An error caused Tottenham to trail by one goal, but a missed header is what prevented Spurs from earning a draw. Little details like these is what ended up costing Spurs points on the road.
One defining moment changed the complexion of yesterday’s game, and that was Harry Kane’s rare giveaway at midfield, allowing Manchester United to score the game-winning goal in the first half.
It was an error which Hugo Lloris mentioned as noteworthy. A mistake that ultimately determined the match’s final result. Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Old Trafford — because of a bad turnover — is of course a familiar scene, as it happened last season too.
The only difference is that loss helped fuel Tottenham to go on a 14-match unbeaten run last term. This time around, Spurs are coming off of an unbeaten start (12 games) and have just lost two of their last three league matches.
With all of that said, Toby Alderweireld looked at the match from a different perspective.
If Hugo Lloris focused on the team’s error as the main difference, then Alderweireld looked at one missed opportunity which prevented Spurs from drawing level and picking up a point.
“It’s always frustrating when you don’t win. It’s about details today,” Toby Alderweireld said on Spurs’ official website after making his first start since returning from injury.
More from Match Reports
- From glory, glory to gory, gory, for Mason and Tottenham Hotspur
- Ryan Mason’s Elegant Solution to Tottenham’s Problems
- Tottenham – Defensive needs show over last two games
- Tottenham Hotspur hold off Brighton in much needed 2-1 win
- Mason moves make the difference for lucky Tottenham against Brighton
“Unfortunately we got a goal against us when we lost a ball where we can’t lose it and then we tried, but we didn’t bring the quality we normally bring to beat a team. It’s about details.”
“If Victor [Wanyama] can get a good header on the ball [with his second-half chance] it’s 1-1 and the game changes. That’s football. We have to focus on the next game now, get the points there and get back to business.”
The quality that the Belgian center-back is talking about is cleaning up simple aspects in Spurs’ game. As the 27-year-old said, it’s about details. Who can best minimize errors and who can capitalize on the chances presented to them.
Manchester United scored on a Spurs giveaway, Tottenham failed to equalize when Man United’s defense broke down on a free kick. That was the two major takeaways following yesterday’s match.
As a result, Spurs must now pick themselves up and get back on track with a win against Hull City at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. Who knows, perhaps losing to Manchester United again could perhaps, spark yet another unbeaten run just like it did last season.
Next: Digiesting Tottenham's 1-0 Loss to Manchester United
“If we’d brought more quality I think we could have beaten them. As I said, it’s details, they finished the goal, we didn’t and that’s the difference,” Alderweireld continued.
“We have to learn from our mistakes and improve, improve, improve. There are a lot of games coming so we can make it up, we just have to bring the quality back to our game. Everyone is gutted, everyone is sad because we felt we could have got at least a point here, so that’s frustrating.”
“We have to put that frustration and anger and use it in the right way, we can’t change this, so we have to use it in the right way and try to get three points at home on Wednesday night.”