Ange Postecoglou said his Spurs side were ‘outstanding’ despite losing 2-1 at home to Aston Villa.
Spurs fell out of the Premier League’s top four after losing for the third consecutive game, becoming just the fifth team in the division’s history to lose three straight games after leading on each occasion.
Giovani Lo Celso’s deflected effort had handed the injury-hit north Londoners the advantage, but goals from Pau Torres and Ollie Watkins earned Villa a win that moves the visitors above Spurs and into the Champions League places.
Spurs were frustrated in their efforts to win the game with Son Heung-min having three goals disallowed for offside, and Postecoglou was pleased with the overall performance from his side despite a ‘tough outcome’.
Spurs have eight first-team players out injured at present, while both Yves Bissouma and Cristian Romero missed the clash through suspension.
“A tough outcome but I couldn’t be happier with the way the boys played,” Postecoglou said to Sky Sports at full-time.
“I’m really proud of them, I thought we played some fantastic football and on another day we would’ve won comfortably. I can’t fault the effort they put into the game.
“There’s no frustration. We played well and as a manager that’s all you can ask for. Sometimes the outcomes don’t go the way you want but as a manager I want the players committed to what we are trying to do and they were all totally committed.
“On another day we would’ve had a few goals but it was a combination of outstanding goalkeeping and woodwork. From my perspective all I can ask is what they gave. The players played an outstanding game of football and as a manager that’s all we can ask for.”
