Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has called on his team to get out of the blocks quicker after paying the price for a sloppy first-half display in their 2-1 defeat to Wolves.
Spurs have been far from convincing in recent weeks after a strong first half of the season pushed Postecoglou's side into the Champions League places.
A dramatic 2-2 draw away to Everton earlier this month was followed by a last-gasp victory against Brighton at home.
But their luck ran out on Saturday against a Wolves side flying high under Gary O'Neil with Joao Gomes scoring twice either side of Dejan Kulusevski's strike.
Ange Postecoglou was frustrated at his team's slow start
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Postecoglou appeared frustrated after the game as his team were once again left trying to come back from a losing position once more.
"Again, we weren't great first half," Postecoglou said.
"We controlled the game enough but we weren't threatening enough.
"Chasing the game is always difficult, against a team that is so good on the counter-attack, and we were made to pay for it.
"Both goals are disappointing from our point of view. We paid the price for not being as concentrated or disciplined in our football.
"It wasn't through the lack of effort. We had them camped in their half and then they break and score the goal.
"You can't keep coming from behind and doing that every week. We need to be better in the first half.
"We have had injuries all year and certainly performed better than that."
Postecoglou was also asked whether their first loss of 2024 rules them out of the title race with Tottenham now 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Tottenham ran out of ideas in the end
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"We are chasing trying to be the best possible team we can and progress this year to build something," he said.
"That doesn't change. Our focus is on trying to finish strong and developing our football team."
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Wolves have impressed under Gary O'Neil this season
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O'Neil was understandably delighted with his team's display and called it "pretty close" to perfect.
He said: "Disappointing lapse for the goal, similar to the one we conceded in the last minute against Manchester United but that is probably the only negative I can find.
"We were close to perfect. I am proud of the group. It is a tough place to come and I think we deserved to win the game."
