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Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has revealed that part of his team’s philosophy is to set things up to have control of the game and shorter passes ensure that.

Spurs this season have built-up play from the back and there has not been a single long goal-kick taken by Postecoglou’s men.

Asked about that surprising statistic, Postecoglou insisted that it is part of the way they play their football.

Shorter passes ensure that the team starts off with possession, the Australian insists, and that is what he wants his team to do – not to lose possession.

“We might have played one or two longer but I won’t second guess your research”, Postecoglou said at a press conference when told about the statistic.

“It’s part of the way we want to play our football. The shorter pass means you’re going to start off with possession.

“We don’t want to give away possession.

“The kind of team we are, we want to set things up so we have control of the game and the shorter pass guarantees that and from there you move your way forward.”

Tottenham have stuck to their attacking football this season but have failed to manufacture consistent results, currently being placed ninth in the Premier League with three wins and three losses in their seven matches.

Tottenham resume their campaign after the international break with a match against West Ham United on Saturday.

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Oxford United boss Des Buckingham thinks that Tottenham Hotspur loanee Dane Scarlett scoring his first goal for England Under-21s is a special moment for the player.

The 20-year-old joined Championship outfit Oxford United on a season-long loan to help his development after a disappointing last season.

Scarlett, however, has been prolific for England’s youth teams and at the weekend he featured for the England Under-21 side while netting a goal in their 7-0 win over Azerbaijan in a Under-21 Euro qualifier.

The Tottenham loanee’s goal against Azerbaijan is his first goal for England Under-21s and Oxford boss Buckingham believes that it is a proud moment for the Tottenham star and his family.

“I think it is great for the players and the families”, Buckingham told Oxford’s media.

“First and foremost, the opportunity to go and represent your country and I use people like PK [Peter Kioso], who for DR Congo got called up for the first time and how much that means for him all the way to Mark Harris making his first international start and the likes of Dane Scarlett as well, who scored his first international goal for the Under-21s after being called up from the Under-20s, amongst the others.

“It is always a very special moment.”

However, Scarlett has yet to start a league game for Oxford this season and has not scored in his five league appearances for the Championship outfit.

The Tottenham loanee will be hoping to turn around his form in the coming weeks to get his season up and running.