Key stats
- Tottenham Hotspur have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premier League for the first time this season
- Emiliano Buendía has scored three goals across his last four appearances for Aston Villa, as many as across his previous 44 outings in all competitions
- No team have scored more goals from outside the box than Aston Villa in the Premier League this season (four - level with Bournemouth), with half of their eight goals coming from range
Highlights
Analysis
Aston Villa left back Lucas Digne was effective in subduing Tottenham's attacking threat down the right, as well as earning an assist in his 82 minutes on the pitch.
Spurs were in control of the momentum throughout large spells in the match, but they failed to rebound after going behind.
Match report
An injury to Cristian Romero in the warm-up was far from the ideal preparation for Spurs, but they soon put that disappointment behind them inside five minutes of kick-off.
Integral to the Tottenham attack since joining in the summer, Mohammed Kudus was again involved in the opener here, delivering a deep cross into the box for João Palhinha to knock down into the path of Rodrigo Bentancur, who broke the deadlock via a significant deflection off Amadou Onana.
The hosts thought they’d doubled the lead just moments later when Kudus finished well after latching onto a long ball from Micky van de Ven, but the Ghanaian was swiftly flagged offside.
Villa’s response was fairly muted, and aside from a dragged shot from Matty Cash after 15 minutes, they rarely threatened in the first half.
However, after a period of relative calm in which Tottenham looked the more likely to net the game’s second goal, Morgan Rogers produced a sumptuous effort that dipped over the outstretched arm of Guglielmo Vicario, levelling the scores with HT approaching.
Referee Simon Hooper almost inadvertently played a pivotal role in proceedings ahead of the break, deflecting Pedro Porro’s free-kick towards Kudus, whose dangerous cross evaded a meaningful touch from Mathys Tel to maintain parity.
Spurs have led at the HT in just one of their last eight games against top-flight opposition in all competitions, but given the north Londoners’ seven-game unbeaten streak heading into this match (W4, D3), Thomas Frank wouldn’t have been too perturbed.
His side offered further encouragement after the restart, pushing to restore their advantage as Ezri Konsa was required to cut out a Kudus cross before Emiliano Martínez tipped a Palhinha strike around the post.
The introductions of Richarlison and Ollie Watkins at opposite ends of the pitch after an hour didn’t have an immediate impact, but another substitute Emi Buendía made a telling contribution in the 78th minute, finding the bottom corner with a precise finish after an excellent touch and lay-off from Lucas Digne.
Despite being on top for sizable periods, Tottenham were ultimately unable to find a way back into the contest as the Villans held on for all three points.
The result sees Spurs drop to sixth in the PL standings, while Villa finally climb into the top half, having claimed their first away league win of the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)
Post-match comments
Aston Villa winger Emi Buendia to Sky Sports:
"It feels amazing to come here, it's such a difficult place to play and a really difficult opponent.
"At the start of the match, they get the advantage, the team showed character to come back and get a win.
"I was preparing myself to run back for the counterattack. But I could help the team with the goal. It is really important for confidence and to help the team."
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank to Sky Sports:
"It was exactly the game I expected it to be, against two good teams, very tight. There weren't too many chances.
"I think overall it could've gone either way. I think 1-1 would've been a fair result.
"Villa scored two goals from outside the box in moments where you wouldn't expect them to score. Fair play for their moments of quality. We also easily could've won."