The China Mail - Frank unable to explain Spurs' miserable home record

Frank's side took the lead through Rodrigo Bentancur in the fifth minute in north London.

But once again they failed to build on a strong start as Morgan Rogers struck with a superb strike for his first goal in 20 matches to haul Villa level before half-time.

Villa substitute Emiliano Buendia curled into the far corner in the 77th minute to leave Tottenham with 11 defeats and only three wins from their last 18 Premier League games on home turf.

Frank, hired from Brentford in the close-season, has overseen two defeats in his first four league fixtures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, adding to the club's dismal record there under his predecessor Ange Postecoglou last term.

Asked if he could explain that poor form, Frank said: "I hope I can! Maybe it is not that simple.

"This is a game that is a draw. A clear draw and we could have easily won it instead of Villa and then it is a different narrative.

"So, I look at the performance on the pitch, we did well and I'll look at the bits we need to improve."

Frank lost captain Cristian Romero in the pre-match warm-up to adductor issue and Mathys Tel finished with his knee wrapped in a heavy bandage as the pair joined Tottenham's long injury list.

Villa's fifth consecutive victory ended Tottenham's seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

But Frank refused to condemn his players after their latest flop in front of their own fans.

"I think we performed quite well. Maybe not through the roof," the Dane said.

"We gave away what eight shots? Not even a cross more or less. Very, very low XG (expected goals) and (Guglielmo) Vicario didn't have a save.

"If you said to me before the game 'they will shoot from there, Rogers and Buendia', from that situation, I would say, 'of course, it's not dangerous', but fantastic quality shot from Rogers.

"In those very little moments, they had more quality in the end."

C.Smith--ThChM