Boss gives verdict on seeing another two home points snatched away
PEPE Mel admits Tottenham proved too hot to handle in the second-half as the visitors came from 3-0 down to force a last-gasp draw at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies romped into a three-goal lead just after half-an-hour thanks to goals from Matej Vydra, Chris Brunt and Stephane Sessegnon.
Ben Foster also saved Emmanuel Adebayor’s 16th-minute spot-kick.
But Jonas Olsson’s unfortunate 34th-minute own goal gave Spurs a lifeline and Tim Sherwood’s sixth-place side, who smashed five past Sunderland in a 5-1 win on Monday, made their pressure count after the break as Harry Kane nodded home on 70.
Albion looked like holding on for all three points – but for the second successive home game the hosts were dealt the crushing blow of conceding a stoppage time equaliser as Christian Eriksen struck in the 94th minute.
“Yes, we’re cross and sad,” said Mel, whose team remain 16th but are now three points above the drop zone with five games remaining, having played a match less than three of the four sides below them.
“It’s the second time at home it’s happened and we really need the points.
“Yes, Tottenham are a top-six side and they’re one of the best teams in this league and I think we deserve a lot of credit for our very good first half.
“I think the second half is just one of those things that happens in football.
“It is the third time this has happened, because it also happened at Villa, and while we work very hard to go and score the goals, we have to work equally hard to make sure we don’t concede the goals.
“We need to work on our defensive ideas to clear up these errors.
“Yes, I agree we sat back too much – but no-one had been given any orders to play further back.
“Tottenham played very well and, I’m not sure why, but we kept falling and falling further back.”