Seventh successive loss leaves Garde in no doubt about task facing Villa

Remi Garde was left in no doubt about the scale of the task facing him as the new Aston Villa manager watched from the stands while his new side slumped to a seventh successive defeat, leaving them rooted at the foot of the Premier League table.

Earlier in the day, the former Lyon coach signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to take charge of a club now enduring its worst start in its 127-year histroy but it became clear there would be no celebration to mark the occasion from the moment Mousa Dembele out-muscled Ciaran Clark on the way to giving Tottenham a third minute lead.

Dele Alli added a second for Mauricio Pochettino’s side on the stroke of half-time to cap a chastening 45 minutes for Garde with Harry Kane completing the victorythat moved Tottenham up to fifth seconds before the final whistle.