Eric Dier has claimed that Tottenham “can do so much better” after conceding three “sloppy” second-half goals against Chelsea.
Impressing in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took the game to the Blues, the visitors turned the game around after the break following the introduction of N’Golo Kante.
Falling two goals behind 12 minutes into the second half after quickfire strikes from Thiago Silva and Kante, the Champions League holders wrapped up the win late on with Antonio Rudiger finding the bottom corner.
Certainly a classic game of two halves, Dier has admitted that it became very difficult for the Lilywhites after Kante’s shot deflected off him and went in via the post just before the hour mark.
“It really was a game of two halves. We played very well in the first half and we have to focus on that, take the positives from that and build on it,” explained the centre-back.
“Second half, they were the better team. We conceded the first goal very early in the second half and then lacked a bit of control to stay in the game and not concede the second.
“[We needed to] try to build and get back to the way were playing. But we conceded again and it became very difficult.
“We lacked that [control] a little bit but they were sloppy goals, all three of them. We can do so much better.”
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Dier also believes that Spurs needed to be a bit smarter in the aftermath of conceding the first goal in order to give themselves a chance of getting back into the game.
“Just to concede two goals back to back so quickly is difficult,” he added. “We just need to have more… just to be a bit smarter in that moment when we conceded the first. Maybe come together a bit more, stay in the game for five minutes and try to get back on the front foot.
“We were a little erratic in that moment. We conceded chances and we were very unfortunate with the second goal. We saw almost an identical one in the Man United game earlier and there’s nothing you can do about it. Hugo had no chance.
“We tried after that to get back in the game after the second goal and the third goal was…yeah.”
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Without Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura for the game through injury, Espirito Santo had limited options on the bench to try and help Spurs turn things around.
Despite falling to back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, Dier still believes the team are heading in the right direction and it’s now about finding consistency after a positive first half.
“I think the important thing is that we were under no illusions after the first three games that we had a lot to work on. And we’re the same now,” said the experienced player.
“We didn’t get too carried away with those results and we shouldn’t get too down now with these last two results.
“We know we have a lot to work on but I think we’re going in the right direction. There was a great 45 minutes and now we need to find the consistency where we can do that for 90.”