Tottenham have followed up their midweek thrashing at Bayern Munich's hands by plunging to a 3-0 loss at Socceroos goalkeeper Mathew Ryan's Brighton in the English Premier League, raising further questions about coach Mauricio Pochettino's ability to motivate last season's Champions League runners-up.
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Another dreadful error by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris led to Tottenham conceding inside three minutes on Saturday, the goal compounded by the France captain sustaining a serious elbow injury and requiring oxygen as he was carried off the field.
Aaron Connolly, an unheralded 19-year-old forward, then scored either side of halftime for Brighton, who hadn't won in the league since the opening day of the season.
Socceroos goalkeeper Ryan kept a clean sheet, while Aaron Mooy played a full 90 minutes in the right wing. It was one of the midfielder's most polished performances since his arrival from relegated Huddersfield in the offseason.
There were chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" by Brighton fans aimed at Pochettino, whose position came under renewed scrutiny after Tottenham lost 7-2 to Bayern in the Champions League on Tuesday.
That was the first team Spurs had conceded seven goals in a home match in any senior competition in their 137-year history.
Now comes a third, and heaviest, loss after eight games of the EPL campaign.
And last week, there was the embarrassing elimination from the League Cup by fourth-tier Colchester in the third round.
Pochettino is in his sixth year as Tottenham manager, sparking fears he has taken the team as far as he can and that things have gone stale at the club amid tensions in the squad.
Only four months ago, Spurs were playing in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Australian Associated Press
