Tottenham Hotspur must improve quickly in the Champions League - Thomas Frank's side could miss out on reaching the knockouts.
That's the view of ex-Watford skipper Troy Deeney, who was less than impressed by Spurs' opening 1-0 win over Villarreal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Spurs managed to beat Villarreal, but they were far from their best
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Spurs managed to beat Villarreal, but they were far from their best
Frank knows his side must improve if they wish to rack up more wins in the league phase
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Frank knows his side must improve if they wish to rack up more wins in the league phaseCredit: Getty
In Frank's first Champions League game of his career as a manager, Tottenham got the job done on Tuesday night, but it was far from convincing.
A fourth-minute own goal from Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior proved to be the difference in a match where Spurs were well below-par.
And speaking on talkSPORT's live coverage of the match, Deeney highlighted some issues and concerns.
He said: "For Spurs, it just feels like they'll be happy that they've got the job done.
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"But I just think for us as commentators and for people watching this, they'll struggle to get out of the Champions League group phase playing like this.
"They have to raise the level. Maybe there's a nervous energy. Maybe there's a 'Just get the job done for the first night.'
"But Thomas Frank will have to look at this and go, 'Right, yes, we won and we can enjoy it...'
"But I just think they're going to be in a position where every team playing against Spurs will go, 'We can get out of this team.'
"And that's not a good sign going into the Champions League."
Legendary broadcaster Adrian Durham then remarked: "Thomas Frank, I'm hoping he's going to be realistic after this game and give an honest assessment of it.
Micky van de Ven was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off for a last-man challenge
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Micky van de Ven was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off for a last-man challenge
He was soon celebrating following the full-time whistle
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He was soon celebrating following the full-time whistleCredit: Getty
"He'll be relieved they hung on for the win. He'll be relieved they've done that, but he should be admitting they've got to do a whole lot better."
Deeney then added: "I don't think anyone could say this is a vintage Spurs performance.
"They've got a resilience now under Thomas Frank where they will get the job done.
"But again, they'll be looking and I'm looking at the subs saying, did the subs offer us much?
"Brennan Johnson's been poor since he came on, probably [Joao] Palhinha is the only one who can say he come in and steadied the ship.
"The rest have flattered to deceive, again, I say that word, it feels a little bit entitled."
Thomas Partey came on for Villarreal ahead of his court appearance in London on Wednesday
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Thomas Partey came on for Villarreal ahead of his court appearance in London on WednesdayCredit: Getty
Having the final say, Durham then stated: "There was a bit of arrogance maybe out of nowhere that they haven't earned.
"It's the Champions League, they're not Champions League regulars, they've never won it.
"There's no reason why any Spurs player should be feeling arrogance in the first game back in the Champions League for quite a while.
"I personally don't understand it at all, and I think there's been some poor performances all around from Tottenham Hotspur.
"They have to step it up and they should be stepping it up as well.
"And there's a confidence they should get from winning a European trophy, but they've got to do better than this."
Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior was at fault for Spurs' early opener
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Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior was at fault for Spurs' early openerCredit: Getty
What happened in the game?
The only goal of the game came in the fourth minute as Lucas Bergvall ran down the right and delivered a cross into the near post.
It looked simple for Luiz Junior to gather, but he somehow spilled the ball into the back of his own net.
It was a truly terrible piece of goalkeeping, and you thought it might have opened the floodgates.
But for whatever reason, the home side couldn't get going at all.
They only managed to have one shot on target the whole evening, while Villarreal grew into the game, though, the Spanish side also had only one shot on target.
The visitors went close through former Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe a couple of times, while they will feel aggrieved Micky van de Ven wasn't sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Pepe should have got on the score sheet on his return to north London
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Pepe should have got on the score sheet on his return to north LondonCredit: AFP
The Dutchman shoved his man to the floor when he was through on goal, but the referee decided it was only worthy of a booking.
That followed Xavi Simons avoiding a second booking after he swiped Pepe to the floor.
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It was a dangerous tackle to make when on a yellow card, but the attacking player got away with it.
However, it's another clean sheet for Frank, making it four in five games, but more importantly, they got the three points.