LONDON: Leicester pushed Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou closer to the sack with a 2-1 win that extended the north London side’s dismal run and lifted the Foxes out of the Premier League relegation zone on Sunday.

Postecoglou’s troubled team blew the lead on home turf as they crumbled to a sixth defeat in their last seven league games.

With only one win in their last 11 top-flight matches, Tottenham are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the bottom three.

It was another woeful result for the beleaguered Postecoglou, who has faced mounting calls for his dismissal throughout a turbulent second season in charge.

Tottenham are dangerously close to being sucked into the relegation battle and trips to Brentford and Aston Villa in their next two league games — either side of a League Cup semi-final second leg clash with Liverpool — could decide the Australian’s fate.

“It is a disappointing result, but at the same time I can’t ask anymore from this group of players. Some of them aren’t 100 percent but they are trying their hardest,” Postecoglou said. “Things just aren’t falling for us. It is not an atmosphere where it is easy at the moment. We’ve got to get through this as united as possible.”

Tottenham hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg against Liverpool and a Wembley appearance could buy Postecoglou time to get his team back on track.

With 14 players absent for Thursday’s Europa League win at Hoffenheim, Tottenham’s injury crisis has led to criticism of Postecoglou’s tactics and the level of intensity in training.

The former Celtic boss accepts the blame for the rash of injuries, but his claims that Tottenham remain on the right path under his leadership look more questionable with each woeful result that edges him closer to the axe.

While Postecoglou fights to save his job, Leicester manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy can breathe a little easier over his own future.

Van Nistelrooy, who replaced Steve Cooper in December, had presided over seven successive league defeats before their much-needed success against Tottenham.

Leicester are now one place and one point above the relegation zone and Van Nistelrooy said: “It’s a massive win. The players are buying into it. I can only be very proud of this team.”

On a filthy, rain-lashed afternoon, a protest banner against Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was unveiled by fans before kick-off with the slogan “24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy - time for change”.

In the 33rd minute, Pedro Porro whipped a pin-point cross into the Leicester area and Richarlison rose to head home from close-range for just his third goal this season.

But Leicester equalised less than 60 seconds after half-time when Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s cross was mishandled by Antonin Kinsky, ricocheting off Jamie Vardy’s shin as it trickled into the net.

Just four minutes later, Morocco forward Bilal El Khannouss took possession in the Tottenham half and advanced unchecked by Postecoglou’s sloppy defence before curling a fine finish past Kinsky.

With chants of “we want Levy out” growing more audible by the second, Postecoglou’s furious expression told the story of Tottenham’s plight.

Postecoglou’s decision to take off Richarlison was jeered by Tottenham fans, whose patience is wearing thin.

Brentford benefitted from penalty controversy to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. Thomas Frank’s team earned a 66th minute penalty when Marc Guehi made a hash of clearing and the panicked Maxence Lacroix fouled Nathan Collins.

Bryan Mbeumo’s spot-kick hit the post, but Palace’s reprieve was short-lived as VAR ruled Guehi had encroached before the shot.

The Brentford forward gratefully accepted his second chance by sending Palace keeper Dean Henderson the wrong way for his 14th goal this season.

Kevin Schade netted in the 80th minute for Brentford and Palace winger Romain Esse came off the bench to score with his first touch on his debut five minutes later.

Late on Saturday, Manchester City bounced back after conceding an early goal to beat Chelsea 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium, sparing the blushes of their debutant defender Abdukodir Khusanov whose error gifted the visitors the lead.

Uzbek Khusanov, signed this week from French side Lens, got his City career off to the worst possible start when his mistake in the third minute allowed Nicolas Jackson to steal the ball and square it for Noni Madueke to put Chelsea in front.

City struck back though, with defender Josko Gvardiol levelling three minutes before halftime and Erling Haaland putting the hosts in front after 68 minutes before Phil Foden’s breakaway goal in the 87th wrapped up the three points.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2025