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Tottenham would have gone second with a win and third with a draw, but instead are now sixth after losing 2-1 at home to Aston Villa, despite taking a fifth-minute lead.

They suffered only their second league defeat since Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou, whose Europa League triumph was not enough to keep him in a job.

In some regards, the poor result after a good performance on Sunday, was similar to those league matches last season under Postecoglou, who was sacked by Nottingham Forest yesterday after only 39 days in charge of them.

Frank received a setback just before the match as club skipper Romero suffered an injury in the warm-up, with Austria international Danso drafted in for his first league start of the season, while Micky van de Ven was handed the armband.

However, they still managed to take an early lead through Rodrigo Bentancur's half-volley and thought they had gone 2-0 ahead in the sixth minute only for Mohammed Kudus to be judged offside as he had started his run too early before arrowing a low strike into the bottom corner.

After Rogers' equaliser, Tottenham arguably had the better chances. Mathys Tel failed to connect with a close-range volley after referee Simon Hooper allowed play to continue, despite the ball earlier hitting him and Van de Ven wasted another opportunity by heading over.

Villa's winner - only their second shot on target - came against the run of play and Tottenham could still have levelled.

Striker Randal Kolo Muani - on his first Premier League appearance since his season-long loan from Paris St-Germain - and Brennan Johnson failed to convert chances as Emery's men, with Spurs now having just one point from their past three home league games.

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Thomas Frank spoke to Sky Sports after Tottenham's defeat against Aston Villa: "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."

On Cristian Romero pulling out in the warm-up: "Minor abductor injury. He felt a little bit the past few days. We expected him to be fine but he wasn't. I don't think it is too big.

"There were two big teams on the pitch. We started very well. Villa produced two goals out of nothing and we had four or five moments where we couldn't produce. If you told me before the game that these players will be shooting from these positions I'd have said 'happy days'."

How can Spurs fix home form: "I think we just win."

Defender Micky van de Ven spoke also spoke to Sky Sports after Sunday's defeat: "A tough game, a tight game. We know they're a really tough team to play against."

On Cristian Romero pulling out in the warm up: "We knew he was a doubt during the week already. But of course it's always bad when he pulls out in the warm-up. But I think Kevin [Danso] came in and did really well.

"I don't think we did enough. If we'd done enough we wouldn't have lost this game. I don't think we gave too much away, they scored two goals from outside the box. But I think we can also create more for ourselves.

"We always give 100% to the fans and the club and everyone."

Emery confirmed that Ollie Watkins "will be ready" despite picking up a knock while with the England national team.

On the excellent performances of Morgan Rogers performances for the Three Lions: "He is getting better. He started [the season] a bit like the team - not performing well and not confident. But in the last matches he has played, he might not be scoring but he is playing better."

The Villa boss suggested the environment with England has helped Rogers improve: "It is helping him with the national team how they were performing collectively and individually. He is responsible and a protagonist like he is in the starting XI [with us]."

He said "every match we are facing is very difficult" when asked about the challenge posed by their hosts, adding: "Tottenham is one of the contender teams to be in the top seven. Last year they didn't achieve it but this year they are playing fantastic. Getting good results, now at the top with 14 points and playing at home they are feeling strong."

He continued: "For us it is a huge challenge."

Emery emphasised the importance of Tottenham qualifying for the Champions League this season and praised Thomas Frank for his start as manager: "He is doing very good work like he did when with Brentford. He deserved to get something more and now he has opportunity and challenge, and Tottenham is now one of best in Premier League. In the stadium with their supporters and with new tactics, they are a very, very strong team."

He gave an update on injuries: "Randal Kolo Muani has trained for two weeks with the team - he looks better and better - and he's in contention for the weekend. Yves Bissouma unfortunately had a situation with the national team and has a ligament issue in his ankle so he'll be out for a few weeks."

On the latest with Dominic Solanke's recovery: "Dom's progressed well post-surgery. The good thing is he is progressing, but he is still training on his own. I don't want to be too negative or get too excited. How long he takes [to return], I don't know."

On potentially having to rotate the squad due to injuries: "We all have an idea in our heads what the strongest team is with everyone available but I have to create the strongest team with what players are available now."

On improving Tottenham's home form: "We would like our home to be a fortress. That is the aim. If we can make it an unbelievably difficult place to come, then the job is half done. This needs cohesion between the team and the fans. Every game of football goes up and down with good and bad spells so we need the fans. When the fans are behind the team and the stadium is rocking, it is an unbelievable place."

On the new structure at Spurs spearheaded by the re-appointment of Fabio Paratici as sporting director: "Positive about the return of Fabio Paratici. Obviously, he worked as a consultant for the club so I've met him a few times over the last few months. I'm looking forward to working together. I'm in no doubt we will all create a good team. I'm used to working with two sporting directors - I did so at Brentford. I think you need two sporting directors now. I think they will complement each other well. It is the perfect match."

On Aston Villa's forward progress as a club: "I'm not surprised because I see a lot of the same things from the last few seasons. They are very good in the build up with fantastic players: Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen... it is a top team. They are growing. In an unbelievably tight game on Sunday, I hope and believe we can (get the win) in what will be a tough game."

While most teams' expected goal difference marries up quite closely to their actual one, it is clear that Tottenham are by far the hottest side in the league in terms of form.

Not only have they been the most ruthless side in front of goal by scoring five more goals than expected given the chances they have had, at the other end goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has had to be at the top of his game, preventing more goals than any other keeper in the league (2.9).

While this is obviously great in the short term, Thomas Frank will want to quickly improve his new club's dominance in games as the former manager of stats-savvy Brentford will likely know that significantly overperforming your xG does not last forever.

Read more on what expected goals tell us about the start to the season

None of the last 20 Premier League matches between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have been drawn (14 Spurs wins, 6 Villa wins) since a 1-1 stalemate in May 2012. Only two fixtures in the competition’s history have ever had more successive games without a draw: Newcastle v Spurs (21 from Aug 1999 to Dec 2010) and Chelsea v Crystal Palace (26 from Sep 1997 to Feb 2024).

Aston Villa have won four of their last six Premier League games against Tottenham Hotspur (L2), as many as their previous 29 beforehand (D7 L18).

Tottenham Hotspur have won just three of their last 17 Premier League home games (D4 L10). Indeed, since the first game of this run (Nov 10th 2024 v Ipswich), no ever-present side has lost more home games (10) or picked up fewer home points (13) in the competition than Spurs.

Aston Villa have won eight of their last 10 Premier League games that have come the matchday after an international break (D2) – including a win away at Tottenham in November 2023 (2-1). They drew their first match after this September’s international break 0-0 at Everton, however.

After failing to win each of their opening five league games this season (D3 L2), Aston Villa have since won their last two. Indeed, since the beginning of March, only Manchester City have enjoyed more Premier League wins (11) than Unai Emery’s side (10).

Tottenham Hotspur have scored 13 goals from an expected goals tally of 7.5 in the Premier League this season, the biggest overperformance of any side (+5.5). Indeed, their shot conversion rate of 16.9% is second only to Manchester City (17.4%).

Tottenham Hotspur’s Thomas Frank has never beaten Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in the Premier League in five attempts (D2 L3, all with Brentford). It’s the most he’s faced an opposing manager in the competition without ever winning.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus has completed 30 dribbles in the Premier League this season, with no other player completing 20 or more. Indeed, he has completed 246 dribbles in his 72 Premier League appearances overall; the only player to record 250+ successful dribbles within his first 73 games on Opta’s records in the competition (from 2006-07) is Allan Saint-Maximin (250 in first 58).

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers has assisted more goals in the Premier League in 2025 (9) than any other player. Rogers has assisted in his last two league games, but has never recorded one in three successive Premier League appearances before.

One of the biggest unkept secrets in English football is finally out: Fabio Paratici's official return to Tottenham Hotspur has been confirmed.

Of course, since severing ties with Spurs because of his suspension, the Italian - renowned as one of Europe's leading sporting directors - has been working on a consultancy basis for the club.

BBC Sport has reported regularly over the year that the wheels were in motion towards Paratici returning to the club on an official basis in 2025, though there was a dalliance with AC Milan in the summer.

Given his links to Daniel Levy, the Italian's return looked unclear when the former executive chairman left Spurs last month.

So it is testament to Paratici's reputation that the club's new-look ownership team have retained their commitment to re-employing the administrator.

The attraction to Paratici is clear. He has one of the most extensive contacts book in the game - who he doesn't know probably isn't worth knowing.

It will be interesting to see how he works with joint sporting director Johan Lange, but either way, Paratici's know-how and understanding in the transfer market will continue to be invaluable for Tottenham.