Ange Postecoglou takes blame after Ipswich Town stun Tottenham in Premier League upset

Ange Postecoglou took responsibility for Tottenham's performance levels in the Premier League after their 2-1 defeat against Ipswich Town.

The Tractor Boys started the afternoon in the relegation zone but went 2-0 up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium through goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap.

Rodrigo Bentancur got one back for the hosts after half-time, but it was not enough as Tottenham fell to their fifth defeat of the season.

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The victory was Ipswich's first win in the Premier League since April 2002, and Postecoglou believes that he needs to get more consistent performances out of his players.

"Hugely disappointing," he told BBC Sport. "We started slow and passively. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

"Second half, we had chances but didn’t do enough to win the game.

"It's just down to me. I’m not getting consistent performances from the players. It’s something I need to address.

"I’m the person in charge, so that’s usually the way it goes. I take responsibility. We can’t give ourselves those kinds of mountains to climb."

Kieran McKenna, Manager of Ipswich Town, celebrates as Omari Hutchinson and Sammie Szmodics of Ipswich Town embrace after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Ipswich Town FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Image credit: Getty Images

Postecoglou will now see some players head away on international duty, and he added: "They all go away so there's nothing I can address in the next 13 days until I get them back."

Tottenham are now in 10th, 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Bentancur's goal with 21 minutes remaining gave Spurs hope, but Postecoglou believes Ipswich disrupted the game in a way that officials should be clamping down on.

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"It seems to be the way the Premier League is going [players going down injured to kill time]," he added.

"Clubs are taking strategic time-outs. We just have to cop it. It’s up to the officials, not me."

Kieran McKenna has overseen a remarkable turnaround at Portman Road, leading the club from 12th in League One to their first Premier League victory in 22 years.

He believes the win was a massive moment for the club.

"It's been a long time for the club, 22 years since the supporters saw a win in the Premier League," he told BBC Sport.

"The journey to get to here has been a big one. It feels a bit special today. We believe we’ve been improving.

"We’ve picked up five out of 10 results but were waiting for the first win to validate the work and improvements.

"It’s a massive moment, one to cherish."

Ed Sheeran met the players in the away dressing room after full-time, and McKenna was happy to share the moment with the lifelong Ipswich Town fan.

McKenna said: "He [Ed Sheeran] popped into the dressing room, which is nice.

"We’re wearing the third kit he had a part in designing.

"It was really important [to hang on]. If we’d conceded at the end, it would have been a big blow.

"To get one over the line like that we’ve deserved for quite a few weeks. The players are delighted. They know it’s a win to cherish."

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