Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in next season's Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on the final day of the season.
Spurs went into the match needing only a point to pip Manchester United to sixth place, but goals from Paulinho and Emmanuel Adebayor, coupled with a Nathan Baker own goal, gave them a 3-0 lead at the break.
Neither side created any clear-cut chances in the second period, but Spurs' victory proved enough to render United's result at Southampton irrelevant.
Find out how all of the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, a game that marks the final match of the domestic season for both teams.
There is more at stake for Spurs this afternoon, with Tim Sherwood's side able to book their place next season's Europa League at the expense of Manchester United with a win. United have a tricky visit to Southampton to contend with in their final fixture, so Whites fans have reason to be optimistic.
Villa, who ensured their top-flight survival last weekend by thrashing Hull City, have only pride to play for, but can finish as high as 12th with a win providing other results go their way. That would certainly put a more positive spin on their season. Team news on the way...
SPURS: Lloris; Naughton, Chiriches, Dawson, Rose; Sandro; Sigurdsson, Paulinho, Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane
VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand, Bacuna, Westwood, Delph, Weimann, Bowery, Agbonlahor
Spurs have made two changes this afternoon, with Vlad Chiriches and Sandro replacing the suspended Younes Kaboul and the injured Aaron Lennon. Villa have made just one change from their mid-week thrashing at the hands of Manchester City, bringing in Leandro Bacuna in place of Ciaran Clark.
There may be European football at stake for one of these teams, but speculation surrounding the future of both managers is perhaps the biggest talking point ahead of kickoff. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy appears to have decided that the club needs a big-name coach to take them forward next season, while Villa boss Paul Lambert is under fire following a campaign of underachievement.
Spurs are the clear favourites this afternoon, with Villa's record against them leaving a lot to be desired. The Villans have not won this fixture in their last 10 attempts, since a 2-1 win at White Hart lane in 2008.
The form guide also favours Spurs, who have emerged victorious in five of their last six home matches, a run that includes their last three. Villa, meanwhile, went seven matches without a win before securing their top-flight survival by beating Hull last weekend.
PREDICTION: Spurs need only a point to book their place in the Europa League, but I think they will go one better than that today. I'm going for a 2-0 win for the home side.
There were some interesting comments from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in today's match programme, in which the businessman admits that the team has underachieved this season...
LEVY: "No team can guarantee a top-four finish. However, that's not just what its about. Our sense of falling short - felt by all including the players - is based on some poor performances during the season and knowing we have not performed at the level we know we could have done. Even in games where we gained maximum points, our football was not always what we have come to expect and associated with our club."
There has been a lot of discussion about whether Spurs fans even want Europa League football next season, based on how much demand the competition has placed on their squad this term. The Whites have won fewer than half of their Sunday fixtures after being in European action midweek.
Both sets of players are heading out onto the pitch now in front of a packed crowd at White Hart Lane.
KICKOFF: We are under way here at White Hart Lane. Spurs go straight on the attack as Harry Kane attempts to thread a pass through to the on-rushing Emmanuel Adebayor, but Brad Guzan races off his line and beats the striker to it.
Adebayor attempts to latch onto a long ball. His control is excellent as he gains possession, but the linesman raises his flag and brings the move to a halt.
Spurs have settled into the game well and are seeing plenty of early possession. Adebayor plays a cross towards the far post, which Kane meets with a header, but fails to trouble Guzan in the Villa goal.
The travelling supporters are in fine voice today, but their side are yet to press their opponents in the final third, despite showing signs that they are finding their rhythm.
CHANCE! Kane has another chance to open the scoring as he latches onto a deft chip from Adebayor, gaining possession in front of goal, but Guzan makes himself big and blocks the striker's effort. Ron Vlaar hacks the ball clear and the Villans breathe a sigh of relief.
Both sides are struggling to keep hold of the ball for any length of time, but it is Spurs who have edged the contest so far. Adebayor and Kane looking dangerous.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Aston Villa (Paulinho)
Spurs break the deadlock through Paulinho, who puts away the rebound after his initial strike was blocked at close range by the on-rushing Guzan. Tim Sherwood's side are closing in on the Europa League!
Half-chance for Spurs as Paulinho races through on goal moments after the restart, but blazes his effort over the bar. The home side are beginning to dominate this contest.
UPDATE: Liverpool have suffered a setback in their efforts to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title. They have fallen begin to a Martin Skrtel own goal in their home match against Newcastle. City will be crowned champions if that stays the same.
Villa have held possession in their opponents' half these past few moments, but the Spurs defence are refusing to give them an inch. Paul Lambert's side looking short on ideas up front.
CHANCE! Villa have a sniff at goal as Ashley Westwood's long ball finds Leandro Bacuna in the box, but Danny Rose tracks back and produces a vital block to smother his goal-bound effort.
Spurs still looking the more convincing of the two teams, but clear-cut chances have been hard to come by at both ends of the park. Villa are yet to have a shot on target.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Aston Villa (Nathan Baker, OG)
Spurs have doubled their advantage, and it is no less than what they deserve. Danny Rose plays in a cross from the left and Nathan Baker heads through his own net under pressure from Adebayor.
PENALTY TO SPURS!
Gabriel Agbonlahor gifts the hosts a penalty kick by committing a blatant handball offence in the area. Adebayor steps up to take it...
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Aston Villa (Emmanuel Adebayor)
It's been an eventful few minutes here at White Hart Lane and Spurs are looking out of sight as Adebayor smashes his penalty straight down the middle. He deserved to get his name on the scoresheet this afternoon and Tottenham are worthy of their three-goal advantage.
UPDATE: Spurs are heading for the Europa League as things stand. Manchester United are currently trailing to Southampton courtesy of a Rickie Lambert strike. Meanwhile, City are coasting towards the title, leading West Ham 1-0 through Samir Nasri.
HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Aston Villa
Spurs lead Villa 3-0 at the halfway point of this Premier League contest, a scoreline that will be more than enough to fire them into the Europa League should it remain unchanged. United are trailing 1-0 at Southampton, but that result looks like it's going to be irrelevant.
The home side deserve their sizeable advantage, with Adebayor being their standout player in the first period. Villa can draw few positive points from their first-half display, with no shots on target to speak of.
KICKOFF: Spurs get the match back under way. The Whites are 45 minutes away from officially booking their place in next season's Europa League.
UPDATE: Manchester City are looking good for that Premier League title now as Vincent Kompany has put them 2-0 up against West Ham. Kompany is on course to become the first City captain to lift the league title twice.
It's been a sedate start to the second period here at White Hart Lane. No goalmouth action to speak of at either end of the park, but Spurs are looking well in control.
SHOT! Villa have their best moment of the match as Fabian Delph gains possession just outside of the box and shoots first time, his effort skimming the left post on its way behind.
Villa enjoying a decent spell of possession on the hour mark, but are yet to create anything of substance. Adebayor goes clean through on goal at the other end, but is caught offside.
SPURS SUB: Milos Veljkovic replaces Sandro as Tim Sherwood looks to inject some life into a complacent-looking Spurs.
COLLISION! Harry Kane goes clean through on goal and Brad Guzan comes out to meet him. They are involved in a nasty collision that appeared to take place just outside the box. Guzan will receive treatment before the referee decides his fate.
The referee awards Villa a free kick, adjudging Kane to have committed the foul. The home support aren't happy about that decision but it really could have gone either way. Guzan is back on his feet taking the free kick now.
UPDATE: The Premier League crown is still on its way to Manchester City, but there has been a dramatic turnaround at Anfield, where goals from Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge have given Liverpool the lead.
SPURS SUB: Tim Sherwood makes an attacking substitution, throwing on Nabil Bentaleb for Paulinho. The Brazilian leaves the field to rapturous applause after his goalscoring contribution to the match.
It's been a poor second half in all fairness. Spurs look content with 3-0, and who can blame them? Villa look short on ideas and keep attempting to play long balls forward without success.
CHANCE! Another good spell of possession for Villa as they string countless passes together in the Tottenham half, the travelling supporters ironically cheering each one. The move ends when Fabian Delph curls an effort towards goal, forcing a rare save out of Hugo Lloris.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Both sides have made a late change. Alex Pritchard replaces Gylfi Sigurdsson for Tottenham. For Villa, Leandro Bacuna makes way for Callum Robinson.
Spurs have spent much of this half running down the clock, but they will look at this as a job well done. Tim Sherwood's final contribution as Spurs manager could well be sealing their place in next season's Europa League.
Two minutes of stoppage time will be played.
FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Aston Villa
Tottenham see off Aston Villa 3-0 on the final day of the season to book their places in next season's Europa League. They lowered the tempo considerably in the second half, but more than deserved maximum points.
Tottenham Hotspur see off Aston Villa 3-0 on the final day of the season to book their place in next season's Europa League. They lowered the tempo in the second period, but were more than deserving of three points overall.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have secured the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over West Ham United, rendering Liverpool's victory against Newcastle United inconsequential. Norwich City have been relegated after losing at home to Arsenal.
That's all we have time for at White Hart Lane, but stick with Sports Mole for match analysis and reaction from all of the games on the final day of the Premier League season. Thanks for reading!
