Spurs slumped to a fourth straight Premier League loss as strugglers Leicester fought back from a goal down to claim their first win in nine games at a mutinous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The home fans aimed chants of ‘we want Levy out’ at watching chairman Daniel Levy as Ange Postecoglou’s injury-hit side conceded twice in four minutes straight after half-time. They then booed at the final whistle as Spurs’ dismal season hit a new low.
The hosts had led courtesy of Richarlison’s first-half header from Pedro Porro’s cross but Jamie Vardy levelled from Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s low cross only 57 seconds after the break.
The hosts were stunned by the equaliser and conceded what turned out to be the decisive goal when they backed off and allowed Bilal El Khannouss to find the bottom corner from outside the box.
Jamie O’Hara reacts to Tottenham’s ‘pathetic’ defending for the second Leicester goal
Spurs came into the game having enjoyed some respite from their wretched Premier League form with a Europa League win at Hoffenheim but it came at a cost, with James Maddison joining their double-figure injury list due to “soreness” from that game.
Richarlison’s goal put them in command at half-time but Leicester exposed their defensive vulnerability ruthlessly, with Vardy and El Khannouss turning the game on its head in front of the delirious travelling fans, whose celebrations contrasted with the discontent of the home supporters.
Spurs tried to rally, with Porro’s deflected free-kick striking the crossbar, but they lacked ideas otherwise in the latter stages, with Heung-Min Son having twice been denied by Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk in the first half.
The defeat extends their winless run to seven Premier League games, deepening the sense of crisis at the club and keeping them in 15th place in the table. Leicester, meanwhile, climb out of the relegation zone into 17th.
Levy was the main target for the home fans’ ire but there were also boos for Postecoglou’s decision to withdraw goalscorer Richarlison, although the Spurs boss later explained the forward was “feeling his groin” having only recently returned from injury.
Ange: Defeat hurts but players are giving everything
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou said: “It hurts a lot because the players gave everything again.
“We can look at a lot of things, but in terms of effort, I can’t ask any more of this group. They’re just giving everything they possibly can.
“Things didn’t go our way today. We’ve created some good opportunities but unfortunately, things didn’t drop for us.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou insists his players are giving everything
“It’s a very disappointing defeat, especially at home. But not because the players weren’t trying, and that’s the main thing.
“The players are giving everything they can, and I think that’s all we can ask for as a football club and me as a manager.
“If there was more to give, if they could find another way of doing things, then OK. But they’re trying their hardest and that’s all anyone can ask for.”
Spurs’ woes in stats
- Spurs lost their 13th Premier League game of the season. Only Leicester, Wolves and Southampton have lost more.
- Spurs have failed to win any of their last seven Premier League games (D1 L6), their longest winless run in the top-flight since a nine-match stint between May and October 2008.
- Spurs have now dropped 21 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, the most by any side in the division.
