The former England manager’s death was announced less than two hours before kick-off, and a minute’s applause was held to pay tribute to a man who won the FA Cup with Spurs in 1967 as as a player and as a coach in 1991.
Giovani lo Celso’s deviated opener appeared to have put the first-season leaders back on track after an unbeaten start before the international break ended with two consecutive defeats.
But Pau Torres equalized with a deep header in first-half injury time before Ollie Watkins scored his 12th goal of the season to seal Villa’s turnaround.
Spurs tried to equalize but couldn’t prevent a third straight defeat – and they took the lead in each of those games.
Tottenham were top of the Premier League table after their first 10 games but are now behind Villa after victory in north London lifted Unai Emery’s side above them into fourth place.
Venables’ death was announced as the first supporters arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and images of him appeared on television screens in the concourses and on the stadium’s big screen.
Spurs have won just two major titles since Venables led them to the FA Cup in 1991, but a positive start to Ange Postecoglou’s reign has raised hopes of ending a 15-year trophy drought.
An innovative and attack-minded manager, Venables would no doubt have been impressed by Spurs’ courageous play under Postecoglou and, despite defeats in the last two games, that philosophy continued against Villa.
The Australian made four changes to his team, some of which were forced, and one of the players introduced into the team scored the opening goal after a lively start.
The Australian made four changes to his side, some of them enforced, and one of the players to come into the side opened the scoring after a lively start.
Lo Celso hit a fierce effort from the edge of the box from a Pedro Porro corner and its slight deflection off Diego Carlos wrong-footed Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
It was the Argentina midfielder’s first goal for Spurs since September 2021 – having since had two spells on loan at Villarreal – and only his second in the Premier League.
Destiny Udogie had earlier fired over while Dejan Kulusevski struck a post and Son Heung-min turned Brennan Johnson’s square ball over the bar.
After Lo Celso’s opener, Kulusevski curled a shot narrowly wide and Son had three goals disallowed for offside.
Then, as Spurs pressed forward late on, Ben Davies headed narrowly over and Brennan Johnson was denied by Martinez, but Postecoglou was still encouraged by his depleted side’s performance.
“I thought some of our football was as good as it’s been since I got here,” he said. “I’m disappointed we weren’t able to enjoy the rewards of what I think our efforts deserved.
“All you can ask for as a manager is that the guys who are out there play with the same intent, and as the team we want to be, and they did it all today.”
