Unai Emery is not taking the top four for granted after Aston Villa won for the third consecutive time in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins put the Villains two up in the first half of their encounter with Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, but the hosts hit back in the second half.
Former Birmingham City midfielder Tahith Chong pulled one back midway through the second half, before Carlton Morris found an equaliser just minutes later.
The Hatters would suffer heartbreak late on however, as Lucas Digne grabbed a late winner to claim all three points.
The result maintains the five-point gap between Villa in fourth and Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for Champions League qualification, although the top five teams in the division could play in next year’s competition.
Emery is not discounting Spurs or Manchester United in the top four race, while he also believes Newcastle United are in contention despite being 15 points adrift in the table.
“We are improving and we are trying to build a team, a structure, a mentality and today the third goal was mentality,” the Spaniard told BBC Match of the Day following the win over Luton. “We are accepting each moment who we are and trying to build the team with a big commitment.
“This is the spirit. Moussa Diaby crossing and Lucas Digne doing the header. It was fantastic.
“We are aware about how it is going our way and we are still in the same message for everybody. We are going to keep going every day. We can’t think if we are going to be a contender to be in the top five or four.
“Tottenham is pushing as well and Manchester United are playing tomorrow. They show us, and Newcastle as well, they are very good teams and they show us they can recover the position in the table. I don’t want to think they are not being there.
“Now were are going to focus on the Europa Conference League. We are very excited. We play Ajax. A historic club. To play Ajax in Europe [is a privilege]. And then we play Tottenham and for us it is a very good week.”
Read – Watkins eyeing Euros amid sensational Aston Villa form
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