New man Remi Garde gets bitter taste of reality at Aston Villa after Tottenham ease to win

Spurs gave new Aston Villa boss Remi Garde a nightmare start

REMI GARDE was left under no illusions about the size of his task as rock bottom Aston Villa were brushed aside by Tottenham as he watched on helpless from the stands.

 

Former Lyon manager Garde, a member of Arsenal's 1998 title-winning team, signed a three-and-a-half year contract earlier in the day to take over the reins at Villa Park and his darkening facial expressions told the unfolding story as a defensive howler allowed Mousa Dembele to give Spurs the lead within three minutes.

Assistant manager Kevin McDonald, standing in last night, insisted that despite the poor result, Villa have a good sqaud for Garde to work with: "Remi has got a squad to work with. They have got a great desire to work and work and work.

"They need to utilise their knowledge a bit better and take care of the ball a bit better. But with his experience at Arsenal and the work he did at Lyon he will give us that as well."

 

Mousa Dembele is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring Tottenham's opening goal

 

Jordan Ayew scores for Aston Villa

 

After Jordan Ayew gave Villa a brief glimmer of snatching something from the game, Spurs' win was rubber-stamped in injury time by Harry Kane's fifth goal in as many Premier League games after an uncharacteristic drought.

"I don't think you can doubt yourself at this level," said Kane. "You have to stay confident and wait for your chances and that's what I've done. I had to wait until stoppage time tonight but you have to be patient."

Roy Hodgson saw fellow England international Dele Alli also among the scorers and Kane added: "We've got a great squad and some great young players. It's great for Tottenham and great for the country. It's about maintaining that and we need to push on."

 

And having been to see a number of games at the Rugby World Cup, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is pushing that team ethos harder than ever.

"I watched a lot of games live, and the mentality and the philosophy and spirit... that's what we need to translate into football," he said. "In a collective sport, you need to show a good spirit. You need your team-mates in every action.

"Before, I liked it but now I am in love with the rugby after this World Cup."