POCH LAMENTS SPURS' "TOUGH FIXTURE SCHEDULE " IN TITLE TILT

Spurs fixture schedule 'tough' - manager Pochettino

Spurs lost out at West Ham. Credit: PA

Mauricio Pochettino admitted Tottenham's gruelling schedule may have caught up with them after they missed the chance to go top of the Premier League.

Spurs travelled to West Ham on Wednesday night knowing a victory would have taken them above Leicester, but Michail Antonio's first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory for the Hammers and ended Tottenham's six-game winning run.

Having to juggle their Premier League commitments with the Europa League and - until last week - the FA Cup appeared to have taken its toll on Pochettino's players at Upton Park.

We are near the top after a very busy period. We played Europa League, FA Cup and now three Premier League games in one week. It's tough.

The Premier League is very competitive, with no easy games. You need to be 100 per cent mentally and physically.

But there is no excuse, only that we were poor in the first half.

– MAURICIO POCHETTINO