Tottenham Hotspur suffered a hugely damaging defeat as they were beaten 3-0 at home by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Igor Jesus put the visitors ahead with a header shortly before the half-time interval, before second-half strikes from Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi sealed the three points for the Reds.
Spurs had begun the game on the front foot, but quickly went back into their shell after conceding from a corner for Jesus’ opener.
The Brazilian frontman found himself all alone in the middle of the box, and Danny Murphy has made it clear that the blame lies at Djed Spence’s door.
Tottenham’s latest defeat has left them two points behind Nottingham Forest and just one point clear of the relegation zone, with criticism flowing towards the players once again.
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Danny Murphy staggered by Djed Spence marking
Spence has been a key figure for Tottenham this season, as he has provided a reliable option in both the right-back and left-back positions.
He started on the right against Forest on Sunday, but it was a moment from a dead-ball situation that ultimately saw him found wanting during the first half.
Tottenham saw all their early pressure undone by Jesus’ goal in the 45th minute, and it was Spence who allowed the 25-year-old to walk freely inside the box.
The England international lost sight of his man as Neco Williams delivered the ball into the box, and it left him with the chance to plant an easy header back across goal and into the far corner.
Murphy was keen to dig out the defender for his lapse in concentration on Match of the Day, and he outlined that he was responsible for the moment that changed the course of the game.
“They gave Forest the first goal, and we’ve seen it so many times from Tottenham,” the ex-Liverpool midfielder said during his analysis.
“It’s about small details in games. This is the set play. Djed Spence, do your job. Where is he?
“Jesus is free as a bird, that was when the game changed, that was when their confidence drained.”
Tottenham have already identified Spence upgrade
Tottenham are chasing a move for Maxi Araujo this summer, as they bid to find a player who can act as a more reliable option than Spence has for them this term.
The former Forest man has been criticised by the fanbase for the lack of consistency that he has shown, with many deeming him to be somewhat arrogant in terms of his ability.
They could be about to see him replaced this summer, with the Lilywhites among a number of clubs who are queuing up for the chance to sign the Sporting CP defender ahead of next season.
However, any plans to add new faces of that calibre to the squad will surely depend on Tottenham’s ability to preserve their Premier League status at the end of the campaign.
The blow they received on Sunday was softened a little by West Ham’s defeat away at Aston Villa, but it is still clear that they are firmly in trouble.
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