Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou described his side\u2019s 2-1 home loss to Nottingham Forest as \u201cunacceptable,\u201d expressing deep frustration after Spurs slumped to their 18th Premier League defeat of the season\u2014a campaign that is now threatening to become their worst since 1997-98 in terms of points accrued.<\/p>\n
Nottingham Forest stunned the home crowd by racing to a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes, with Elliot Anderson opening the scoring after five minutes and Chris Wood heading in a second shortly after.<\/p>\n
Spurs dominated possession and chances, registering 22 shots to Forest\u2019s four, but struggled to break through until Richarlison\u2019s late header from Pedro Porro\u2019s cross in the 87th minute gave them hope. Despite a late rally, Tottenham could not find an equalizer, and Forest held on for a victory that boosted their Champions League qualification hopes.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou was visibly disappointed post-match, stating: \u201cIt\u2019s frustration, disappointment, it\u2019s another game we should never lose. I\u2019m disappointed in the manner in which we conceded the goals, gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but I\u2019m frustrated because our football was outstanding. Even with the goals we conceded I felt we still deserved to win the game, but it\u2019s happened too often this year where we\u2019ve been our own worst enemy in certain aspects, and it\u2019s another loss\u201d.<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the team\u2019s recurring issues stem from lapses in concentration and giving away poor goals, despite often dominating games: \u201cIt\u2019s another game we have lost where we shouldn\u2019t lose and it\u2019s been a big part of our season in that we are just making things really difficult for ourselves in key moments\u2026 It\u2019s a shame because our football was outstanding and we totally dominated the game. Even with the two goals we conceded I still feel like we deserved to win the game. At the same time, it\u2019s another loss and another unacceptable loss\u201d.<\/p>\n
Tottenham now sit 16th in the table with 37 points, only two places above the relegation zone, and only the bottom three clubs have lost more games this season. The home crowd voiced their displeasure with boos at halftime, though the mood softened after a spirited finish. Postecoglou accepted responsibility, acknowledging the fans\u2019 disappointment and reiterating that the club has fallen short of its standards.<\/p>\n
Despite the domestic struggles, Spurs\u2019 recent Europa League semifinal qualification offers a glimmer of hope, with Postecoglou still aiming to deliver on his record of winning a trophy in his second season at a club. However, with a daunting fixture list ahead\u2014including a trip to title-chasing Liverpool\u2014the pressure continues to mount on the Australian manager and his squad.<\/p>\n
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