Ange Postecoglou slammed as Tottenham torn to pieces

Ange Postecoglou is being mocked across the Premier League after his team was humiliated in brutal fashion on Friday.

Ange Postecoglou reacts inside the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton. Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham has been torn to pieces by Brighton.

Spurs were outclassed right from the start at the Falmer Stadium on Friday morning, butchering a chance to climb back up to third on the Premier League table.

Instead Postecoglou’s side has dropped further behind the league leaders after being put to the sword 4-2 by a resurgent Brighton team.

Stumped for gift ideas? This festive season, give the gift that keeps on giving. Gift a Kayo subscription from just $25 a month!

It was an utter nightmare for Postecoglou, who is now being widely criticised for his tactics — despite coming off a run of three consecutive wins.

The four-goal hiding means Spurs have conceded 19 goals since the start of November — the equal worst in the Premier League alongside Nottingham Forest.

Brighton went ahead in the 11th minute through teenager Jack Hinshellwood when he fired a rapid strike past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario inside the box.

Brighton doubled their advantage just 12 minutes later through Joao Pedro from the penalty spot thanks to a VAR check.

It was the first time Tottenham has gone down 2-0 down in a first half under Postecoglou’s reign.

The Aussie manager’s temper boiled over in the first half and he threw his hands in the air when Tottenham had a chance on goal that was blocked by a defender.

Ange Postecoglou speaks with Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Brighton. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images.

Dejan Kulusevski pulled down Danny Welbeck in the box. Picture: Supplied

Brighton added two more in the second half with Pedro’s second penalty making it 4-0 in the 75th minute.

Spurs showed some character in the dying minutes with two late goals.

Goals to Alejo Veliz and Ben Davies gave Spurs some hope in the 85th minute, but they were nothing but consolation goals in the end.

“It is fair to say we looked like a tired team today, which is understandable,” Postecoglou said after the match on the BBC.

“We’ve asked a lot of these players for a very long time and we lacked a little bit of energy today. They are a good team and we struggled to cope with them. We hung in there and that’s all you can ask for, they left everything out there.”

He went on to say: “There were positives at the end. This group of players are giving everything at the moment. It is demanding to play the football we ask and they are doing it week in week out. It’s not for a lack of effort.

“We haven’t been able to give the players a break at all and what we ask is pretty taxing.”

The late comeback was not enough to save Postecoglou from being given another lashing by his critics.

English football great Aaron McLean described Postecoglou’s tactics of continuing to play with a high defensive line as “stupid”.

It comes just days after Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer declared Postecoglou should be the next manager of Manchester United.

After three consecutive wins, Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville also said Postecoglou looks like an ideal replacement for Pep Guardiola if the manager ever leaves Manchester City.

That suddenly seems a long time ago.

Spurs next face Bournemouth at home on Sunday night (AEDT).