Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has suggested that his players must "accept" the manner of their 4-0 reverse against Tottenham Hotspur.
Villa went into the encounter versus the North Londoners with the opportunity to move eight points clear in the race for Champions League qualification.
Instead, Emery witnessed his side succumb to a heavy defeat against their nearest rivals for that feat, conceding all four goals after the break.
Between James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Timo Werner all getting on the scoresheet, Villa had John McGinn given a straight red card for a foul on Destiny Udogie.
That naturally contributed to Villa losing so tamely on Sunday afternoon, with the result leaving the West Midlands outfit just two points ahead of their fifth-placed opponents.
Next week, Villa's priorities switch to the Europa Conference League, where they host Ajax in the second leg of their last-16 tie with the aggregate scoreline currently goalless.
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With that in mind, Emery has called on his squad to quickly get over losing so heavily in the top flight, ending a run of three straight victories in the competition.
Emery told Match Of The Day: "We have to accept that we were facing a Tottenham who are contenders to finish in the top four like us. We have to be consistent, we needed more. Of course we are still fourth but today we lost a very good opportunity.
"We have to accept and react quick. We have to try to correct and analyse the match. Today we are disappointed with the result, but we are accepting it. We are focusing on the match on Thursday, again we will need our supporters here at Villa Park.
"We played very well in the first half, we controlled the game and didn't concede chances. We were very good in the transition but we weren't clinical.
"Of course we conceded two goals and it was very difficult. After the red card it was more difficult even. I think John McGinn is always playing with passion. It's his second red card I think in 600 matches. I think he's always honest and very competitive. His intention is not bad."
Three days after the meeting with Ajax, Villa make the trip to the London Stadium to face West Ham United, potentially having dropped down to fifth with Spurs facing Fulham a day earlier.
Darren Plant
