RAGING TOTTENHAM star Dejan Kulusevski had to be dragged away by his team-mates after confronting the referee at full-time last night.
The 23-year-old Sweden international and the rest of Ange Postecoglou’s men blew a 1-0 lead for the fifth straight game as they lost 2-1 at home to West Ham.
GettyDejan Kulusevski had to be dragged back from confronting the referee at full time[/caption]
GettyThe Spurs ace was fuming as he was booked despite getting a cut lip from Lucas Paqueta’s elbow[/caption]
Kulusevski’s mouth was bleeding as he was pulled away from the ref by staff and team-matesPA
Cristian Romero fired Spurs ahead on 11 minutes with a header.
But Jarrod Bowen levelled for the Hammers shortly after half time before James Ward-Prowse completed the comeback on 74 minutes.
Postecoglou and skipper Son Heung-min were both fuming afterwards – but no-one appeared to be as angry as Kulusevski.
He appeared to be caught by the elbow of West Ham star Lucas Paqueta during a challenge in the match.
However, referee Michael Salisbury booked Kulusevski and allowed his South American rival to escape unpunished.
Salisbury’s decision left Kulusevski irate, and both Destiny Udogie and Richarlison had to physically restrain him from getting in the official’s face.
Fortunately for the already depleted Spurs, the ex-Juventus man did not receive any further punishment from Salisbury.
That result made it five games without a win in the Premier League for Spurs.
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Their talisman forward Son said afterwards: “It is unacceptable.
“As players [we] should take responsibility. Attacking players should [especially] feel responsibility because we had chances to kill the game.”
Manager Postecoglou added: “If you dominate a game of football you have to turn it into something meaningful and we didn’t.
“We let ourselves down when we should have won the games [we have taken the lead in] comfortably.”
GettyKulusevski was left clutching his face in agony after the elbow incident[/caption]
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