Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa at White Hart Lane. This final game of matchday 10 brings together two sides whose current form could not be more contrasting, with the hosts strong favourites to claim maximum points this evening.

Villa may currently be languishing at the bottom of the table, but they have now appointed a new manager who will be looking for instant impact. Former Lyon boss Remi Garde will be watching from the stands, with Kevin MacDonald still officially watching over things tonight.

Before taking an in-depth look at Villa's new manager, and the task that awaits him if he is to turn around this sinking ship, let's first check out some team news from White Hart Lane ahead of the 8pm kickoff.

TEAM NEWS!

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Alli, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane

ASTON VILLA XI: Guzan; Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Richardson; Bacuna, Westwood, Sanchez; Sinclair, Agbonlahor, Grealish

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has opted to go with an unchanged starting lineup for tonight's match, then, which is not at all surprising considering his side thrashed Bournemouth last time out. That means a place in the heart of defence once more for Jan Vertonghen, who will be making his 100th Premier League appearance for the club.

Harry Kane, fresh on the back of a hat-trick in that 5-1 rout on the South Coast last weekend, starts up top as the lone striker. Support will be provided by Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, as the pair no doubt look to continue with their narrow interplay behind Kane this evening.

Villa were handed a blow about 30 minutes or so ago with the news that Michah Richards will miss out through suspension. Kevin McDonald has admitted that he was always doubtful over the Englishman's involvement tonight, however, so it perhaps did not catch him by too much of a surprise when the decision was made a short time ago.

In terms of the visiting side, McDonald - still in charge of the club despite the appointment of Remi Garde a little earlier - has made three changes from last week's defeat to Southampton in the League Cup. Joleon Lescott is among those to return, taking the place of the suspended Richards.

Jack Grealish and Scott Sinclair also return to the first-team fold, in what appears to be a 4-5-1 formation with Leandro Bacuna and Sinclair providing Gabriel Agbonlahor some support from out wide. Ashley Westwood and Carlos Sanchez join the returning Grealish in making up a five-man midfield.

BENCH WATCH!

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Davies, Fazio, Trippier, Mason, Onomah, Townsend

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Bunn, Veretout, Ayew, Amavi, Gil, Crespo, Gestede

Pochettino has Ryan Mason among his back-ups this evening, providing a valuable option to shore up the midfield if required, while Andros Townsend could provide some additional width from the bench. Villa, on the other hand, have the height and power of Rudy Gestede, alongside the silkier play of Carles Gil from a wider position.

Jan Vertonghen this evening makes his 100th Premier League appearance for Tottenham Hotspur

© Getty Images

Well as touched on a little earlier, Villa do indeed have a new man at the helm now following a week of speculation. Remi Garde, the former Lyon head coach, has officially taken over on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Garde knows about English football due to his time at Arsenal as a player, and he was very much a favourite among many supporters to take charge.

Garde certainly has his work cut out following what has been a disastrous start to the campaign for Villa. Tim Sherwood simply failed to get his players on the same wavelength, and with 10 games players the West Midlands outfit are rock bottom of the division with just four points to their name.

Incidentally, four points is the gap that they must not make up to claw their way to safety. It is far too soon to even begin discussing relegation, of course, but with the players available to them after a summer drive, the Villans should not be having to even contemplate dropping down a tier.

A draw would have to be considered a decent point this evening; not least because they are facing one of the division's in-form sides. That would not be enough to take Villa off the foot of the table, while maximum points will only lift them up to 18th. A lot of work for Garde to do, then, but he appears to be a man with plenty of pedigree during his admittedly short managerial career to date.

Whichever way you look at it - one point since the opening day; no points since August - the Villans really are in a bleak position right now. I covered their only victory of the season, way back on the opening weekend at Bournemouth, but even then it was hardly stellar stuff with Rudy Gestede coming to the rescue.

In the end Sherwood simply had too many new players to integrate into his system, which made life extremely tough for him. He certainly worked miracles last season, taking the Villans to an FA Cup final and steering them away from the drop zone, but there was not enough players boasting experience in top-level English football among the big-money summer buys.

With Manchester City and Everton to follow tonight's game, it may get a little worse before it gets better for Villa - regardless of a new manager coming in. As we all know, though, fresh ideas can often bring about a major upturn in fortunes, much like at the back end of last season when Sherwood lifted spirits when taking to the Villa Park helm.

"We won't buck under the pressure" was the message from chairman Randy Lerner a little earlier when confirming Garde's appointment in a sign that, while others are perhaps doubting the Villans' long-term stay in this division, those inside the club remain confident that things are about to take a turn for the better.

DID YOU KNOW? Villa are now the 10th Premier League side to have lost eight or more of their opening 10 fixtures. Of the previous nine to do so, five have gone down at the end of the campaign.

Much is expected of new Villa boss Remi Garde, having previously been tipped to take over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal

© Getty Images

While Villa have struggled badly so far and, unsurprisingly, find themselves bottom of the form chart, it has been a different story entirely for Spurs in recent weeks. It was a slow start to the campaign on the whole - an opening-day defeat being followed up by three successive stalemates - but since then things have improved.

Three points from the first 12 on offer has since turned into 14 from 18. Indeed, Tottenham have not lost since the opening day and have only been outshone by rivals - and next opponents - Arsenal in terms of form since the start of September. That impressive run includes the scalp of Manchester City, who were brushed aside 4-1 here a couple of months back.

Bournemouth were the latest side to be dismantled, falling to a 5-1 defeat at the Goldsands last weekend, while a goalless draw against Liverpool was certainly credible due to it being Jurgen Klopp's first game in charge of the Anfield outfit. So plenty to be positive about for the Lilywhites at the moment, then, yet they are still in sixth place.

Pochettino's men can climb one place into fifth with at least a draw tonight, thanks to their superior goal difference compared to rivals West Ham United, while a win will take them within five points or Arsenal ahead of next weekend's huge showdown at the Emirates Stadium.

Tottenham's European has been far more patchy, with their hopes of progression in the Europa League currently in the balance, while they were also knocked out of the League Cup early on by the Gunners. Plenty of the focus in on the Premier League at the moment, with a win tonight certainly keeping them on track for their goal of a top-four finish.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Spurs have lost just one of their last 13 meetings with Villa, though that did come earlier this year when Christian Benteke's header proved to be the difference in North London. That is the only triumph in six at White Hart Lane for the Villans, who have scored just twice during that run.

There are many different aspects behind Villa's poor start, of course, but their lack of cutting edge up top - just nine goals all season - is certainly something that will drastically need to improve. That will be difficult this evening, however, against a Spurs side boasting the league's second-best defensive record.

The two sets of players are now making their way out of the tunnel, with kickoff just a few minutes away. There is still time to check out our pre-match preview, though, which can be viewed below:

Here we go then - a new era for Aston Villa is about to get underway. Unofficially speaking, anyway, with new boss Remi Garde watching on from high up in the White Hart Lane stands tonight. Spurs just need to pick up from where they left off, having not lost a single game since the opening day.

KICKOFF! Spurs get things underway in North London, instantly forcing Joleon Lescott to head clear a punt forward. No Michah Richards for Villa this evening, remember, after being handed a one-match ban less than two hours before kickoff.

Well if Remi Garde did not realise the size of the task facing him at Villa Park when signing on that dotted line a little earlier, he certainly does now. A disastrous start for the division's bottom side, who simply let Dembele use his strength to open the scoring three minutes in. A simple punt up the line by Rose was picked up by Dembele on the left, before driving past Clark - who was seemingly more interested in grappling his opponent to the ground - and tucking through the legs of Guzan.

That really was poor defending from Clark, who was unable to get a grip of Dembele. Villa would no doubt have been looking to remain compact for large parts tonight and hit their opponents on the break, but that plan has gone out of the window less than 180 seconds in.

Not a lot of note happening at the moment at White Hart Lane. Other than that Dembele goal from nothing inside three minutes, it has been a slow start to the match.

Hutton looks to bend a pass into a central position for Agbonlahor to latch on to, but Vertonghen is across well to clear. Decent enough response from the Villans, who are starting to see a lot more of the ball now.

SAVE! A good response, indeed. This latest move was all about Sinclair, who cut in from the left in trademark style with a nice piece of footwork, before fashioning a strike on goal. It was pretty much right at Lloris in the end, though, with the Frenchman able to beat the ball away.

All very comical at the back for Villa, as two simple clearances clatter back off players sporting a claret and blue shirt, but the ball just about evades Harry Kane. Spurs not really been able to find any momentum since their early opener.

A poor touch from Richardson in defence almost sees Spurs in again, but credit to the full-back for making amends and winning the ball back. Villa come forward again, with Hutton's half-decent cross evading all of his teammates.

Had Villa not conceded that sloppy opener, this would have been considered a very assured start. Spurs have ultimately dropped off as a result of Dembele's goal, though, which has given the visitors more freedom than they perhaps would have expected in this opening quarter.

Just the one shot on target each for both sides so far, with Spurs having better luck through Dembele than Villa did through Sinclair. It has been very balanced on the whole, but it remains 1-0 to the home side.

Could another slow start prove costly for the Villans this evening?

2 - Aston Villa have now conceded two of the three earliest goals in the PL this season (tonight + Milner for Liverpool). Brittle. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 2, 2015

SAVE! Kane gets his first real sight of goal, and again it is all a little too easy. The Premier League's top goalscorer this calendar year picked up the ball inside the box, working an angle to get a shot in which Guzan pushed over the bar. He was not closed down quickly enough there, with Clark losing his footing.

SHOT! The corner is played to Rose on the edge of the area, whose first-time effort skims the roof of the net on its way over. Dembele then tried his luck again in the next attacking move, but his attempt was always rising.

Lloris just about gets to the ball ahead of Sinclair to clear the danger on edge of his area. The ultimate sweeper-keeper made the right call on that occasion, as Villa look to find some momentum.

Bacuna looks to play Richardson in behind, but Alderweireld is across well to calmly clear. Spurs still not on top of their game, which is only giving Villa more and more hope of claiming something from their trip to the capital.

Some really good Spurs pressing ends with Rose winning back possession, but his cross into the box is rather scuffed. Westwood took a clip to the face in the build-up, with the visitors unhappy that the referee did not blow his whistle.

Westwood is still actually receiving treatment after being caught by the elbow of Dembele. There did not look to be too much in it initially, but he may have been caught right on the bridge of the nose. A decision for MacDonald to make ahead of half time.

We are now back underway, minus Westwood, though he may be rejoining the actually shortly. If not MacDonald will have to reshuffle his pack and think about making a change of personnel.

ASTON VILLA SUB! Westwood is really shaken up on the sidelines, seemingly wanting to come back on but not being able to. The new rules in place puts pressure on the backroom staff to take extra care when it comes to head injuries, so Jordan Ayew has been introduced.

I was going to say how play has been disjointed following the two-minute break in play, but there was not a great deal of momentum for any side beforehand anyway. Spurs still a goal to the good, yet there has not been an awful lot between the two teams so far.

YELLOW CARD! Dier has settled in well to his new defensive midfield position this season, and it is he who gets across to cut out another Villa move before it could really develop. Ayew then gets himself cautioned for a late challenge on the Englishman just minutes after coming on.

A few shouts for handball after Kane headed the ball into Lescott, but the defender was about a yard away so that was never going to go down as deliberate as we move ever closer to half time.

Alli delivers what could possibly be a knockout blow to Villa's hopes of rescuing something from this game. Rose's initial cross from the left was not properly dealt with and, when it landed to the ex-MK Dons man, he simply took a touch and volleyed home into the bottom corner.

So Tottenham Hotspur hold a comfortable 2-0 lead over Aston Villa at the break, but that scoreline is rather harsh on the visiting side. It has been evenly matched on the whole, though Spurs have simply managed to create a couple of openings which ended with the ball in the back of the net.

Things got off to the worst possible start for the Villans, who were behind with just two minutes and 22 seconds on the clock. Ciaran Clark was simply held off by Mousa Dembele with ease, before the Belgian slotted through the legs of Brad Guzan.

The closest Villa came to finding a way through was via Scott Sinclair, with the winger getting the better of two opposition players when cutting inside and firing away a shot that Hugo Lloris was simply happy to parry away.

The only other real action prior to the second goal came courtesy of Harry Kane, who tested Brad Guzan with a deflected effort 24 minutes in, while Rose fired one narrowly over the bar soon after.

Then came Alli's knockout blow in the first of three minutes of added time at the end of the first half, as he controlled Rose's cross and volleyed into the bottom corner. Two-nil, then, but perhaps still a little hope for the visitors once they emerge for the second half.

If Villa are going to steal a point, then this is something that simply has to improve. Gestede at the ready, perhaps?

Gabby Agbonlahor completed 7 passes in the first half, 2 of them were from the kick off. pic.twitter.com/OWRhrVP9cJ — Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 2, 2015

RESTART! Rudy Gestede has indeed been introduced for Gabby Agbonlahor, so a change of tactics for the Villans in this second half.

Villa with a little more drive in their attacking play early on in this second half. A goal really will change the complexion of this contest, but they must also remain compact to prevent Spurs bagging a decisive third.

Ayew is now playing just off Gestede up top, so it is certainly a change of formation. No Westwood in this second half, either, following his earlier withdrawal. Just one change remaining for MacDonald in his final 45 minutes in charge of the Villans.

Some nice play from Spurs, with Dier very much at the heart of it. The defensive midfielder is not afraid to get forward, with a quick exchange of passes allowing him to get a shot away which is blocked on the edge of the box.

Half a chance for Rose at the back post on the end of Lamela's cross. The wideman slipped as he was trying to put the ball into the box, which meant it was a fraction too high for his teammate who headed over.

A free kick around 35 yards from goal allows Richardson to get a cross into the box but, after a little scramble, it is cleared away by the hosts. The service to Gestede has been lacking so far.

Pochettino will be happy enough with what he is seeing at them moment, as Villa struggle to ask too many questions of his backline. Villa are seeing more of the ball, but are failing to find a way through as we approach the hour mark.

Still yet to see any real action in the final third since the restart, which will clearly suit the Lilywhites more than their opponents. Kane has just won his side a free kick in a decent position, though, with Eriksen the man stood over the ball.

The free kick goes straight into the wall, but Villa's attempt to break is halted by Eriksen who recovers to make a tackle out wide.

Villa just have no momentum at the moment and do not even look remotely like scoring. It is all very bland which is suiting Spurs just fine at the moment. Pochettino must surely be thinking about making some changes now with Anderlecht in mind.

ASTON VILLA SUB! A final roll of the dice for Villa, with Carles Gil coming on for these final 25 minutes or so in place of Grealish. They just need to get a grip on proceedings in order to find a breakthrough.

Dele Alli celebrates scoring Tottenham's second goal of the evening which has left his side in complete control at The Lane

© Getty Images

Clark meets a deep corner but heads well wide in what is pretty much Villa's best opening of the half. Despite their lack of ideas in attack, there is still hope with just the two goals in the game.

YELLOW CARD! Richardson lunges in on Lamela to earn the game's second yellow card. Frustration starting to creep into the full-back's game.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Mason is brought on to add some more drive to the midfield engine room, with opening goalscorer Dembele being given a well-earned rest.

Eriksen stands over the ball around 25 yards out - always a worrying sign for opposition goalkeepers - but his attempt ended a good few metres wide of goal. I am struggling to remember any shot on target this half.

Kane lands awkwardly when going up for a header with Lescott, but after a few moments on the ground he gets back to his feet holding his back. The Englishman should be okay to continue.

SHOT! Finally - some sort of action! Eriksen's loose pass was intercepted by Gil, who fed the ball to Gestede. The Villa striker, better with his head than his feet, saw his subsequent attempt deflect over the bar after Vertonghen jumped in the way of the ball.

Villa have looked better over the past five minutes or so, as Garde continues to look on from the stands. Plenty of work is needed over the coming days ahead of two tough games against Manchester City and Everton over the next fortnight.

SHOT! The tempo of the game is still lacking, but Lamela looks to take advantage when being slipped in down the right. The winger cuts back inside before getting away a tame shot that Guzan easily got behind to collect.

OFF THE POST! Bacuna bends one back off the post from 20 yards out to send a real warning to Spurs. They have barely looked like scoring, but all of a sudden there are just a few nerves around White Hart Lane.

Well how about that! Villa have been so slack this evening when it has come to creating any chances, but just moments after hitting the post through Bacuna they finally make a breakthrough. Ayew was the man to score it, with his shot from 20 yards out deflecting home via Vertonghen's outstretched leg.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Rose is hobbling around, leaving Spurs to defend with 10 men which they successfully manage to do. Davies is on in his place for the final eight minutes.

CLOSE! Wow! A real scare for Spurs, who all of a sudden look incredibly nervous at the back. A long cross-field pass was met by Gestede ahead of Lloris, but the ball hit the side-netting rather than the back of the empty net.

SHOT! Villa are completely dominating things - what a difference one goal can make! Ayew is given space on the edge of the box to get a shot in, which drifts just inches over the bar. Can Spurs hold on for the final six minutes?!

So from two goals down and seemingly completely out of the game just 10 minutes ago, to now just one behind and well in control. Villa had two decent openings to pull level through Gestede and Ayew, but since then Spurs have managed to get a little more of a grip on things.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Dele Alli is withdrawn to be replaced by Josh Onomah - a Tottenham graduate who is on for his first taste of Premier League action.

Spurs have done well to take the sting out of the game since that Villa onslaught. They now have a corner to wrestle back some momentum, with one minute of normal time remaining.

The fourth official has just revealed that we will play a further four minutes at White Hart Lane, so plenty of time for Villa to muster just one final chance.

Spurs have managed the game well over the past four or five minutes, not allowing Villa to really get forward. Onomah has just had a crack from distance with a rather weak attempt.

YELLOW CARD! Alan Hutton is shown yellow on his return to White Hart Lane for a tackle on Ryan Mason.

A superb team goal from Tottenham to get the job done! Eriksen picked out Lamela on the right following a swift counter-attacking move, who in turn squared for Kane with a first-time pass which the Englishman tucked into the top corner.

Job done for Tottenham in the end, but they had a real scare at one stage towards the end. The second half really was poor until 10 minutes from time when Bacuna hit the post, before Ayew fired home a deflected goal for his side to restore some much-needed home.

Gestede then headed narrowly wide, while Ayew also struck one narrowly over moments later as Spurs - comfortable for so long - found themselves hanging on. In the end first-half strikes from Dembele and Alli ultimately proved the difference, though, making this Villa's worst start to a season in their 127-year history.

Well that brings an end to our live text coverage of tonight's Premier League match, but be sure to stick around with player ratings, analysis and plenty of reaction to come over the next few hours.