Matty Cash in the midriff and fell perfectly to the South

Korean, who fizzed a fine first-time effort into the bottom corner.

But Villa’s response was admirable and Spurs needed their captain Lloris to step up with three big saves from Cash, Jacob Ramsey and John McGinn.

Just five minutes after the restart Spurs doubled their lead. Kane flicked on Lloris’ long ball into the path of Kulusevski and the Swede did brilliantly to fire a low shot into the far corner.

Villa had run out of steam and Spurs landed a killer blow in the 66th minute. It was Kane’s brilliant awareness that set Son clear, knowing exactly where to direct his headed flick, and the South Korean coolly converted past Emi Martinez.

Son completed his hat-trick five minutes later, putting the finishing touches to a brilliant team move to inflict a fourth straight defeat on Steven Gerrard’s Villa.

‘I’m very happy. We deserve to be in the Champions League race,’ said Conte.

Gerrard added: ‘I thought the final scoreline was harsh.’