Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino: 'It is difficult to explain in words. You have to get on the pitch and be ready to play. There was a lack of concentration and we started to make wrong decisions'

Published: 26 October, 2014
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 1, NEWCASTLE UTD 2

MAURICIO Pochettino accused his players of getting a bad dose of the yips as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at home to struggling Newcastle today (Sunday).

His side had gone in at half-time a goal up and cruising but a stunning equaliser after just eight second half seconds saw a seemingly straightforward home win turned on its head.

Speaking after the game, Pochettino said: “The goal was a shock and everything changed. It wasn't an error caused by something physical, or tactical, so it is about our mentality.  

“It is difficult to explain in words. You have to get on the pitch and be ready to play. There was a lack of concentration and we started to make wrong decisions.”

He said the first half was one of the finest he has seen during his brief tenure – making the defeat even harder to take. He said: “We have to be stronger as a team. We know how to improve this side of the game but it does take time to get it right.”

It looked at first as if Spurs would win comfortably. On 19, Erik Lamela strode forward and his pass to Emmanuel Adebayor found Nacer Chadli. His shot was blocked, but when the rebound fell to young midfielder Ryan Mason he was composed enough to delicately curl a cross over. Adebayor headed home from close range.  

Newcastle failed to drum up a response, allowing Tottenham to continue to press. Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul was forced into firefighting as his back four were regularly breached.  

But despite a dominant first half, and some flowing football in midfield, there was no killer touch to make the points safe – and it was to prove hugely costly in a second half that bore absolutely no resemblance to the opening 45.  

Within 10 seconds of the restart, Newcastle substitute Sammy Ameobi raced on to a hopeful punt forward, ran past Eric Dier and fired home across Hugo Lloris.

It got worse on 58. Spurs failed to deal with a run down their left by Moussa Sissoko and his simple cross was met by Ayoze Perez to give the visitors the lead.  

Worryingly, the second goal conceded still did not get the home side motoring. Newcastle were happy to play keep-ball and no one in white seemed capable of offering a riposte. Substitutes Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado came on but it felt more in hope than a switch with a definite tactical plan. Kane created a half-chance late on when he drove a low cross in that just needed a toe to poke it home, while Soldado hit a volley over, but Krul was never truly bothered.  

SPURS: Lloris, Rose, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Adebayor (Soldado, 82), Lamela (Lennon, 77), Dier, Chadli, Eriksen, Capoue (Kane, 66), Mason.
Subs: Vorm, Chiriches, Lennon, Soldado, Kane, Dembele, Davis.
Attendance: 35,650

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

1. The quicker right-back Kyle Walker returns from injury, the better. Eric Dier is a great prospect, but he should be eased into the side as a centre-back, where his future genuinely lies. He got caught out by sucker-punch football for the equaliser.

2. Despite scoring, Adebayor had one of those games where things just didn't work for him. With Kane hitting a hat-trick on Thursday and Soldado giving a good account at City last week, it would have been nice to see Poch go two up front with 30 minutes remaining, not five.

3.The side is set up too narrow, with Rose the only player getting into crossing positions.

4. Losing at home to West Brom and Newcastle before October suggests a good season would see Spurs finish in the top six or seven. Anything higher is wishful thinking on today's form.

5. Too often today the creative players didn't earn the right to do their stuff. Too many 50-50s weren't properly contested. Newcastle sensed that.