Mauricio Pochettino: 'I am not concerned. We can improve. That is just our second defeat in 16'

Published: 13 December, 2015
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 1, NEWCASTLE UTD 2

SPURS crashed to an injury-time winner at home to Newcastle this afternoon (Sunday) and blew their chance of leap-frogging Manchester United to go into the Christmas period in fourth spot.

It was only Tottenham's second defeat of the season, and with Newcastle struggling, head coach Mauricio Pochettino afterwards admitted his side were disappointed.

“This was a game to win, but the Premier League is a difficult league,” he said.

He dismissed the idea his players were tiring after the long unbeaten spell and a Thursday night Europa League tie.

“I do not think this is about our energy levels,” said Pochettino, having made seven changes from the 4-1 win against Moncao three days ago.

“After a good first half, we lost control and made easy mistakes. Instead of taking one touch, we took three, and when we should have gone forward, we dropped back.”

He said that he felt Spurs had dominated for long periods but failed to find the killer second.

“At 1-0, you give your opponent that possibility to come back,” he added. “But I am not concerned. We can improve. That is just our second defeat in 16.”

As Pochettino said, at first it looked like the fine form would continue with a straightforward win. Spurs started well, with Tom Carroll and Christian Eriksen knitting together passes. They got into Newcastle's danger zones in the opening 15 minutes with Harry Kane and Eric Dier getting shots off.

The opener came on 38. Spurs had gone close twice through Erik Lamela, and his second effort, a stabbed shot, was tipped over by Toon goalie Rob Elliot. From the resulting corner Dier leapt highest at the near post. His well-directed header flew in. 

At the end of the half, Danny Rose was in a great position to make it two after seizing on a deflected Eriksen shot, but instead drove the ball across the face of the six-yard box.

But with just a goal in it, Spurs were never completely safe. They found the going uneven in the second 45, and were unable to get into their stride as Newcastle defended deep. There were too many misplaced passes when it mattered and, with Newcastle skipper Fabricio Coloccini marshalling his side well, the cushion of a second never came.

Newcastle found a way back on 73 when a deep cross was headed goalwards by Coloccini and Aleksandar Mitrovic was on hand to turn it home via a scramble on the line involving Dier and Lloris.

Spurs did not have the oomph to respond, and it was hardly a surprise when in stoppage time a hopeful ball forward was nodded into the path of Newcastle substitute Ayoze Perez. His effort from a tight angle flew past Lloris.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Kane, Lamela (Chadli, 85) Dier, Alli, Eriksen, Carroll (Son, 62).

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

SO the unbeaten run of 14 games is over, and Spurs fluffed a golden chance to get into the top four. Poch cannot use the Thursday night Europa League game as an excuse, either – he made a number of changes. However, the players looked fairly leggy. With Mousa Dembele, Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli and Heung-Min Son all ready to return, Poch must be brave and use the squad wisely over the coming month.

It was a bold move to play Tom Carroll in place of the injured Dembele. The other option Poch had was to drop Alli back and stick Son forward, but instead Hertfordshire-born Carroll made his first ever Premiership start for Spurs. It has been a long time coming – he has made 31 appearances in total as a sub or in cup matches since 2011 – and we got what we are used to with Carroll. He showed a good range of passes – one that got Rose into the box in the first half was particularly fine – but he didn't give us that scruff-of-the-neck attitude you get from Dembele.