Tuesday 9 December 2014 12:37, UK
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says tiredness was partly to blame for his side’s lacklustre display in their goalless draw with Crystal Palace.
Playing their third game in six days, Spurs were largely second best against Palace and perhaps fortunate to hold on for a draw. Jason Puncheon struck the bar for the visitors and Hugo Lloris had to save from both Scott Dann and Yannick Bolasie.
Roberto Soldado wasted Spurs’ best chances but for most of the match they seemed to lack the same spark they had against Everton last weekend.
“It is difficult, it is the third game in six days,” Pochettino told Sky Sports. “We played Sunday, then Chelsea on Wednesday, so we had one day less to recover [than Palace]. Maybe we had a lack of freshness and it didn’t make it easy.
“We put in a good effort, but against Palace, who did a good job, it was a difficult and we need to look ahead now.”
While this was Spurs’ first draw in 18 Premier League matches at White Hart Lane, they have now only won three of eight home league games this season.
They were also indebted to Lloris for preventing a fifth home defeat as he made a couple of crucial saves.
“It wasn’t easy for us,” said Pochettino. “Hugo made one or two saves and they played well. We know that Palace are a very tough team, very physical. It wasn’t a good game for us, it was difficult.”
Asked whether he understood the frustration of fans who booed at the final whistle, Pochettino said: “Yes I do and we are frustrated too. We wanted to win the game but it was difficult and we need to look ahead now.”
