Tottenham would have moved to within a point of table-toppers Arsenal if they had beaten Manchester United last night. However, Spurs served up an insipid performance as United ran out deserved 2-0 winners.
It could have been more had it not been for some Hugo Lloris heroics, with the Frenchman making some fine saves as United registered 19 shots in the first half. Spurs had reacted well to being defeated by Arsenal at the start of the month, responding with victories against Brighton and Everton, but the display at Old Trafford was one that raised concerns among the Tottenham fanbase.
Antonio Conte's side have only lost twice in the league this season, but both have been against teams they'll be competing against for a top four spot. In the current Premier League table, the highest-placed team they've beaten is Brighton, who sit in eighth.
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Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has delivered a damning verdict of Spurs, suggesting that they are frequently 'battered' by teams around them. He also believes that Conte's tactics are holding the team back.
"Spurs, for me, are flat-track bullies," Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.
"They got battered by Chelsea and nicked a point, they got battered by Arsenal and they got battered by Manchester United last night. In their next three games they've got Liverpool and Newcastle. This will show what Spurs are about, these two games.
"It's okay beating the teams that Spurs are meant to beat, but they play anyone decent and they get battered.
"The formation restricts them so much. It's negative, for me. It's okay when you're playing the weaker teams and Son [Heung-min] and [Harry] Kane can bail Conte out.
"The tactics were so negative. I felt sorry for Son and Kane. They [always] need to rescue a goal for Conte."
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