Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Aston Villa: Wasteful Spurs punished as winless start continues

Spurs have made it 3-2 in the 97th minute.

Robertson whips in a perfect free kick to the back post and Van Hecke heads home.

3-2. Little celebration from Spurs.

They have scored a goal in the Premier League!

Spurs make it 3-1 late on as Kudus does well and Conor Gallagher scuffs a shot towards goal. The ball bounces off Matty Cash and goes in.

Small celebrations from the few Spurs fans still left in the stadium.

Villa’s fans are having a lovely old time in the away end.

“Ole, Ole!” they chant as Villa’s players stroke the ball around and they’re 3-0 up.

Villa’s fans then chant “You’re getting sacked in the morning!” to Roberto De Zerbi.

Just a brutal outing for Spurs.

Spurs fans are heading for the exit and rightly so.

Calm build-up play from Villa as Gomes finds McGinn and he tees up Buendia about 30 yards out.

The Argentine playmaker curls a stunner into the far corner to make it 3-0.

Villa’s players and staff go bonkers. They are going to win their first Premier League game of the season.

Villa make it 2-0 with just over 20 minutes to go, as Nicolas Jackson fires home.

A long ball forward isn’t dealt with by Spurs as Jan Paul van Hecke makes a mess of the clearance and lets it bounce.

Jackson then juggles the ball around Van de Ven superbly and sends a low finish across goal and into the far corner as Kinsky gets a hand to it but can’t keep it out.

Spurs can’t believe it. They’re 2-0 down and scrambling.

The game has opened up now in a big way. Spurs are throwing everyone forward and Villa are looking really dangerous on the break.

Well, this sums it up for Tottenham Hotspur. They still haven’t scored a goal this season in the league.

Andy Robertson is set free down the left and crosses into a really dangerous area.

Marmoush looks like he’s going to bundle it home but the ball drops to Kudus and he taps home to score.

Spurs go wild, but huge moans and groans then follow as VAR is checking for offside. Robertson just went too early and was clearly offside.

Really positive start to the second half from Villa.

They are looking a threat on the counter and Manzambi sets Jackson free.

Jackson takes the shot early but Kinsky is off his line quickly and is brave to save.

Kinsky has been down getting treatment after a whack in the face from Jackson, but he’s back up and the game is underway again.

What a mess from Andy Robertson and Spurs right on half time and Villa lead.

The ball loops up in the air and instead of letting it go out of play, Robertson tries to keep it in.

But all he does is give the ball straight to John McGinn. He tees up Boubacar Kamara and his ball towards goal is swept home by Johan Manzambi.

The talented Swiss youngster wheels away in delight towards the Villa fans as he’s scored his first goal for Villa.

Despite being dominated for most of this half, Villa lead 1-0.

Sandro Tonali’s low shot flies just wide.

Spurs are piling on the pressure from corners and out wide. Villa just can’t deal with the intensity of the press.

The home fans are really enjoying this display.

Spurs have had seven shots and almost 60 percent of the ball. They’re playing really well.

A couple of really good chances for Villa.

Finally they’ve woken up.

Nicolas Jackson does well to find Emiliano Buendia in the box.

Buendia smashes a shot on target which Kinsky pushes away at the near post. Spurs did well to get back in and block Buendia from being able to slot it home across goal.

Moments later Jackson charges towards goal but drags his shot wide and he should hit the target.

Oh, Archie Gray, what a moment that would have been!

The youngster has only been on the pitch for a few seconds but he is played in and times his run perfectly.

Gray drills a low shot across goal which Suzuki does well to save.

Then the corner comes in and finds Savio on the edge of the box. The Brazilian unleashes a fine volley which is going in but Suzuki springs to his right and pushes it away.

What a game the Villa goalkeeper is having. Spurs can’t believe they haven’t scored.

Pedro Porro is off with an injury.

He knew straight away something was wrong as he went in for that challenge.

The Spanish World Cup winner was back in the team today to provide plenty of extra attacking intent from right back.

But he hasn’t made it through the first 20 minutes.

Archie Gray is on in his place. Losing Porro is a blow for Spurs.

Lovely play from Spurs down the left and the ball is cut back to the penalty spot.

Dominic Solanke can’t connect with his effort and the ball drops to Savio.

His first shot is blocked by Suzuki and then rebound is then tipped over the bar by Villa’s Japanese goalkeeper.

Roberto De Zerbi has his shirt pulled over his head in disbelief. He can’t do much more. His Spurs team has been set up really well to create these chances and now it’s all about having the composure to finish them off.

Really positive start from Spurs here.

They are all over Villa and pushing up high and winning the ball back.

Suzuki is under pressure in goal and can’t keep the ball as Villa try to play out from the back.

Spurs are on it today. Let’s see if this fast start leads to a couple of big chances for them.

Unai Emery has so many new players still settling in and six newbies are in this starting lineup.

Villa’s bench is looking strong with new signings Harwood-Bellis, Garnacho and Mbaye named on it, while Cash, Abraham, Hemmings and Barkley can all contribute in a big way.

Emery really needs Villa to win today to calm everything down, but our crew believe they are still in a great position overall:

Aston Villa starting lineup confirmed

Suzuki; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Mings, Ruggeri; Kamara, Gomes; McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi; Jackson

Roberto De Zerbi looks to have a clear idea of what his best Spurs starting lineup is now.

Just one change from the draw at home to Everton last week as Pedro Porro comes in at right back for Archie Gray.

This feels like a big day for Savio and Marmoush to really prove why Spurs went big to sign them this summer.

Here are the thoughts from our crew on Spurs’ starting lineup:

Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup

Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Bentancur, Tonali; Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush; Solanke

We’ve got you covered with all of the tune-in info for Spurs against Villa.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (September 19)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — North London
TV Channel: USA
Stream link: Watch on USA

Unai Emery has admitted this week that Villa are basically back in preseason given all of the squad changes and how many new players arrived late in the window.

But there are some promising signs.

Yes, Villa have lost three of their opening four games and have just one point on the board.

But they won at Club Brugge in the Champions League and won at Coventry in midweek in the League Cup and there is some confidence returning.

Villa started slowly last season under Emery but he always seems to find a way to pull everything together and get the big decisions right.

New signings Nicolas Jackson, Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi will be a real threat in attack and Villa will look to catch Spurs out on the counter.

Tottenham Hotspur haven’t scored in any of their opening four games of the Premier League season.

Pressure is building after a massive, and hugely expensive, summer rebuild.

Spurs have struggled at the wrong end of the table over the last few years and this season was supposed to be different with Roberto De Zerbi having a full preseason in charge after coming in and rescuing them from relegation at the end of last season.

But the mood still seems low and Spurs have put in poor attacking displays. They’re rushing things in the final third and are panicking on the ball.

Defensively they’ve improved as they drew 0-0 at Nottingham Forest and then 0-0 at home against Everton in their last two games.

But their 3-1 defeat at much-changed Liverpool in the League Cup in midweek underline just how much work RDZ has to do to turn things around.

Most Spurs fans just want to see them score at least one goal today and then take things from there.