Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou pointed the finger at his team after they twice blew a lead to draw 2-2 with Roma in the Europa League. Spurs looked vulnerable at the back throughout the match as they gifted their opponents a whole host of chances.
Son Heung-min gave the home side the lead in the fifth minute after dispatching a penalty, before Evan Ndicka drew Roma level midway through the opening period.
Brennan Johnson nudged his side ahead for the second time just after the half hour mark, with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity.
And after having three goals disallowed in the match, Roma claimed a deserved point as Mats Hummels turned the ball in from close range in stoppage time at the end of the match.
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“Like you said, it’s frustrating, particularly when they score so late,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports after the match.
“Good game, we probably should have put it to bed a lot earlier and we missed some big chances. At 2-1 you’re always keeping them in the game, so it’s disappointing not to see it out.
“Just a little bit of composure [was lacking]. We hit the post three times and had a couple cleared off the line, it was that kind of game. If we got the third, the game was done and dusted, but we kept them in it.”
“No [I wasn’t surprised by Roma], they’re a good side, there is a reason they’re in the Europa League.
"They obviously did well last year, obviously they’ve had a bit of a tough time this year but they’ve got some quality players. But as I said we still had enough chances to win the game.”
When quizzed about goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who is set for an extended period in the team after first-choice shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario suffered a broken ankle against Manchester City at the weekend, he said: “Fraser did well, we expect that from him. He’s a very experienced goalkeeper and he did his part.”
And when asked to assess the performances of goalscorers Son and Johnson, he added: “They were okay. Like I say, we created a lot of chances and we really should have been a bit more clinical and then we would have won the game."
The result leaves Tottenham ninth in the Europa League table, with the side winning three of their opening five matches.
The Lilywhites travel to Rangers in a fortnight ahead of a trip to Hoffenheim in January. They end the league stage of the competition with a home match against Elfsborg, with the top eight teams automatically progressing to the knockout stages.
