Mauricio blows fuse after Spurs let lead slip again

Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez maintained his sparkling start to the EPL season with another superb strike on Saturday against Tottenham. It is the Algerian international's fourth goal of the campaign.
Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez maintained his sparkling start to the EPL season with another superb strike on Saturday against Tottenham. It is the Algerian international's fourth goal of the campaign. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON • Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was angry after his side surrendered the lead for the second straight week in a 1-1 Premier League draw at in-form Leicester City on Saturday.

Having been held 2-2 at home by Stoke City last week after leading 2-0, the London side went ahead at Leicester with midfielder Dele Alli's first goal for the club after his move from MK Dons.

The lead, however, lasted 90 seconds before the impressive Riyad Mahrez equalised with a superb curling effort. Having lost 0-1 at Manchester United on the opening day of the season, Tottenham have collected just two points from three matches and sit 15th in the table.

"I am angry and disappointed, not frustrated," Pochettino told the BBC. "The mistake (of conceding after scoring) we made today is difficult to explain.

"I am disappointed with the draw. Last game against Stoke, we lost a 2-0 lead and we did it again.

"We deserved more again but it is a shame. We need to work hard to be more focused and more aggressive after we score because this is the second game we concede the draw when we deserve more."

Striker Harry Kane cut a forlorn figure for much of the game while Spurs' lack of creativity was horribly exposed in the absence of playmaker Christian Eriksen, who has a knee injury.

Argentina forward Erik Lamela replaced the Dane but was largely ineffective. Pochettino had said before the game that the need to add more support up front for Kane, who netted 31 goals in all competitions last season, was "obvious".

The north London club are expected to launch a new £20 million (S$44 million) bid for West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino after having an initial £15 million offer rejected this week.

With Tottenham ready to splash out on the 22-year-old England international, it was a player - he cost Leicester just £400,000 - who was the star once again for Claudio Ranieri's side.

Mahrez, who was signed from French Ligue 2 side Le Havre in January last year, scored his fourth goal of the season for the Foxes, who maintained their unbeaten start to the top-flight season.

"Mahrez is important because, in this moment, he is in a great condition," Ranieri said. "Everything he does is very good for the team: good pass, good shot, good ideas. He is also improving in a defensive way." REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 24, 2015, with the headline Mauricio blows fuse after Spurs let lead slip again. Subscribe