Soccer-Tottenham Hotspur thump Aston Villa 4-0 as McGinn sees red

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - March 10, 2024 Tottenham Hotspur's Timo Werner celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Pedro Porro REUTERS/David Klein

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) -Tottenham Hotspur hammered 10-man Aston Villa 4-0 in the Premier League on Sunday thanks to four second-half goals, allowing them to close the gap with their Birmingham rivals to two points in the chase for Champions League football next season.

Villa's decision to start with a five-man backline cost them dearly in the second half as they conceded four times, with John McGinn getting sent off for a violent tackle that will likely incur a three-match ban.