Toby Alderweireld reiterates Tottenham wake-up call

  • Tottenham were stunned in the Carabao Cup fourth round by West Ham 
  • Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli helped Spurs to a two-goal lead in the first half
  • The Hammers recovered to score three times in the second half to snatch a win
  • Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld has labelled the defeat a ‘reality check’
  • The Belgian insisted that Mauricio Pochettino’s side will not dramatise the loss 

Toby Alderweireld admits Tottenham received a reality check after throwing away their two-goal lead before losing to West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Spurs were unbeaten in 11 games and arrived at Wembley after thrashing Liverpool in the Premier League and holding Real Madrid to a draw at the Bernabeu in the Champions League.

But they were undone by a struggling West Ham side that scored three times in the second half to pull off an unlikely 3-2 win to shock their bitter London rivals.

Toby Alderweireld insists that Tottenham must learn from their shock defeat by West Ham

The Spurs defender claimed that defeat will not be dramatised by Mauricio Pochettino’s team

Moussa Sissoko puts Spurs ahead with under five minutes of the first half played

Moussa Sissoko puts Spurs ahead with under five minutes of the first half played

Andre Ayew scored twice and Angelo Ogbonna’s header completed the turnaround after Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko had put Tottenham in control.

‘We were not flying or anything in our heads, but I think it’s a good reality check that you still need to work very hard, even if you’re 2-0 up, to get results,’ Alderweireld said.

‘You have to keep the level up because if you drop it a little bit you see what happens. It’s a good thing to learn.

‘Of course we’d love to have won, but we don’t have to be too dramatic about it. Next time we have to do better, and we focus on Saturday.’

Andre Ayew kickstarts the Hammers comeback as he stabs home their first goal

Andre Ayew kickstarts the Hammers comeback as he stabs home their first goal

Tottenham visit Manchester United on Saturday in a battle of second in the Premier League and they will hope to have Harry Kane back for a crucial trip to Old Trafford.

Kane was rested after going off clutching his hamstring against Liverpool, but the club remain optimistic he will be available to face Jose Mourinho’s United.

West Ham’s victory eases the pressure on manager Slaven Bilic, but they must carry the momentum into their own crunch match on Saturday away to rock-bottom Crystal Palace, while West Ham are 16th and only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Ayew then heads in the winner for the Hammers at Wembley to go reach the quarter final

Ayew then heads in the winner for the Hammers at Wembley to go reach the quarter final

‘When you’re at a club like West Ham and the results are difficult, the manager is under pressure, and the players are too, but we just need to keep working hard,’ Ayew said.

‘The manager knows the players are behind him and will give everything, not just for him but for themselves too because we have to wear the shirt with pride.

‘It’s a massive win, but we need to stay calm because we’ve got a massive game on Saturday.’ 

Ayew has also calmed West Ham's celebrations as he eyes a crucial clash with Crystal Palace

Ayew has also calmed West Ham’s celebrations as he eyes a crucial clash with Crystal Palace

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