Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa succumbed to a hard-fought 2-1 defeat in their Premier League encounter at Tottenham Hotspur.

The north London reverse ended a run of back-to-back league wins for Villa, who fell behind to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s 27^th-minute strike.

Ollie Watkins levelled a evenly-balanced affair with his first goal of the season, converting Matt Targett’s cross at the near post in the 67^th minute.

But Spurs restored their advantage and grabbed what turned out to be the winner courtesy of Lucas Moura’s close-range finish shortly afterwards.

The Villans now head into the international period before looking to get back on track against midlands neighbours Wolves.

Head coach Dean Smith named an unchanged starting line-up for the clash, keeping faith with the same XI who secured a deserved 1-0 triumph against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend.

A fiercely competitive opening quarter saw chances few and far between, with Villa matching their hosts albeit with neither goalkeeper seriously tested.

Emi Martínez was first to be called into action in the 23^rd minute when he was a full stretch 12 yards out to palm away Harry Kane’s quickly-taken free-kick from near the halfway line.

And it was Spurs who opened the scoring shortly afterwards, Hojbjerg picking out the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area having been fed by Heung-Min Son.

A sustained spell of pressure just before the break almost saw Villa draw level, John McGinn sending a 25-yard volley fizzing narrowly wide.

Villa started the second half on the front foot, the ball almost dropping for Danny Ings inside the six-yard box, before Tottenham threatened at the other end, Tyrone Mings blocking well from Emerson Royal before Son twice fired over the crossbar.

Martínez thwarted the lively Son after his surging run down the channel before the Argentina international got down quickly to deny Tanguy Ndombele.

The encounter was flowing from end to end in the second period and Villa duly levelled in the 67^th minute.

Jacob Ramsey did well to keep the ball alive after initial good work from Ezri Konsa, Ings fed Targett down the left and his low cross was converted at the near post by Watkins.

Smith turned to Emi Buendía off the bench but Spurs were back in front almost immediately, Moura converting from close range following Son’s pacy run and low cross.

Ings was denied by Hugo Lloris in the 78^th minute before Kane fired off target for the hosts and Mings produced a superb sliding block to deny Giovani Lo Celso.

Villa were pushing for an equaliser, with Smith also introducing Bertrand Traore and Cameron Archer, while Martínez had to be alert to twice deny Kane at the other end.

But it was not to be as Tottenham ran out victors for the 13^th time in the last 15 meetings between the clubs in all competitions.