Hello, and welcome to our second liveblog of the day. Here are the teams:

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Herd, Clark, Baker, Bennett, Westwood, El Ahmadi, Delph, Holman, Benteke. Subs: Given, Ireland, Albrighton, Bowery, Bannan, Lichaj, Carruthers.

Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Naughton, Lennon, Dembele, Sandro, Bale, Defoe, Adebayor. Subs: Friedel, Parker, Dawson, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Townsend, Caulker.

We’re underway…

Tottenham are pressing early on, with Bale’s dangerous cross cleared for a corner by Clark.

Villa unsurprisingly seem to be playing with a degree of apprehension, given what happened in that Chelsea game on Sunday.

Tottenham win a free kick on the edge of the area, but Bale hits it meekly straight at the wall.

Walker’s subsequent corner is dismally overhit, and goes out for a throw-in.

Excellent attempt from Gareth Bale.

The Welshman’s shot from just outside the box is acrobatically tipped over the bar by the diving Guzan.

Not too much to report on in the relatively incident-free last few minutes.

Gareth Bale is Tottenham’s main threat at the moment, and if the visitors do score, it would be no surprise if he were to play an integral role in the goal.

Herd clears nervously away, after Westwood give it straight to Aaron Lennon, who then crosses it into the box.

Shortly thereafter, Adebayor plays through Defoe, whose shot when through on goal is parried away by Guzan.

Tottenham have struggled to break down teams who sit back against them of late.

Clearly, their opponents are aware of the pace they possess and thus, they’re reluctant to press up against AVB’s side.

Walker is currently down receiving treatment for a challenge that the referee ironically adjudged to be a dive.

This game could do with a bit more urgency in the play.

Excellent play from Bale yet again.

He plays a one-two down the left with Naughton, before crossing to Adebayor, whose shot is blocked by a Villa defender.

Villa subsequently break, with Lowton crossing to Holman, whose sliding finish goes just over the bar.

Five minutes remain until half-time.

Hard to say which of the two managers will be more satisfied right now.

Tottenham have dominated the play without creating many clear-cut chances, while Villa have offered little in attack, but have at least looked solid at the back, in stark contrast with the Chelsea game.

Interesting how despite having one of the best attacks in the Premier League, Spurs have now only scored two goals in three and a half matches.

Meanwhile, Stephen Ireland has entered the action, with Nathan Baker going off injured for Villa.

HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 0-0 TOTTENHAM

So half-time, and it hasn’t been the best game to watch so far.

Aside from the occasional bit of magic from Gareth Bale on the wing, Spurs appear to lack creativity in the final third.

And the one big chance they’ve had in the first half was wasted, owing to a disappointing finish from Jermain Defoe.

Villa, meanwhile, have been fairly unambitious, particularly for a home side.

However, they are justifiably wary of Tottenham on the break, and will be relieved to have at least regained their defensive solidity following the Chelsea debacle.

The second half is underway.

Albrighton has replaced Westwood for Villa.

Walker’s deflected pass sends Defoe through on goal.

However, a well-timed Herd tackle prevents the England striker from getting a shot in.

There’s not really enough urgency in the Spurs attack at the moment.

Aaron Lennon allowing the ball to go for a throw-in rather than taking it on epitomises the hesitancy affecting the visitors.

Good play from Stephen Ireland, who plays through Benteke, and the Belgian player’s finish is well saved by Lloris.

The incident is subsequently adjudged to be offside, but it’s livened the crowd nonetheless.

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa: An excellent through ball from Naughton finds Defoe, who slots calmly through the goalkeeper’s legs (57 mins).

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

Tottenham 2-0 Aston Villa: Spurs’ initial goal means Villa have t0 push bodies forward.

A subsequent Villa attack breaks down, and a loose ball breaks to Gareth Bale, who sprint through on goal, rounds the keeper and slots the ball into the empty net, giving Tottenham a seemingly insurmountable lead (60 mins).

Scott Parker is coming on to replace Dembele, who looks injured as he walks off gingerly.

It’s hard to see Villa getting back into this game as it stands.

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

Tottenham 3-0 Aston Villa: Gareth Bale, who has probably been the best player on the pitch today, finds himself in acres of space inside the box, and hammers it into the corner of the net (72 mins).

Game over now in effect, and it’s a comprehensive and well-deserved victory for Spurs.

GOAL FOR TOTTENHAM!

Tottenham 4-0 Aston Villa: Good ball from Walker who finds Sigurdsson, and the Icelandic international cuts it back for Gareth Bale, who smashes it home for his hat-trick (83 mins).

It’s the Welshman’s last act of the game, as he’s taken off straight after.

Quick poll before the game finishes.

Would Gareth Bale start regularly for Real Madrid or Barcelona?

So it’s all over and a Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham earn what was ultimately a comfortable victory.

The first goal was key, as from then on, Tottenham could exploit the space in behind, as Villa were forced to go forward in search of a goal.

The final scoreline consequently reflected the difference in quality between the two sides.

And following their fantastic win over Liverpool, Paul Lambert must be wondering where it’s all gone wrong for Villa.

That’s all from me.

Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting.