Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur write an unwanted chapter in Premier League history following West Ham loss
Tottenham Hotspur continue to make history under Ange Postecoglou but not for the right reasons anymore if the loss against West Ham United is anything to go by.
Spurs appeared primed to end their four game winless streak in the Premier League when the returning Cristian Romero put them in the lead in the 11th minute. But the Hammers fought back and turned the game around in the second half when James Ward-Prowse made it 2-1 for the visitors in the 74th minute.
While we did craft enough opportunities, the lack of cutting edge upfront saw several of the go to waste. Postecoglou cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines as Tottenham saw the gap between them and the top four widen to three points.
◉ First side in Premier League history to score first in five successive games and win none of them
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 7, 2023
◉ First side to lose three successive homes matches in the competition having scored first in all three
Dread it. Run from it. The Chiellini prophecy arrives all the same.
While injuries have certainly contributed to us falling off the pace in recent weeks, the players on the field have lacked the nous to see a game out over the 90 minutes. Poor game management certainly played a role is us securing a mere point from the last 15 available.
Numbers don’t lie and Tottenham’s recent run of form certainly paints a dire picture. As confirmed by Opta via X, the North Londoners are the first side in Premier League history to score in five consecutive games and win none of them. Given some of the dire sides we have seen in the top flight in the years gone by, these numbers provide a damning assessment of our ability to bottle an advantage.
When it rains, it pours and Spurs did not just break one unwanted record on the night but three. The loss to West Ham also saw us become the first Premier League side to lose five consecutive games despite going 1-0 up in each match and also lose three consecutive home games after going up 1-0 up in each match.
Given that we were top and unbeaten going into the most recent international break, this downturn in fortunes has been a stark remainder of the challenges that we continue to face. While it would be premature to claim that Postecoglou’s job is under threat, he will need to stem the tide fast. Otherwise, he too could discover that life in football comes at you fast.
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Postecoglou is a man of his word and sticks to his football philosophy come rain and sunshine. While his approach against Chelsea drew him plaudits, it should also call into question if it tapes over what appears to be a lack of an alternative gameplan. Being gung-ho is all well and good but pragmatism and the ability to shift gears and manage the game according to the situation is what separates winners from has-beens.
