Tottenham boss Ange Postecolgou refuses to clarify ‘unfair’ claim four times in spiky interview

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou delivered a fiery yet evasive post-match interview after the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.

An injury-depleted Spurs took the lead inside four minutes but fell to a tenth Premier League loss of the season at home in north London.

Newcastle’s first goal, scored by Anthony Gordon, was a subject of controversy after the ball hit Joelinton’s hand in the build-up.

It was allowed to stand and the Premier League explained that his arm was ‘in a natural position’ and ‘the contact was accidental’.

Postecoglou seemingly took aim at the officiating in an explosive post-match interview with talkSPORT, while lauding his players.

However, the Tottenham boss refused to fully explain his complaints when asked four times by talkSPORT’s chief football commentator Sam Matterface.

“Outstanding effort by the players, I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Postecoglou said when giving his assessment of the match.

“From start to finish, I thought our endeavour, our football, our will to try and play the way we want to, the situation we were in, it was just brilliant.

“On any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game.”

Matterface asked Postecoglou to clarify his comment, but Postecoglou hastily replied: “Just that we would have won that game if it was an even and fair playing ground, mate.”

Matterface then asked what he thought was unfair about the match, but the Spurs boss offered another frustrated response.

“I think it’s pretty evident what was unfair about it,” he said.

Once again, Matterface asked for clarity over whether it was the officials who bothered Postecoglou.

The Tottenham manager replied: “You don’t want to have an opinion, you want to ask for my opinion? My opinion is it that it wasn’t an even and fair playing field, that’s it.”

A fourth time, Matterface asked what initially got Postecoglou’s goat.

Postecoglou responded: “Nothing got my goat.

“I just loved the way my players played and on any other day, that performance would have got the three points.

“Everything we did was outstanding and we deserved to win that game.

“You don’t want to say anything? That’s fine. You want me to say something? I’m not, I’m just telling you that today, we deserved to win.”

Spurs next face Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, live on talkSPORT, with injury issues lingering.

“We’ll just go out there and play our football like we did today,” Postecoglou said on how difficult it will be against the holders.

“Hopefully the playground’s a lot fairer and more even on Wednesday night.”

Matterface finally asked how concerning it is that Spurs have won one of their last eight league matches, but Postecoglou had enough.

“I love the way we played today, love the way we played,” he said before walking off.

Tottenham took the lead in the opening moments when Dominic Solanke headed in from an excellent Pedro Porro cross.

Gordon equalised just two minutes later though before Alexander Isak netted the winner from close range ahead of half-time.

Spurs’ first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario remains absent with an injury and his deputy Fraser Forster missed the match with illness.

Postecoglou handed Brandon Austin his senior debut in between the sticks as a result.

Amid their goalkeeping absences, Spurs have agreed a £12.5million deal with Slavia Prague to sign 21-year-old Antonin Kinsky.