Ramos has his work cut out to stop Spurs’ struggles

Perhaps that was not so surprising given a line-up that did not feature Ledley King, even on the bench, while Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley were among the substitutes with Ramos clearly casting one eye on Thursday's UEFA Cup encounter with Wisla Krakow.

That plan backfired first when Jenas was forced to come on after just 29 minutes to replace the injured Luka Modric, and again straight after the half-time break when Bentley appeared in place of Didier Zokora.

Poyet was quizzed about the selection policy. He simply shrugged and replied: "We cannot make an excuse. It's about decisions. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. There are so many things to put in the balance."

In truth, Spurs were so off balance that they tipped into desperation, mediocrity with balls being pumped long distance towards a somewhat bewildered Pavlyuchenko.

As for Corluka, he was wandering way out of position in the fifth minute when Tom Huddlestone was twice beaten on the right, first by the excellent Gareth Barry and then by Gabriel Agbonlahor whose low cross, deftly touched on by John Carew, was steered into the Spurs' net by an unmarked Nigel Reo-Coker.

Villa might easily have gone three up but for two stunning saves by Heurelho Gomes, first when the diving Brazilian clawed a Barry effort from off the line, and then when he got fingers to an Agbonlahor header.

But then Gomes spoiled a fine personal performance in the 53rd minute when he allowed Ashley Young's speculative long range shot to slip beneath his body.

"That's football," said Poyet. "You can do nearly everything right in a game but if you are unfortunate in one of your actions then you are going to feel responsible."

Michael Dawson was lucky to finish this game after a dreadful block on the flying Young which earned only a yellow card.

That incident came just before Jenas lashed at the ball from fully 30 yards, the low shot heading wide of the post when it glanced off Darren Bent's legs and into the net.

The consultation goal was more than Spurs deserved. Ramos admitted: "We've made an irregular start to the season, having lost three games, which means it's an uphill struggle for us.

"But we are fairly far behind in our preparations. We've had Corluka, Pavlyuchenko and Fraizer Campbell who are new to the squad and we haven't really had time to prepare.

"What is important now is to keep the spirit going and hope to climb as far up the table as possible."

Spirit? There was little evidence of that against Villa until Giovani came on in the second half to add some individual wizardry to Spurs' game.

At least Ramos was sufficiently bothered to vent his frustrations. "I am always angry at the end of games like this which we lose," he said. "Not just with the players but with myself as well. We're all responsible for these results. Victories are won by everybody, and defeats are lost by everybody."

At the end, Villa fans taunted their rivals with chants of "Martin Jol, Martin Jol, Martin Jol."
Now there is someone who knows a thing or two about the blame culture at White Hart Lane. Ramos should take careful note . . .