Villa win increases pressure on Spurs boss Conte

Aston Villa increased the pressure on Tottenham manager Antonio Conte with victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A lacklustre Spurs, who fell out of the Premier League top four on Saturday, have now won only two of their past seven games.

Villa have won back-to-back away league games as they improve under Unai Emery.

It appeared this game would pit the two keepers who faced off in the 2022 World Cup final penalty shootout against each other, but Argentina’s spot-kick hero Emiliano Martinez had to settle for a place on the Villa bench.

It was a poor game all round for returning finalists. Spurs’ World Cup-winning defender Cristian Romero was shown a yellow card in the first half – and fortunate not to get a second late on after barging Philippe Coutinho – while Lloris endured a shocking moment in the 50th minute.

He spilled Luiz’s long-range effort and Ollie Watkins squared the rebound for Buendia to slam home.

Luiz started and finished the move for 2-0, sliding a pass to John McGinn before racing on to receive the return and chipping cutely past Lloris.

Leaky Tottenham continue to worry Conte

Having lost their place in the top four to Manchester United, the onus was on Tottenham to produce an improved performance.

While they did improve on their previous five games by not trailing at half-time, Spurs continue to look disjointed, exemplified after 18 minutes when Son Heung-min ripped off the protective mask he wore throughout the World Cup and threw it away in frustration.

Striker Harry Kane also cut an irritated figure, coming deep into midfield to get the ball after barely touching it in the early periods.

The England captain came closest to opening the scoring in the first half.

Ivan Perisic was played in over the top before being forced wide by keeper Robin Olsen, but he cleverly dinked a cross back over for Kane to head down. Ashley Young covered, having initially played Perisic onside, and managed to direct the effort behind for a corner.

Perisic should have scored shortly after Buendia’s opener when the ball fell kindly 15 yards out and he scooped over the bar.

However, Spurs set an unwanted club record of conceding at least two goals in seven successive Premier League fixtures.

They looked toothless in attack – Bryan Gil made his first league start in place of the injured Dejan Kulusevski, but was replaced just past the hour following an anonymous display – and Conte looked more miserable as his side slipped towards another worrying defeat.

More to follow.

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