Alan Shearer believes that Tottenham are already out of the title race after their last-gasp defeat to Wolves despite being just two points off the top of the Premier League.
Tottenham made a remarkable start to the campaign, with new manager Ange Postecoglou winning Manager of the Month three times in a row after guiding his side on a ten-game unbeaten run.
The run saw them impressively beat Manchester United and Liverpool while drawing away at Arsenal, but their momentum has been halted after a disappointing week.
Having lost 4-1 in a chaotic London derby against Chelsea on Monday, Spurs ceded further ground to the other title challengers after a dramatic 2-1 defeat away at Wolves.
Brennan Johnson had put north London side ahead, but they were left empty-handed after injury-time goals from Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina secured a late win for Gary O’Neil’s side.
Although the result only leaves them two points behind league leaders Manchester City, Shearer believes Spurs will now struggle to keep pace with the teams above them.
‘To be beaten by two stoppage-time goals at Molineux on Saturday was a cruel way for Tottenham to suffer their second defeat of the week, but I never expected them to challenge for the title anyway,’ the former Newcastle striker said in his column for the BBC.
‘Even after losing to Chelsea and then Wolves, Spurs have still done much better than I expected.
‘Their aim for this campaign has to be to finish fourth or fifth, which might be enough to secure Champions League football for next season, and I don’t feel that changed despite their strong start.’
Alongside their recent defeats, Postecoglou’s side have been ravaged by injury with James Maddison, Micky van der Ven and Richarlison all set for extended spells on the sidelines.
Spurs will look to return to winning ways after the international break but face a tough task against fifth-placed Aston Villa who have only lost one of their last eight games.
They then travel to face current league leaders Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
MORE : Ange Postecoglou reacts to Tottenham’s late collapse against Wolves
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