Remi Garde has a lot of work to do if he is going to keep his new employers in the Premier League, despite a late fight back and goal from Aston Villa's Jordan Ayew. Goals from Moussa Dembele, Dele Alli and Harry Kane send the Villains back to Birmingham empty handed.
It took Spurs only two minutes to open the score. Moussa Dembele controlled a long and hopeful ball before beating Ciaran Clark and powering past Brad Guzan in nets. Clark was poor defensively and overpowered by Dembele. Villa were being dominated in midfield and a goal glut was on the cards if things did not change.
It took Spurs only two minutes to open the score. Moussa Dembele controlled a long and hopeful ball before beating Ciaran Clark and powering past Brad Guzan in nets. Clark was poor defensively and overpowered by Dembele. Villa were being dominated in midfield and a goal glut was on the cards if things did not change.
Scott Sinclair managed the Villians first shot on target on 11 minutes. He slalomed between two Spurs players before cracking a shot that Hugo Lloris could only parry and the follow up effort from Jack Grealish sailed out for a goal kick. The game settled down after the frantic five minutes and Villa began to get more on the ball however they did look nervous when required to defend.
Harry Kane had an opportunity when he broke down the left channel. After cutting in onto his right foot, his shot was deflected before being tipped over by Brad Guzan. From the resulting corner, Danny Rose had an excellent opportunity after a neat training ground move but his shot grazed the cross bar.
As the interval approached, you just thought that Spurs had the potential to kick on during the half, but they failed and this could come back to bite them later in the game. Credit to Villa though, they managed to drag themselves back into the game.
On the stroke of half time, Spurs did strike again. Dele Alli used his chest to control the ball after a cross was cleared before vollying into the bottom left hand corner. At 2-0, Villa needed to change at half time if they were going to get anything out of the game.
For the second half, summer signing Rudy Gestede replaced captain Gabby Agbonlahor and he gave Villa more of a target man up front. Yet still they struggled with possession and looked a side that was shot of confidence. They continued to be poor in possession and were unable to make use of the height and strength of Gestede.
Spurs continued to press and looked increasingly more likely to add to their total. Christian Eriksen and co in the midfield dominated the game from start to finish and Villa never tried to close the Spurs playmakers down. Aston Villa's Jack Grealish struggled to make an impact on the game and was starved of the ball for most of it before eventually being substituted on 65 minutes.
Gestede had a really good chance on 73 minutes. Spurs were sloppy in the defensive third of the pitch and were dispossessed by Carles Gil. The substitute found Gestede but his shot from a golden position was blocked over the bar. Nothing materialised from the resulting corner, but it did seem to give Villa a bit of confidence as they piled players into the final third. It was also a wake up for Spurs knowing that if they give their opposition a goal then it could make a nervy last 15 minutes,
Leandro Bacuna had a shot from outside the box that cracked the outside of the post. villa had grown in confidence and grabbed a goal back off a deflected shot from Jordan Ayew. Villa had threatened, but Spurs didn't heed the warning and found themselves in a game for the last 10 minutes, one that they should have wrapped up ages ago. The White Hart Lane faithful realised and offered their words of encouragement.
That man Gestede had an excellent chance to level the game up. A hopeful ball into the box was made dangerous by Lloris' decision to come for it. Effectively taking himself out of the game, all Gestede had to do was to hit the target, but his header went wide. Ayew went close once again shortly later, but it was too little too late for the visitors. Despite controlling the game easily for 80 minutes, the pendulum had swung for the last 10 in the favour of the visitors.
The game was made secure by Harry Kane in stoppage time. Spurs countered through Eriksen and found Erik Lamela on the right before unselfishly squaring for Kane to fire into the top of the net. This put the game to bed and kept Spurs' firing on all cylinders and their unbeaten run in full flight.
For Aston Villa, their troubles continue and Remi Garde will have to perform miracles to save Villa from the drop. He can take encouragement from the 10 minutes after the consolation when they pressed and caused problems for a well marshalled Spurs defence.
As the interval approached, you just thought that Spurs had the potential to kick on during the half, but they failed and this could come back to bite them later in the game. Credit to Villa though, they managed to drag themselves back into the game.
On the stroke of half time, Spurs did strike again. Dele Alli used his chest to control the ball after a cross was cleared before vollying into the bottom left hand corner. At 2-0, Villa needed to change at half time if they were going to get anything out of the game.
For the second half, summer signing Rudy Gestede replaced captain Gabby Agbonlahor and he gave Villa more of a target man up front. Yet still they struggled with possession and looked a side that was shot of confidence. They continued to be poor in possession and were unable to make use of the height and strength of Gestede.
Spurs continued to press and looked increasingly more likely to add to their total. Christian Eriksen and co in the midfield dominated the game from start to finish and Villa never tried to close the Spurs playmakers down. Aston Villa's Jack Grealish struggled to make an impact on the game and was starved of the ball for most of it before eventually being substituted on 65 minutes.
Gestede had a really good chance on 73 minutes. Spurs were sloppy in the defensive third of the pitch and were dispossessed by Carles Gil. The substitute found Gestede but his shot from a golden position was blocked over the bar. Nothing materialised from the resulting corner, but it did seem to give Villa a bit of confidence as they piled players into the final third. It was also a wake up for Spurs knowing that if they give their opposition a goal then it could make a nervy last 15 minutes,
Leandro Bacuna had a shot from outside the box that cracked the outside of the post. villa had grown in confidence and grabbed a goal back off a deflected shot from Jordan Ayew. Villa had threatened, but Spurs didn't heed the warning and found themselves in a game for the last 10 minutes, one that they should have wrapped up ages ago. The White Hart Lane faithful realised and offered their words of encouragement.
That man Gestede had an excellent chance to level the game up. A hopeful ball into the box was made dangerous by Lloris' decision to come for it. Effectively taking himself out of the game, all Gestede had to do was to hit the target, but his header went wide. Ayew went close once again shortly later, but it was too little too late for the visitors. Despite controlling the game easily for 80 minutes, the pendulum had swung for the last 10 in the favour of the visitors.
The game was made secure by Harry Kane in stoppage time. Spurs countered through Eriksen and found Erik Lamela on the right before unselfishly squaring for Kane to fire into the top of the net. This put the game to bed and kept Spurs' firing on all cylinders and their unbeaten run in full flight.
For Aston Villa, their troubles continue and Remi Garde will have to perform miracles to save Villa from the drop. He can take encouragement from the 10 minutes after the consolation when they pressed and caused problems for a well marshalled Spurs defence.