Their 3-1 loss to Everton at White Hart Lane on Tuesday followed Saturday's 1-0 reverse at promoted Sunderland, leaving Martin Jol's expensively-assembled side propping up the table albeit after just two games of the campaign.

"There are still a lot of chapters to go this season but to have zero points from the first two matches is disappointing," Jol told reporters after Everton's second win of the season.

• EPL points table | Fixtures

"The reality is if you look at the scoreboard and you concede three goals in the first half it's almost impossible against a team like Everton," he added.

"The positive thing was I felt the spirit was good in the dressing room when we went out for the second half and I can't blame them because they did everything.

Tottenham, who welcome second division playoff winners Derby County on Saturday, are desperate to get off the mark after media pundits almost unanimously predicted they could claim a Champions League qualifying place this term.

Spurs, perennial under-achievers since the early 1980s, finished fifth in the last two seasons after Jol finally provided stability and consistency at the club but big things were expected of his promising team this season.

The Dutchman can at least point to a long list of injured defenders including captain Ledley King, new signings Gareth Bale and Younes Kaboul, who limped off after just 18 minutes on Wednesday, and Michael Dawson, who should return on Saturday.

"We've one or two players to come back and we will do better because we've got the quality," said Jol, who must turn things around against Derby before a daunting trip to face champions Manchester United at Old Trafford on Aug. 26.