Tottenham Faces Challenges After Defeat to Newcastle

On Saturday, Callum Wilson’s late winner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium led to a disheartening defeat for Tottenham, marking their home record in the Premier League as played 11, lost six, and won only two. As a result, manager Frank finds himself in a precarious position regarding his future, yet the north London club has decided to retain him for the time being. Currently, Tottenham sits 14th in the league and has not secured a victory in their last four matches. The discontent among Spurs fans was palpable, highlighted by boos at the final whistle.

In response to the criticism, Frank remarked, “It’s not a nice feeling, but I understand the frustration. Losing to a major London rival is particularly tough. We put in significant effort to secure a home win, and I hope the fans can appreciate the hard work the players are putting in. We committed ourselves in the second half.”

On Monday, Tottenham announced that defender Ben Davies would undergo surgery for a left ankle fracture incurred during the match against West Ham. The duration of his absence remains uncertain, but the club has expressed wishes for his swift recovery.

Following the departure of Ange Postecoglou, who led the team to Europa League success last May, Tottenham appointed Frank for a more pragmatic approach. However, the club finds itself in a similar predicament to last season under Postecoglou, experiencing a lackluster performance characterized by ineffective tactics. Despite these challenges, Frank believes he has the support of the club’s board.

He stated on Saturday, “I feel the backing from everyone; we all share the same goal of achieving long-term success. We are making significant progress behind the scenes, but we must translate that into results, which are crucial.”

Frank acknowledged the inadequacies displayed in the loss to West Ham, particularly the team’s struggles with set-piece defense, which he described as subpar compared to their usual standards.

“It feels reminiscent of previous matches, like the Bournemouth game where we performed well in the second half, equalized, and then let defeat slip away in the final moments. We began strong, but after going down 1-0, we rushed our plays and lost possession too easily. Halftime provided a reset, and although we equalized and created chances, conceding late is incredibly disappointing. If winning is out of reach, securing a draw is essential.

“Defending set pieces was probably our worst performance this season; we were not as physically present as West Ham. Improvement is necessary, and we must compete more effectively.”

Tottenham will have a chance to rebound quickly from this setback when they host Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, followed by a crucial Premier League match against struggling Burnley. Failing to secure victories in these fixtures may jeopardize Frank’s position in the coming week.