Tottenham: Postecoglou insists players do not lack motivation as loss put down to lack of focus | OneFootball

Spurs are in danger of recording a worst-ever Premier League season

Postecoglou is facing a dismal season result

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Ange Postecoglou insisted that Tottenham do not lack motivation in the Premier League after they slumped to an 18th defeat of the season at home to Nottingham Forest.

Elliot Anderson broke the deadlock with a deflected strike after five minutes and Chris Wood doubled Forest's lead when he beat Guglielmo Vicario in the air, minutes after he had seen a goal disallowed for a tight offside.

Postecoglou’s side need eight more points from five games to beat their lowest-ever Premier League points total of 44 in 1997-98.

Asked if avoiding that low was a motivation for his players, Postecoglou said: "I don't know what that means.

"I don't think you saw a team that wasn't motivated.

"It's not like we lost because players chucked it in. If that's what people saw then they're watching something different to me. I don't think they lacked motivation today because I thought our football was outstanding.

"But again, we've paid the price for lacking focus and concentration in key moments, and it's another game we've let slip. So I don't think motivation is an issue.

"It shouldn't be [down to leadership] because it's happened to us a few times this year," he added.

"We should have learned from these things, but it's a constant in our make-up at the moment and it's something we need to eradicate. At different times this year we've shown really good focus and concentration, Frankfurt being a classic case of that.

"But tonight, just at the start, we didn't really sense the only threat that Forest were going to have was the counter-attack, which we handled really well in the second half, and set pieces. We let in two poor goals.

"It’s another game we have lost where we shouldn’t lose and it’s been a big part of our season in that we are just making things really difficult for ourselves in key moments, just a little bit of concentration. Giving away poor goals.

"It’s 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’s another loss and another unacceptable loss.”

Asked if he had a message for supporters, Postecoglou replied: "I don’t need to say anything to the fans.

"The fans are disappointed and angry, and we are as well. It’s too many losses. I know that. I don’t need to tell the fans anything.

"The fans clearly wouldn’t be happy with our results, but neither am I or the players.

"From our perspective, we need to accept responsibility that we have fallen short of the standards we need to have.

"The frustrating bit is it’s not because of the way we are playing, because our football today was very similar to the Frankfurt game at home, which was another game we should have won."