Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says damaging defeat to Chelsea 'on me'

Ange Postecoglou said Tottenham "were nowhere near good enough" as they fell to another damaging defeat to Chelsea, conceding his players had lost belief in their approach.

A third successive defeat in the Premier League means Spurs' hopes of playing Champions League football next season are all but over as they trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points with four games left, even with a game in hand on the Midlands side.

Goals in each half from Trevoh Chalobah and Nicolas Jackson fired Chelsea to victory over their London rivals, whose miserable record at Stamford Bridge stands at a solitary win in their past 39 visits.

With their Champions League hopes fading, Postecoglou conceded his players are no longer playing with the confidence that infused their performances earlier this season.

Taking the blame for Tottenham's untimely slump, the Australian said: "It wasn't good enough and I have to take responsibility for that, it is on me.

"I am the manager and I am the one putting them out there and it was not good enough.

"When we put in a performance like we did in the first half it meant my message wasn't getting through."

Postecoglou was animated throughout the clash at Stamford Bridge and left frustrated with another disjointed display in attack, with Tottenham only able to produce three shots on target despite boasting more than 62 per cent possession.

Tottenham's inability to defend set-pieces was again on display. Chalobah opened the scoring when he connected with a thundering header to a Conor Gallagher free kick with the Spurs defence all at sea.

It was the 15th goal the visitors have conceded from set-pieces this season.

Those pitchside angles.