Premier League: Tottenham boss bemoans slow start in 1-0 defeat by West Brom

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino was left frustrated with his side’s slow start to the game as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Spurs are now four games without a win in all competitions and were condemned to back-to-back Premier League losses at White Hart Lane for the first time since November 2012.

Pochettino’s side were second-best for the majority of the game and it was a second-half James Morrison header which did the damage, rising to meet Chris Brunt’s corner after finding himself unmarked.

Pochettino told Sky Sports: "The beginning was difficult. We played very slow at the beginning of the game.

We played very, very slow and never won the second ball. It was a difficult game today.

"We played very, very slow and never won the second ball. It was a difficult game today."

Spurs were in Europa League action on Thursday night - drawing 0-0 away to Partizan Belgrade - but Pochettino was reluctant to use that as an excuse for the showing against West Brom.

"I do not know if it is that we have no energy. We have energy but it was difficult with the way that we play, he said.

"This is after going into the game.

"In the beginning we played very slow, we had a very bad day today with the ball.

"We created some chances. Not too many. I think a fair result would have been a draw but we made a mistake.

"In football if you make a mistake, you pay. But I am not happy with the performance today."