For the third Premier League home match in a row, there were boos from the Spurs fans at full-time.
A miserable performance in defeat to Bournemouth was followed by Frank’s side scraping a point against Wolves, and now they have lost to Villa.
Spurs have won three of their last 18 Premier League matches at home, beating only Southampton, Burnley and Manchester United since November last year. It is a shocking run and the kind no successful team go on.
Danso’s long throws got the crowd on their feet
Getty Images
Frank spoke in his pre-match press conference of the need for his players to excite fans and the supporters to rally the team, but neither particularly happened here.
Spurs failed to kick on after taking an early lead and were never truly in control. The atmosphere picked up in spells, particularly in the second half when a long throw from Kevin Danso sparked chaos in the box. Spurs had a couple of chances in quick succession but both the noise and the pressure was short-lived.
Next up at home in the league are Chelsea and then it’s United. Frank needs quick answers.
Defensive depth a concern
This was the start of a run of seven matches in 22 days for Spurs and already there have to be concerns over the depth in defence.
Destiny Udogie missed the game with a knee issue he picked up on international, while Ben Davies was also not in the squad after he was forced off when playing for Wales against Belgium.
The problems then grew even before the whistle was blown here. Cristian Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up and Kevin Danso had to step into the starting lineup to replace him.
It meant Spurs had only eight substitutes on the bench and only one of those was a defender – 16-year-old Jun’ai Byfield.
Spurs looked at adding another defender to the squad late in the transfer window and they must be increasingly regretting not doing so. As it stands, Frank will have no choice but to name the same back four against Monaco on Wednesday, unless Archie Gray or Joao Palhinha are moved into defence.
Frank said Udogie’s injury is “nothing major” but, as is the case with Romero, any sort of spell on the sidelines will be particularly felt during such a hectic run.
Kudus the example for Spurs attackers
There is no arguing over who has been Spurs’ best attacking player this season.
Mohammed Kudus has been a constant threat with four goals and two assists in the Premier League and he was unfortunate not to add to that here.
While Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel both have bright moments, they can learn from Kudus in terms of consistent end product and decision-making. Both had moments, particularly in the first half, where they drove into the box, hesitated and the chance went.
In front of goal, Tel somehow failed to make contact when picked out at the back post by Kudus. In the second half, Odobert fired a big chance straight at Ezri Konsa.
Kudus’ attacking contributions were a diamond in the rough
Getty Images
By contrast, Kudus’ brilliant cross brought about the opening goal and he very nearly immediately made it 2-0. A stunning touch and finish beat Emiliano Martinez but the offside flag denied him.
Whenever Kudus has the ball, there is genuine belief that he can make something happen and Spurs need that individual magic right now, with the attack not clicking as a unit.
At times it can feel like a one-man band, the ball passed out to Kudus in the hope he can beat two or three men. That it still feels like Spurs’ best bet of a goal from open play says as much about his team-mates as it does Kudus.
