Amid so much change, some things remain the same. And there is still nothing quite like a trip to Brentford in the Premier League to bring the lofty expectations of the self-appointed elite crashing back to earth.

Tottenham, having escaped the ignominy of relegation, settled upon a head coach to their liking and spent a couple of hundred million in the transfer market, took a hiding at the hands of the Bees and were flattered by the scoreline.

Roberto De Zerbi saw his team outplayed in every department. Unable to cope with the intensity and physicality in midfield. Unable to handle Brentford’s aerial presence up at the back. Unable to get a hold of the ball and offer any threat in attack

This was as comprehensive as defeats come. Keane Lewis-Potter, Vitaly Janelt and Michael Kayode scored the goals and Igor Thiago missed a penalty as Mamadou Sangare proved the most influential of all the big-money summer signings on display.

Spurs looked as though reluctant to engage in the battle they faced.

The difference in desire might be the most worrying factor of all for De Zerbi. He might add Savinho and Omar Marmoush to the team next week but there is still work to be done on the fundamentals of competing at this level.

Roberto De Zerbi cut a forlorn figure as Tottenham sank to a 3-0 defeat opening-day defeat at Brentford

De Zerbi cut a forlorn figure on the touchline with hands in pockets as the jubilant home crowd taunted him with songs about Thomas Frank, relegation and wasted money.

Brentford, we should note, were excellent. Slick and cohesive. They defied all the predictions after a summer upheaval last year and have basked in a summer of serenity this year, keeping the bulk of the first team together under Keith Andrews and bolstering midfield with Sangare from Lens for a club record £41m.

They scored seven on their final pre-season outing against Eintracht Frankfurt and came out in fluent mood against Spurs, bubbling with the high energy hustle we now expect from the Bees, snapping in midfield and threatening in the air from set pieces.

Sangare created the opening goal, carrying the ball forward, bouncing a one-two off Thiago and cutting the ball square for Lewis-Potter to convert. Lewis-Potter has matured into an excellent left back. His strength is going forward but he has become capable in defence and deceptively strong in the air.

Lewis-Potter had already seen one sweet volley blocked from a corner and Nathan Collins had turned a good chance wide with a near post header. Thiago headed against the bar but there was a flag up for offside.

Home fans were buoyant. Thrilled by the attacking vibrancy of their own team and perhaps enjoying further disorder in the ranks of the visitors on behalf of Frank, their former boss given short shrift by Spurs fans. ‘Going down with the Fulham,’ they crowed.

When the teams met here on New Year’s Day, the 0-0 draw unfolded to the soundtrack of ‘Boring Boring Tottenham’ from the away end. It proved the beginning of the end for Frank, sacked 41 days later with relegation fears taking hold.

James Maddison and his Tottenham team-mates applaud the fans after this bruising defeat

Keane Lewis-Potter put Brentford in just the 12th minute as they made a fast start on Saturday

De Zerbi’s rescue mission lifted spirits at the end of last season and a splurge on new signings fuelled hopes of a better season ahead. The Spurs boss named four debutants to start and they were led out by Archie Gray, who became the club’s youngest captain in a competitive match at 20 years, 163 days.

Vitaly Janelt scored Brentford’s second before the interval. Mathias Jensen showed more desire than Lucas Bergvall to ride a tackle and tested goalkeeper Toni Kinsky with a skidding shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Kinsky made a mess of the save and spilled it into a dangerous area, and Janelt was quickest to the rebound, an all-encompassing defensive shambles with familiar echoes for Spurs.

Going forward, they offered very little in the first half.

Mathys Tel had a tame free kick easily gathered by Caoimhin Kelleher and £100m new boy Sandro Tonali lashed a hopeful shot from distance high into the top tier of the stand behind Kelleher’s goal. ‘What a waste of money,’ sang the home choir.

Brentford’s new £41m signing Mamadou Sangare played a starring role against Tottenham

De Zerbi’s changes focused on his midfield. Mateus Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur came out for the second half but Brentford barely missed a stride and scored a third via a smooth corner routine.

Collins, unmarked in the deep, headed the ball down to Sangare, whose fierce strike from the edge of the penalty box was saved by Kinsky. Michael Kayode pounced to fire the loose ball high into the net.

With similarities to the second goal, Bees were first to the header, first to the knock-down and first to the rebound.

They should have made it 4-0 from the spot when Bentancur was ruled by referee Michael Oliver to have pushed on Kevin Schade. Thiago hit a post having sent Kinsky the wrong way. It was perhaps the only real mistake made by Brentford. Alas, for Spurs there were many.