Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa condemned Spurs to their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign on Monday night with a win that leaves the Londoners bottom of the league.

Villa took the lead after just four minutes as Tottenham failed to cut out a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross which Nigel Reo-Coker converted with ease.

Keeper Heurelho Gomes inexplicibly let Ashley Young's weak 54th minute shot slip under his body.

And Darren Bent's late goal was little consolation for angry Spurs fans.

While the two UEFA Cup participants, who drew 4-4 in last season's pulsating corresponding fixture, have similar ambitions - they have made distinctly contrasting starts to the season.

While Villa appear ever more settled under manager Martin O'Neill, Spurs seem to be suffering from the recent sale of star strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, and came into the game absolutely desperate to kick-start their season.

But, with boss Juande Ramos handing debuts to £14m forward Roman Pavlyuchenko and £8.5m Croatian left-back Vedran Corluka, it could not have got off to a worst start.

After just four minutes, Young was allowed space on the left to feed Agbonlahor who cut a low cross behind the static Spurs defence.

John Carew flicked on with his heel leaving Reo-Coker with a simple first time finish which Gomes could not get near.

Villa nearly went two up four minutes later when Reo-Coker's cross from the right took a wicked deflection and crashed back out into play off Gomes' upright.

Spurs slowly started to wrestle some possession from Villa and, in the 21st minute, Pavylucenko turned superbly in the box to lash in a shot which unluckily cannoned off the forehead of Curtis Davies.

But Gomes was soon called upon to make an outstanding save on his line from Gareth Barry's well-placed header before he followed it up with more heroics to deny Agbonlahor, though the Villa striker should scored have scored.

Jermaine Jenas replaced the injured Luka Modric in central midfield but, despite the threat of Gareth Bale with dead balls, they still looked like a side who are clearly getting one and other.

Ramos brought England midfielder David Bentley on for Didier Zakora following half-time to add some passing precision, and his impact was immediate.

In the 48th minute, he neatly laid the ball off winger Aaron Lennon to fire a shot just below Brad Friedel's bar, but the Villa keeper stretched to tip it over.

But Spurs conceded again in the 54th minute due to a shocking error from Gomes, who up until that point had kept them in the game.

After Barry had fed Young on the half-way line, he dragged Dawson in then rounded the Spurs defender before shooting weakly at the centre of goal.

But the Spurs keeper let the ball slip under his body at groans of anger rang out round White Hart Lane.

Dawson, who let Young pass far too easily, was soon replaced by Mexican forward Giovanni dos Santos, who showed significant promise and ambition on the ball.

With chances few and far between, Bale managed put in a dangerous cross which Bent should have done better than to head high and wide.

Minute consolation came for Spurs in the 86th minute when Jenas lashed a speculative shot on the volley towards goal after Villa had attempted to clear, which Bent turned into the net from 10 yards.