Spanish international fires Aston Villa warning

Villa, who are also through to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League, start the final run-in when they host Wolves on Saturday week with defender Torres acknowledging the most crucial part of the campaign now lies ahead.

He told VillaTV: “We’re fourth in the league, we’re working from the beginning of the season to be in this position at this moment. So, we’re happy.

“We’re in the quarter-finals of the Conference League, which is important for us.

“The most important (part) is to play, we’re working in a good way and the best is coming.”

Torres hailed what he described as an “important” point against the Hammers, which came after Spurs were beaten 3-0 at Fulham on Saturday, missing the chance to climb above them in the standings.

Nicolo Zaniolo scored just the third goal of his season-long loan spell from Galatasaray to cancel out Michail Antonio’s opener at the London Stadium, though Villa survived a late scare when the hosts saw a stoppage time goal ruled out for handball after the Premier League’s longest-ever VAR check.

Torres admitted some bemusement at why it took referee Jarred Gillett and video assistant Tony Harrington five minutes and 37 seconds to determine Tomas Soucek had knocked the ball towards goal with his arm.

“I was behind (him) Soucek and for me it was so clear. I told the referee,” he said. “In the end I don’t know why he took so long to decide. In the end it was great for us, it was handball and I think it is right.”

Torres continued: “At the beginning of the game, always, we wanted to win.

“But you have to see how the match is going.

“They were in front of us in the first half, we tried everything in the second half.

“I think the team were better in the second half.

“At the end we’re still in fourth position, now only nine games I think to finish, and this point is important for us.”