Aston Villa’s dismal away record - now 17 games without a First Division victory — was easy to understand as they shambled to a 5-2 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday.

Spurs’ triumph proved to be their first League victory at White Hart Lane since November 29 last year.

It was also their biggest win of the season.

But in a strange game of tactical blunders, the brilliant Pat Jennings once again propped up Spurs when they could easily have finished the game sharing a 5-5 draw.

Spurs were already 5-2 up when the Northern Ireland international pulled off outstanding saves to foil Ray Graydon and Brian Little.

He had already broken Villa’s heart with a world class save in the first half - a brilliant one-handed tip away to foil a powerful Andy Gray header.

Villa’s defence never got to grips with the direct running of Ralph Coates, or the intelligent positioning of John Duncan.

Central defenders Chris Nicholl and lan Ross were pulled all over the park and that left John Gidman and John Robson too many gaps to plug.

The cumbersome Willie Young and the inexperienced Keith Osgood were equally unimpressive at the heart of the Londoners defence.

Even manager Terry Neill slammed his players after that match when he said: “The score line looks convincing. but tactically it was rubbish. We could have had countless goals so could Villa.”

Brian Little must be wondering how he missed two good chances before the interval.

On both occasions he found himself with time and room in the box some indication of Spurs sloppy marking but each time Little fiddled when he should have shot and lost the advantage.

Spurs opened their account in the 23rd minute when a cross by Coates was deflected into the net by Nicholl.

Villa hit back six minutes later with a goal by Graydon after a low hard cross by Little.

But Spurs added two more before half time through Steve Perryman and Duncan.

Although Villa pulled a goal back through Gray in the 51st minute, Spurs wrapped up the game with two goals in six minutes.

First Don McAllister headed past John Burridge from close range in the 64th minute and then substitute Martin Robinson tucked away a cross by Coates.