Irish Examiner

Ange Postecoglou has been under pressure after a poor run of results, with only one win in their previous six games, and this latest defeat will hurt all the more considering Tottenham were 2-0 ahead inside the first 11 minutes.

But Chelsea showed why they must be taken seriously as title contenders with an outstanding display second-half display. After Jadon Sancho reduced the arrears before half-time, Cole Palmer scored twice from the penalty spot and Enzo Fernandes volleyed home to complete a remarkable turnaround that enabled Chelsea to move clear in second place, two points ahead of Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca has surprised most neutrals - and even some Chelsea supporters - by taking over an expensive but underperforming squad and moulding them into a serious unit. They have lost only twice in the league - to Manchester City and Liverpool - and this was their fifth consecutive victory.

Yet it had started so well for Spurs, who desperately need a break.

The team sheet showed a surprise with the return for injury of Tottenham’s first-choice centre-back pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. It was something of a gamble, perhaps a sign of the pressure Ange Postecoglou has been feeling, and it backfired to some extent when Romero limped off in the 15th minute.

The second time Cucurella slipped, six minutes later, Johnson again pounced to feed Dejan Kulusevski, who dribbled across the edge of the Chelsea penalty area before hitting a low shot through a crowd of legs inside Robert Sanchez’s near post.

Cucurella immediately changed his footwear and was more settled thereafter. Sanchez was also having a nightmare, regularly giving away possession, and it looked like Tottenham might go on to make hay.

But Jadon Sancho gave Chelsea hope with a fine strike in the 18th minute, cutting in from the left before unleashing a low shot that rebounded in off the far post.

Chances came and went at both ends. Heung Min Son curled a shot just over the angle of bar and far post, then crossed for Pape Matar Sarr to head on to the crossbar.

Fraser Forster, in the Tottenham goal, made a fine save from Cole Palmer and then blocked Pedro Neto’s follow-up shot with an outstretched leg.

But the keeper had little chance when Palmer equalised from the penalty spot after Yves Bissouma brought down Moises Caicedo on the hour mark.

From that point on, Chelsea looked the most likely side to score and so it proved 12 minutes later when Enzo Fernandes volleyed home from 15 yards to put them ahead for the first time.

It was all over soon afterwards when Palmer scored his second penalty of the game, having been barged over by Sarr. The England midfielder is known for his cool temperament, and he was ice-cold as he cheekily chipped the ball over a diving Forster.

Spurs substitute Archie Gray pulled one goal back for Spurs deep in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late to prevent another momentous win for the Blues.

TOTTENHAM 4-3-3: Forster 7; Porro 6, Romero 6 (Dragusin 15), Van de Ven 7 (Gray 79); Udogie 6; Sarr 6, Bissouma 6 (Bergvall 79), Kulusevski 7 (Maddison 79); Johnson 7 (Werner 53) Solanke 7, Son 6

CHELSEA 4:3:3 Sanchez 5; Caicedo 6, Badiashile 6, Colwill 6, Cucurella 5; Palmer, 9 Lavia 7 (Gusto 46), Fernandez 8; Neto 7, Jackson 6 (Nkunku 76), Sancho 7.

Referee: Anthony Taylor 8/10

Tottenham brought in three teenagers alongside £65million forward Dominic Solanke in Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert, with another in 18-year-old Yang Min-hyeok set to be available from January, but on Sunday they will face the team with the youngest average age in the Premier League in Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca is only a matter of months into his tenure at Stamford Bridge and yet able to work with a squad which has been put together in a £1billion spending spree by owners Clearlake Capital since they took over in 2022.

It led to Postecoglou quickly dismissing suggestions there are similarities.

He said: “I don’t think so. The sheer volume that they’ve invested, both from a financial perspective but also a numbers perspective (means) that we are nowhere near being in that boat.

“The players we’ve signed are not only young in age but young in experience. Archie Gray made his senior debut last year in the Championship. Lucas Bergvall has come from Swedish first division. Wilson’s out (injured) but the teenagers weren’t experienced either.

“It’s different in both approaches and really almost impossible to compare what we’re trying to do.” Postecoglou’s current energy is being poured into breaking Spurs’ cycle of inconsistency which has seen them win six and lose six of their 14 league games this season.

“It doesn’t sit well with me. Nor should it. I’m not going to accept it,” the 59-year-old said.

“My role within that and my responsibility is to change that because if we’re going to get to where I want us to get to, we need to break that cycle of not showing the belief and resilience in key moments.

“Nothing has changed in terms of my resolve to play the type of football I want to play and be that kind of team.

“It’s just that we haven’t understood the other side of that and that is the discipline and resilience to overcome difficult moments, so that the football we have can come through.

“When we have won this year, we have been pretty compelling. It’s not just struggling victories. Every game we have won, we have been very dominant and exactly the team we want to be.

“So, we have shown the potential of what we can be but that kind of gets diminished by performances like (Bournemouth).” A regular stick to beat Tottenham with is the ‘Spursy’ tag which has followed the club amid a trophy drought going back to 2008.

Postecoglou, who could have vice-captain Cristian Romero back on Sunday, pointed out this season’s wins in Manchester should show there is not a mentality issue at Spurs.

He added: “It’s a funny one because if you talk about mentality, you’d think mentality would be ‘well, against the big teams, you come up short.’ “I didn’t go into this job where I felt there was something institutionalised here that would stop this club having success. I just don’t think that way.

“I think everything while I am here is in my control. So, I’m not going to palm off responsibility to whatever we’re going through to things that have existed in the past.

“From the moment since I’ve come in, I have the ability and the opportunity to change things so that’s what I am endeavouring to do."

The promoted Tractor Boys had been denied a maiden league success this season by a stoppage-time leveller against Leicester last weekend, but finally got off the mark at the 11th attempt.

Szmodics’ acrobatic effort put Ipswich ahead in the 31st minute and Delap made it 2-0 12 minutes later to set Kieran McKenna’s side halfway towards a long-awaited result.

Rodrigo Bentancur reduced the deficit for Spurs with 69 minutes played, but they could not muster a grand finale and missed out on the chance to rise to third in the table.

Tottenham had won their previous six home matches, but were up against a manager that spent 16 years at the club as player and coach in McKenna.

Ex-Spurs academy coach McKenna almost had a goal to celebrate on the second minute of his return as Szmodics bundled his way into the penalty area and had a low shot saved by Guglielmo Vicario.

It sparked an end-to-end start as Brennan Johnson poked wide Son Heung-min’s cross soon after before Town defender Cameron Burgess headed against the crossbar from a Leif Davis corner.

The hosts responded with a Dominic Solanke shot deflected over and the England international forced Arijanet Muric into a decent save with a low 19th-minute effort after Cristian Romero’s ball over the top.

Ange Postecoglou’s team had appeared to be getting to grips with Ipswich’s aggressive press by the midway point of the first half as Muric made another stop to prevent an own goal from Davis after he deflected Johnson’s cross goalwards.

However, the visitors had already looked a threat out wide and made the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark through Szmodics.

Jens Cajuste’s cross was headed up in the air by Romero under pressure from Delap and Szmodics was first to the loose ball with a fine overhead kick which beat Vicario from close range.

Johnson had been slow to react and one goal for the visitors quickly become two after more excellent wing play.

As a Spurs move broke down with a poor Son pass, Omari Hutchinson carried the ball impressively and possession was worked out to Szmodics, whose cross was parried by Vicario into Radu Dragusin and it allowed Delap to lash home on the goal-line.

Boos greeted half-time, but Tottenham returned with renewed vigour and after the break with Son having a shot tipped over and Solanke bundling home from a corner only for VAR to cut short home celebrations as the England forward had handled the ball before it went in the net.

Spurs remained in the ascendancy but were restricted to hopeful efforts as Solanke drilled over from long range before Son curled off target.

Postecoglou sent on Timo Werner with 24 minutes left and Tottenham did pull one back three minutes later through a set-piece.

Pedro Porro produced an inch-perfect corner to the near post, where Bentancur powered home a header for his first goal of the season.

Spurs peppered the Ipswich goal with another Son effort sent off target before Werner forced Muric to tip over his 25-yard strike.

Werner lifted another shot over before Postecoglou turned to James Maddison, but the Tractors Boys would not be denied and held on for a memorable win.

Villa had taken the lead through Morgan Rogers in the first-half, and might have fancied their chances of another smash-and-grab win in north London, having won at both Tottenham and Arsenal last season.

But once Brennan Johnson equalised for Spurs early in the second half, Solanke scored twice in the space of four minutes before James Maddison scored a stoppage time free-kick to wrap up all three points.

It was the second time in as many meetings that Tottenham hve put four goals past Villa, who pipped them to fourth place last season and are knocking on the door again.

But Spurs are now only two points behind them and Arsenal in fourth place, and gathering momentum after beating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

And while Solanke went goalless through October, Postecoglou has always backed the hardworking forward.

“He put in an enormous effort to help us win on Wednesday, and again it was an unbelievable effort from him today,” said his manager.

“I can’t speak highly enough of what he’s contributing. He makes us a better team.”

Postecoglou was delighted to see his side match Villa physically, and then take the game beyond them with their superior football in the second half.

“We had to work hard to match Villa but we have two or three more gears in us and felt we could break them open in the second half. Full credit to the players.”

It was chalk and cheese to Tottenham's limp defeat at Crystal Palace last week, when they were muscled out of a physical battle.

Some supporters questioned Postecoglou's methods, but they were singing his name again at the final whistle on Wednesday and this weekend.

“You don’t fall off cliffs and club mountains in the space of a week. It’s how you cope. We had two huge games this week and won them both.

Yet Villa had taken the lead, somewhat against the run of play.

The opening half-hour was cagey, both sides playing within themselves, perhaps conscious that one mistake could cost them dearly, and so it proved when Rogers scored in the 32nd minute.

Villa won a corner on the right, Lucas Digne swung it in and the ball flew off two Tottenham players, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur, forcing Guglielmo Vicario into a scrambled save.

The Italian keeper could only parry the ball to the lurking Rogers, who accepted his gift gratefully and volleyed home from close range.

It should have been 2-0 before half-time when Youri Tielemans sent Ollie Watkins clean through on goal, but the England striker dragged his shot horribly wide of the far post.

Spurs had enjoyed the majority of possession without troubling Emi Martinez unduly in the first half.

Villa had defended well for the opening 45 minutes, with two banks of four being supplemented by Rogers dropping back from the forward line once he had scored, and there was a question over whether Tottenham needed more creativity in midfield, with James Maddison sitting on the bench.

But Postecoglou kept faith with his side and was rewarded with an equaliser within five minutes of the restart.

Heung Min Son, back from injury but not fully match fit, burst down the left and sent in an inviting low cross that Johnson swept in from close range at the far post.

Home supporters erupted in joy and suddenly Spurs looked really up for it. Martinez had to get down low to save a Solanke shot at full-stretch, Pape Sarr flashed a shot wide and Richarlison, replacing Son, curled a high shot wide of the far post.

You could feel Tottenham's pressure building, and so it proved as Solanke scored twice in the space of four minutes.

Both goals stemmed from Villa losing possession in key areas. First, Ben Davies stepped in with a superb tackle to rob Watkins and send Sarr away.

Intricate passing on the edge of the penalty area ended with the ball dropping for Solanke, who dinked a delicate finish over Martinez.

Pau Torres then gave the ball away twice, the second time to Sarr, who played in Richarlison on the left. The Brazilan crossed low and hard, being injured in the process, and Solanke tucked the ball away from close range.

Unai Emery went for broke, sending on forwards Jaden Philogene and Jhon Duran hoping to find a route back in.

Postecolgou sent on Maddison and Archie Gray to see the game out, with 10 added minutes mostly as a result of Martinez's extensive time-wasting.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time Maddison curled a free-kick past the Argentinian from 20 yards to complete an excellent afternoon for Tottenham.

Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario 7; Porro 7, Romero 7 (Davies 61), Dragusin 7, Udogie 7 (Gray 82); Kulusevski 8, Sarr 8, Bentancur 7 (Bissouma 56); Johnson 7, Solanke 9, Son 7 (Richarlison 56 [Maddison 82)

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez 6; Cash 6 (Carlos 60), Konsa 6, Torres 5, Digne 7; McGinn 6 (Bailey 81), Onana 6, Tielemans 6 (Kamara 81), Ramsey 6; (Philogene 81) Rogers 7, Watkins 5.

Referee: Craig Pawson 8/10

ASTON VILLA 1 (Rogers 32)

DOMINIC SOLANKE scored twice in four minutes as Tottenham put four goals past Villa for the second time in as many meetings, coming from behind to get their Premier League campaign back on track.

Having thrashed Unai Emery's side 4-0 at Villa Park last March, Spurs did it the hard way this time, after falling behind to a first half goal from Morgan Rogers.

But Brennan Johnson equalised early in the second half, Solanke scored two quick goals to set them on their way, and James Maddison completed another thrashing with a superb free-kick in stoppage time.

The result means Spurs are now only two points behind Arsenal in fourth place, while Villa's push for another top four finish was set back. Yet they had started well by taking the lead against the run of play.

The opening half-hour was cagey, both sides playing within themselves, perhaps conscious that one mistake could cost them dearly, and so it proved when Rogers scored in the 32nd minute.

Villa won a corner on the right, Lucas Digne swung it in and the ball flew off two Tottenham players, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancuer, forcing Guglielmo Vicario into a scrambled save. The Italian keeper could only parry the ball to the lurking Rogers, who accepted his gift gratefully and volleyed home from close range.

It should have been 2-0 before half-time when Youri Tielemans sent Ollie Watkins clean through on goal, but the England striker dragged his shot horribly wide of the far post. With the next England squad to be announced soon, it was a bad time for Watkins to be outshone by Solanke.

Spurs had enjoyed the majority of possession without troubling Emi Martinez unduly in the first hal, the Argentinian keeper's best work cutting out low crosses.

Rodrigo Bentancur sent a couple of shots over the bar from long range, Solanke put a header high and then had a shot blocked, and Porro volleyed high over the bar.

Amadou Onana almost found the net with a towering header from another Digne corner, but Vicario got down well to save at his near post.

Villa had defended well for the opening 45 minutes, with two banks of four being supplemented by Rogers dropping back from the forward line once he had scored, and there was a question over whether Tottenham needed more creativity in midfield, with James Maddison sitting on the subs bench.

But Postecoglou kept his powder dry, and was rewarded with an equaliser within five minutes of the restart. Heung Min Son, back from injury but looking far from fully match fit, burst down the left and sent in an inviting low cross that Johnson swept in from close range at the far post.

Home supporters erupted in joy and suddenly Spurs looked really up for it. Martinez had to get down low to save a Solanke shot at full-stretch, and Porro mis-hit his volley on to the roof of Villa's net after another lightning quick break.

Pape Matar Sare flashed a low shot wide, Richarlison, replacing Son, curled a high shot wide of the far post, and you could feel Tottenham's pressure building. And so it proved, as Solanke scored twice in the space of four minutes.

Both goals stemmed from Villa losing possession in key areas. First, Ben Davies stepped in with a superb tackle to rob Watkins and send Sarr away. Intricate passing on the edge of the penalty area ended with the ball dropping for Solanke, who dinked a delicate finish over Martinez.

Pau Torres then gave the ball away twice, the second time to Sarr, who played in Richarlison on the left. The Brazilan crossed low and hard, being injured in the process, and Solanke tucked the ball away from close range.

Unai Emery went for broke, sending on forwards Jaden Philogene and Jhjon Duran hoping to find a route back in. Postecolgou sent on Maddison and Archie Gray to see the game out, with ten added minutes mostly as a result of Martinez's extensive time-wasting.

In the sixth minute of stoppage time Maddison curled a free-kick past the Argentinian from 20 yards to complete an excellent afternoon for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Vicario 7; Porro 7, Romero 7 (Davies 61), Dragusin 7, Udogie 7 (Gray 82); Kulusevski 8, Sarr 8, Bentancur 7 (Bissouma 56); Johnson 7, Solanke 9, Son 7 (Richarlison 56 [Maddison 82]).

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez 6; Cash 6 (Carlos 60), Konsa 6, Torres 5, Digne 7; McGinn 6, Onana 6, Tielemans 6 (Kamara 81), Ramsey 6; Rogers 7, Watkins 5.

Referee: Craig Pawson 8.

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham side worked to the very last second of Wednesday night to send Manchester City packing from this season's Carabao Cup. Their reward? A date with the red half of Manchester in the next round.

Spurs will host United, who blitzed Leicester City 5-2 in Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in interim charge at Old Trafford. While United seem almost certain to appoint Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim as their new permanent manager it remains unclear how soon that deal can be done. They will surely hope to have him at the helm for the cup quarter-final trip to Tottenham which comes in mid-December.

On Sunday Tottenham lost to relegation-threatened Crystal Palace, sending their fans into meltdown, but supporters were singing loud and long after beating Manchester City, inflicting their first defeat since last May's FA Cup final.

Early goals from Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr put Spurs in control against an understrength City, who got one goal back in first-half stoppage time through Matheus Nunes, but could not find an equaliser.

Pep Guardiola had promised to rest some of his stars and the main omission was Erling Haaland, kept on the substitutes bench at the start. Reuben Dias should have been with him but was drafted into the starting line-up after an injury in the warm-up.

It was still a youthful line-up, with James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly given further chances to impress, which they did, and more teenagers introduced as substitutes.

Ange Postecoglou made changes too, and it was Tottenham who made a flying start, scoring after five minutes with a rare goal from Werner. The German has been short of form and confidence this season, but he finished emphatically from 15 yards after Spurs broke swiftly from defence to attack. Archie Gray combined with Brennan Johnson to send Dejan Kulusevski away on the right, and when the Swede curled a low cross to the far side of the penalty area, Werner beat Rico Lewis to the ball to sweep it powerfully past Stefan Ortega.

Spurs started like a steam train, determined to make up for their lacklustre loss at Palace, but their rhythm was disrupted when Micky Van de Ven limped off with a hamstring injury in the 13th minute. The big Dutchman looked close to tears, suggesting he knows he faces a lengthy lay-off.

But Tottenham extended their lead in the 25th minute with a well-worked goal. Werner and Kulusevski exchanged passes from a short corner before the Swede laid the ball into the path of Sarr, who curled home an exquisite shot from 25 yards.

The Tottenham Hotspur stadium was rocking, with home fans sensing an upset, especially as City had failed to force a save from Guglielmo Vicario during the opening 45 minutes, with Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden both putting free-kicks wastefully over the bar.

But in the fourth minute of stoppage time, they got a goal back through a combination of their wingers Savinho and Nunes, their best two players up to that point. Savinho wriggled free down the right, chipped a cross beyond the far post, and Nunes struck a volley into the turf and up past Vicario.

It had been an enthralling first-half, both sides zipping the ball about at pace, playing smart, passing football with clever movement, and it did not let up after the break. Spurs could have scored three goals on the counter-attack in the opening ten minutes, as Werner shot wide after running free from the half-way line, and then blazing high over the bar in the 55th minute. In between those attacks, Kulusevski, again Tottenham's best player, led another break and forced a fine low save from Ortega.

City suffered an injury blow of their own in the 62nd minute when Savinho was carried off on a stretcher after injuring an ankle. His replacement was another youngster, Jacob Wright, whose first involvement was to shoot just wide of the post.

Werner led yet another break without success before he, too, went off injured, this time to a rousing reception from home supporters, who had been critical of his performances in recent weeks.

The number of injuries will only fuel the fire of those critics who say too much is being asked of players, even when squad rotation is in effect as it was with both sides last night.

Tottenham have an important game against Aston Villa this weekend that could make or break their chances of qualifying for the Champions League, while City make the long trip to Bournemouth, who beat Arsenal last week.

The high-octane action did not let up, though. Richarlison, on as a substitute, was given a golden chance to make it 3-1 when Josko Gvardiol's throw-in landed at his feet 15 yards from goal, but the Brazilian shot straight at Ortega.

Vicario then flew across his area to clear a cross from the right, and from the ensuing corner, Yves Bissouma stuck out a foot to clear O'Reilly's goalbound volley off the line.

When six minutes of extra time was announced, home supporters feared the worst, having seen their side lose to a last-gasp winner by City in the FA Cup at this ground last January. This time Tottenham held on to move into the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup.

TOTTENHAM (4-3-3): Vicario 6 ; Gray 7, Romero 6 (Davies 52), Dragusin 7, Van de Ven 6 (Udogie 13); Bentancur 7, Sarr 7 (Bissouma 46), Kulusevski 8; Johnson 7 (Richarlison 68), Solanke 7, Werner 7 (Moore 68).

MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ortega 6; Lewis 7, Stones 6, Dias 6 (Gvardiol 46), Ake 6 (Simpson-Pusey 74); O'Reilly 7, Gundogan 6 (Kovacic 46), McAtee 6; Savinho 7 (Wright 62), Foden 6 (Silva 58), Nunes 7.

Ref: Robert Jones 7

Mateta scored the only goal of a scrappy game on the half-hour mark to ease the pressure on manager Oliver Glasner and lift them out of the relegation zone.

The Eagles thoroughly deserved their victory, working tirelessly to close down Tottenham, who looked strangely muted and never showed the sort of form that had taken them to seven wins in their previous eight game. Ange Postecoglou cut a forlorn figure on the sidelines as he saw another disappointing display from his side, who have slipped down to eighth place.

Tottenham struggled to get their passing game going for the opening hour, in part because of their own sloppiness but mainly because Palace closed down the supply lines so well, pressing all over the pitch and not allowing Spurs to play out from the back as they like to do.

The press was led from the front by Mateta, back in the side and back among the goals after half an hour. The move began when Tottenham were unable to play out from defence, with Micky Van de Ven losing possession to Daniel Munoz, whose cross arrived at the feet of Mateta via Eberechi Eze. The big striker, unmarked on the left of the penalty area, had time to measure his shot and drove the ball low and powerfully through the legs of Pedro Porro and Guglielmo Vicario.

Palce deserved their lead, having shown more energy and determination to win 50-50 challenges in what was a scrappy and bad-tempered first-half. Three players required treatment for head injuries, and Jefferson Lerma limped off with what looked like a hamstring problem.

His replacement Will Hughes brought even more energy, however, and also chipped in a clever cross that Maxence Lacrois managed to head over from close range. His fellow centre-back Marc Guehi also had a good chance later in the half, but headed tamely at Vicario.

Dean Henderson, in the opposite goal, was not unduly troubled until the closing stages of the half, when he tipped away a James Maddison shot. Dejan Kulusesvski had a shot deflected on to the post before the break and was denied by Henderson saving at his feet shortly after the restart.

But Vicario was busy too, using his feet to save Ismaila Sarr's deflected shot and than grateful to see an offside flag rule out an effort from Eze that crept past him.

Ange Postecoglou had given a full league debut to Mikey Moore, the teenage tyro who had impressed on his full European debut against AZ Alkmaar. Timo Werner made way, but later replaced Moore, who struggled to get into the game.

Postecoglou also hooked Maddison and Kulusevski, sending on Pape Matar Sarr and Richarlison as well. But the Brazilian looked rusty after a long injury lay-off and spurned two half-chances as Tottenham chased an equaliser.

Palace almost increased their lead ten minutes from the end whenAdam Wharton hit a piledriver from 25 yards that forced Vicario to save at full stretch.

It mattered little when referee Darren Bond, who was roundly booed by both sets of supporters for some strange decisions, blew the final whistle, allowing Palace celebrations to begin.

C Palace (5-4-1): Henderson 7; Munoz 7, Lacroix 8, Chalobah 8, Guehi 8, Mitchell 7; Sarr 7 (Nketiah 67), Wharton 7 (Kamada 87), Lerma 6 (Hughes 22), Eze 7; Mateta 7.

Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario 7; Porro 6, Romero 6, van de Ven 6, Udogie 6; Kulusevski 6 (Richarlison 62), Bissouma 6 (Bentancur 87), Maddison 6 (Sarr 62); Johnson 6, Solanke 7, Moore 6 (Werner 62).

Referee: Darren Bond 5/10

Arteta took time to build a side that could compete with the best in the country, and during his early struggles, there were plenty of doubts about why he could not bring quick success.

Postecoglou's methods have been questioned recently by the more sceptical Spurs supporters, especially after Tottenham's costly capitulation at Brighton in their previous outing a fortnight ago, when a 2-0 lead became a 3-2 defeat after a disastrous period at the start of the second half.

Postecoglou explained on Friday that performance data backed up what his eyes told him – the players dropped their running levels by 20 to 30 per cent after half-time, and their intensity drop-off allowed the opposition to seize control.

So he was especially pleased that Tottenham's players had learned their lesson, and stepped up their intensity after the break to see off a stubborn but limited West Ham side who had gone ahead through an early Mohammed Kudus goal.

With the mood music around the club far from harmonious following the Brighton defeat, that setback could have set alarm bells ringing among supporters, but they and their team were instead spurred on, Dejan Kulusevski equalised before the break.

After half-time, Tottenham increased their intensity and three goals in eight minutes secured victory.

“That's part of the evolution of the team and where we want to get to,” said Postecoglou.

“I made it pretty clear after the Brighton game, there's certain principles underpinning our football which allows us to be the expansive and creative team we are. There's some real emphasis on hard work, organisation and discipline and we had to show both today.

“I don't think we would've been as dominant in the second half if we'd not had that underpinning of a strong foundation there. They're a big, physical team and you have to match them in certain areas.I t was a bit of an arm wrestle at the start but I thought we maintained our intensity and eventually broke them.”

Yves Bissouma put Spurs ahead in the 52nd minute, the returning Heung Min Son forced an own goal from Alphonse Areola, and then the Korean made it 4-1 on the hour mark.

“Second half we went up a gear and again I thought our football was excellent,” added Postecoglou.

“Part of the momentum we built came through the edge the supporters gave us, especially after the second goal; you could really feel the atmosphere inside the stadium lift and that pushed us along.

“We had a 15 to 20 minute spell where we were outstanding. It goes hand in hand. We need the supporters especially at home to provide a lift, but we need to give them something in return. Today is hopefully a little bit of a reward for our fans.”

Postecoglou showed good in-game management, too, showing the flexibility needed to take Tottenham to victory when he replaced playmaker James Maddison with the more physical Pape Matar Sarr at half-time.

“West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield and I just felt Pape's running power would help us in the second half, give us some real energy. I thought he did really well and he gave us a platform to really threatening every time we want forward and clinical in our football.”

Spurs could and should have had more as West Ham showed the sort of collapse Spurs had suffered two weeks earlier. Son hit the post, his replacement Timo Werner missed two chances, and Dominic Solanke went close after a mazy dribble from his own half.

The Hammers have only won twice under Julen Lopategui, against strugglers Ipswich and Crystal Palace, and have conceded 20 goals in their ten games in all competitions.

Questions are being asked about the former Real Madrid and – briefly – Spain manager, who admits his communication with his players needs improving, particularly with Kudus, who is set for a three-match ban after being sent off in the closing stages for pushing Micky Van de Ven in the face.

The Ghana international was again West Ham's best player, prompting two good saves from Guglielmo Vicario as well as scoring, but his relationship with Lopetegui is said to be strained.

“I am not going to say here what I am going to talk to him about, but for sure we are going to talk,” said the manager.

“We are going to have time and I am sure he will be aware that he can improve his answer in this moment because it’s not good for him, for the club and not good for the team.”

Kudus will miss the visit of Manchester United next weekend, a game West Ham need to win if they are to avoid getting drawn into a relegation battle, sitting in 15th place just five points above the drop zone.

Spurs, meanwhile, are back on track for a tilt at a Champions League place, just four points off the top four and with games against Palace and Ipswich to come in the league. Having learned a harsh lesson at Brighton, now could be the time for Tottenham to kick on – and for their supporters to trust Postecoglou's process.

TOTTENHAM: Vicario 7; Porro 7, Romero 7, Van de Ven 7, Udogie 6 (Gray 87); Kulusevski 8, Bissouma 8 (Bentancur 80), Maddison 7 (Sarr 46); Johnson 6, Solanke 8 (Richarlison 80), Son 7 (Werner 70).

WEST HAM: Areola 7; Wan-Bissaka 6, Todibo 5, Kilman 6, Emerson 6; Paqueta 6 (Alvarez 65), Soucek 6 (Soler 65), Rodriguez 5 (Mavropanos 70); Bowen 6, Antonio 5 (Summerville 65), Kudus 6.

Referee: Andrew Madley 8/10.

Tottenham got back to winning ways, to the delight of Ange Postecoglou, who had declared their defeat at Brighton before the international break the worst of his tenure here.

Although West Ham took the lead through Mohammed Kudus, who was later sent off, they were no match for their London rivals, who dominated from start to finish and should have won by a bigger margin.

Most pleasing for Postecoglou was the fact that his team took control of the game in the 15 minutes after half-time, which was when they had capitulated to Brighton last time out.

Yet the early signs were worrying for Spurs, as West Ham took the lead in the 18th minute, against the run of play. Kudus had earlier brought a fine save from Guglielmo Vicario, who tipped the Ghanaian's volley over the bar.

But when Kudus had another chance, from Jarrod Bowen's low cross, he placed his shot with power and precision past the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Tottenham dominated in terms of possession and chances, but had struggled to break down West Ham's packed defence in the opening half-hour, testing Alphonse Areola only once when Pedro Porro shot from 25 yards.

Previous shots were either blocked or just wide, and even Dejan Kulusevski's equaliser in the 36th minute had a touch of good fortune. James Maddison led a break out from Tottenham's half to play in Kulusevski on the right.

The Swede cut inside, shot with his favoured left foot and the ball rebounded off the inside of the near post, cut along the goal-line and bounced in off the far post.

Tottenham had collapsed memorably in the second half against Brighton in their previous game two weeks ago, throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2, and Ange Postecoglou was determined there should be no repeat.

Indeed Spurs were fired up after the break here, and took the game away from West Ham with three goals in an eight-minute spell. Destiny Udogie had been at fault when Kudus scored, allowing Bowen room to cross, but the Italian full-back made amends with a run of his own to the byline before cutting the ball back for Yves Bissouma to steer a low shot through a crowded penalty area.

Three minutes later Kulusevski set up Heung Min Son for a shot, and though Areola got a foot to block it, the ball rebounded off Jean-Clair Todibo and the keeper before trickling over the line.

To compound Todibo's misery, he was turned this way and that as Son ran on to Pape Matat Sarr's incisive through ball and shot left-footed past Areola to make it 4-1.

Spurs threatened to run riot, with Son shooting against the post, his replacement Timo Werner missing two good chances, Dominic Solanke being denied and Kulusevski curling a shot just wide of the far post.

Vicario had only one more save to make, tipping away a curling shot from Kudus, who was then sent off in the closing minutes after shoving Micky Van de Ven in the face, having kicked out at the Spurs defender when he was lying prone.

Referee Andy Madley initially booked both players, but VAR prompted him to review the pitchside monitor. He spotted Kudus raising his hands twice during an unseemly melee involving most of the outfield players, and showed a red card to the Ghanian.

The result moved Tottenham temporarily up to sixth in the table and back on course for a tilt at a top four finish.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-3-3): Vicario 7; Porro 7, Romero 7, Van de Ven 7, Udogie 6 (Gray 87); Kulusevski 7, Bissouma 8 (Bentancur 80), Maddison 7 (Sarr 46); Johnson 6, Solanke 8 (Richarlison 80), Son 7 (Werner 70).

WEST HAM (4-3-3): Areola 7; Wan-Bissaka 6, Todibo 5, Kilman 6, Emerson 6; Paqueta 6 (Alvarez 65), Soucek 6 (Soler 65), Rodriguez 5 (Mavropanos 70); Bowen 7, Antonio 5 (Summerville 65), Kudus 6.

Referee: Andrew Madley 8.