POCH: WE’RE VAR TOO SOFT
Boss angry as Spurs’ dismal away form goes on
■ There were two goals disallowed by VAR during the Leicester v Tottenham match, while no other game so far in the Premier League has had more than one chalked off. build-up by Heung-min Son, who had strayed just a few millimetres beyond the last defender.
That gave Leicester a fillip and Ricardo Pereira levelled before James Maddison’s lovely right-foot drive from outside the area as the game entered its final moments.
Pochettino
(right) said: “I’m not blaming
VAR for this. At
2- 0, the game would be different.
VAR decided it.
“We all accept the system. Maybe it was (offside, maybe it wasn’t – but I trust the referees.
“I need to analyse the game in a different way. The ■ Tottenham have failed to win three consecutive away Premier League games when they were leading at half-time for the first time since March 2008. performance was good. For 83 minutes, we were the best team on the pitch.
“It changed in the last seven minutes. We controlled the game, but, if you are asking me why we didn’t win, we need to be more consistent. We need to show a b e t t e r performance.
“And we need to find a solution a wa y from home.”
That assessment is tough on Leicester, who would have fully earned a point before Maddison’s late goal.
The hosts had what appeared to be a legitimate strike ruled out by the offside officials long before Kane struck the opener. Maddison’s corner was cleared to the opposite flank where Youri Tielemans fired goalwards. Paulo Gazzaniga – deputising due to Hugo Lloris being present at the birth of his third child – spilled and Wilfred Ndidi forced the ball home.
It looked for all the world as though Leicester had drawn first blood, but three players were standing offside.
Leicester paid for that when Kane, despite being shoved in the back by Caglar Soyuncu, somehow retained the presence of mind to squeeze t he ball past Kasper Schmeichel as he prepared to hit the turf.
It stayed that way until VAR intervened over Aurier.
Five minutes later, Portugal ■ Leicester have suffered just one defeat in their last nine PL home games (W6 D2), after losing four in a row directly before that.
■ Tottenham are without a win in their last full- back Pereira arrived to sidefoot Jamie Vardy’s cross into the net.
Leicester then delivered the killer blow when substitute Hamza Choudhury seized upon a headed clearance, squaring for Maddison, who fired home from the edge of the box.
Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers said: “It was a brilliant effort against a top-class side that, four months ago, was in the Champions League final.
“We started with good intensity and we were a wee bit unfortunate to be a goal behind.
“We adapted the system and the players coped with everything the game threw at them.
“Of course, from Mauricio’s nine away games in the Premier League (W0 D2 L7) – they last had a longer winless away run between April and December 2006 (10). perspective, if it went to 2-0, you’d be happier than if it stayed at 1-0.
“But we have spoken a number of times about how you react.
“You have to retain etain your focus and we responded. onded.
“We’re not getting ing carried away – we’ve had a tough start – but I’m pleased with the focus.” away shaking our heads in disappointment because we didn’t get what we deserved.
“We’re showing we are a big threat now.
“No one will want to come to the King Power Stadium.”
England supremo Gareth Southgate was an onlooker, taking in the game after watching Southampton lose to Bournemouth on Friday night.
But he left the stadium one minute before Maddison struck the winner late on.
After the game, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers (above) hailed his matchwinner and said: “We have a host of players who are outstanding talents – James is one of them.
“It was a wonderful finish, he’s great at anticipating where the ball goes. It really was a wonderful goal.”