Tim Sherwood believes that Aston Villa are showing signs of nervousness in the business end of the season and backed Tottenham Hotspur to pip the Villans to fourth place.
It is still unclear whether the Premier League will get an extra Champions League spot for next season, which is why both Villa and Spurs will be desperate to finish fourth and guarantee qualification.
The race looks set to go right down to the wire, particularly with the Lilywhites having a challenging end to the season.
However, Spurs now have the clear upper hand after this weekend’s results, with the Lilywhites now sitting above the Midlands club on goal difference while also having a game in hand after their 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham vs Aston Villa in the top four race
Sherwood pointed out that Ange Postecoglou’s men are continuing to play with freedom, being used to these kinds of pressures while Villa are showing signs of nervousness now that they find themselves in uncharted territory.
The pundit told Premier League Productions (06/04/24 at 8:25 pm): “I think Aston Villa are getting nervous, there is a big prize at the end of this and they know Tottenham are chasing them for fourth place.
“I don’t think they will get it. I really don’t. Two of my old teams. But I think Tottenham are more on the front foot, they are more confident and have more firepower. I just think they wouldn’t have conceded like that.”
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Villa have not played in the Champions League for many decades and it is only natural that they will be a little more nervous than the Tottenham players, most of whom tasted Champions League football just last season.
Postecoglou has also made it clear that finishing fourth is not as important to him as seeing progress, which is perhaps an attempt to take any pressure off his players.