Roberto De Zerbi admitted his Tottenham side looked “fragile” after they slipped to another defeat this lunchtime.
Spurs were beaten 3-2 by Aston Villa to maintain their winless run and, although they did manage their first league goal of the season, it was scant consolation for De Zerbi, who is starting to come under increased pressure after a summer of heavy spending.
The hosts started superbly but were frustrated by the brilliance of Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. And there was a sense of inevitability that they would be caught out at the other end.
And that’s exactly what happened as Johan Manzambi prodded in just before the break.
Spurs thought they had equalised in the second half but Mohammed Kudus’s effort was disallowed for offside against Andy Robertson.
It was cruel but Villa showed no mercy with Nicolas Jackson and Emi Buendia scoring to increase the visitors’ advantage.
Conor Gallagher did net Tottenham’s first league goal of the season with four minutes to go, and there was still time for Jan Paul van Hecke to add a second, but it was scant consolation.
We need to stay more focused – Tottenham boss De Zerbi
“I think we could score in the first half many, many times,” De Zerbi told TNT Sports. “We conceded the goal with 10 players [with Van de Ven off the pitch due to injury] but we had to stay more focused to defending that situation in extra time in the first half.
“In the second half we conceded a goal from the goal kick directly. Before then we scored but it’s offside. The third goal, a great goal of Buendia. But I have to say, we played well in the first half, we didn’t score but [we were] too fragile.”
Tottenham
Aston Villa
Spurs are struggling to score at one end and giving away too many goals at the other – a recipe for disappointment.
De Zerbi added: “Stronger, when we have 10 players, [for] one minute, we have to stay like a family in the goal area to defend. Not so easy, like the goal kick in the second half when we concede the second goal. It’s too little to concede a goal. To score one goal we have to create 20 chances and the others, just one half [chance], not one, because the goal kick is not a chance. Too easy for them to score.”
The final whistle was met with muted boos from the home fans that had remained and De Zerbi told them to direct their frustration at him.
“If we didn’t score it’s my responsibility,” he said. “I take the responsibility. We’re going to work harder, but football is like life. You are strong or you lose.”
Villa skipper McGinn delighted with first win
Spurs’ despair was matched in equal measure by Villa’s relief. Unai Emery’s men had also not won in the league this season and this victory will come as a huge boost heading into the international break.
Captain John McGinn told TNT Sports: “Leading up to the international break, you don’t want to be in the bottom three.
“I thought we were really poor first half, we showed nothing going forward, but the second half we stood tall and deserved the win.”
The Premier League Table
Premier League 2026
England
| # | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arsenal |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
W
W
W
W
|
| 2 |
Manchester City |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
W
W
W
W
|
| 3 |
Brentford |
5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
W
D
D
D
W
|
| 4 |
Leeds |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
W
D
D
W
|
| 5 |
Hull City |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
D
D
W
W
|
| 6 |
Brighton |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
W
D
L
W
|
| 7 |
Chelsea |
5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 12 | -2 | 7 |
L
D
L
W
W
|
| 8 |
Liverpool |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
D
W
D
D
|
| 9 |
Everton |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
D
D
D
W
|
| 10 |
Ipswich |
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 6 |
W
L
L
W
|
| 11 |
Nottingham Forest |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
W
D
D
L
|
| 12 |
Newcastle |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 5 |
L
D
W
D
|
| 13 |
Manchester United |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
L
D
W
L
|
| 14 |
Sunderland |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
L
D
W
L
|
| 15 |
Bournemouth |
4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 3 |
D
D
D
L
|
| 16 |
Crystal Palace |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 3 |
L
W
L
L
|
| 17 |
Tottenham |
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 2 |
L
D
D
L
|
| 18 |
Fulham |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 1 |
D
L
L
L
|
| 19 |
Aston Villa |
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
W
L
D
L
|
| 20 |
Coventry |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 0 |
L
L
L
L
|
- Position 1, 2, 3, 4 : Promotion – Champions League (League phase)
- Position 5 : Promotion – Europa League (League phase)
- Position 18, 19, 20 : Relegation – Championship
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