James Maddison spoke after Tottenham Hotspur were deservedly beaten 3-2 by Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League
James Maddison pulled no punches after Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-2 defeat at Everton. The Spurs vice-captain cut a disconsolate figure after a first-half performance he called “unacceptable.”
Everton were three goals to the good at the break thanks to fantastic finishes from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye and an Archie Gray own goal. And, by the time Dejan Kulusevski reduced the deficit in the 77th minute with a lovely chip, the deficit could have been even greater.
Injury-hit Tottenham did manage to set up a nervy finale when Richarlison scored his fourth goal in three appearances against his former club two minutes into injury-time.
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But the Blues managed to hold on to secure the first win of the returning David Moyes‘ reign and pile the pressure on Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, whose side are now 14th after taking just one point from their last six Premier League matches.
And Tottenham and England midfielder Maddison told Sky Sports: “We’re in a tough moment, there’s no denying that. It was a tough afternoon.
“They were quite direct but we should do better for the goals. We need to be more resilient, we need to be more tougher to score against – collectively. It was a tough first half.
“We’re in a tough moment at the minute. It’s a very depleted squad. But there were no excuses for that first half. The message (at half-time) was to be resilient, take a bit of pride in the second half, and we nearly got back into it, but it was too little, too late, and it was a tough afternoon.
“We have 11 senior players fit – 12 with Richarlison, who was nowhere near ready to start with his injury – so there is context to it, but ultimately, for those 11 starters, those 11 professionals, that first half was unacceptable. We know that.
“The fans will have their opinion and will criticise – and rightly so. We’ve got to stare that in the face and take it on the chin.
“They probably don’t want to hear me talking too much either – they want action and we’ve got a big chance to do that against Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, and show some resilience, because they deserve that.”
