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Pochettino urges unbeaten Spurs to be more ruthless

Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 24: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Tottenham Hotspur at the Riverside Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

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Tottenham Hotspur remain unbeaten in the Premier League with 14 points from their opening six games, but Mauricio Pochettino isn’t totally satisfied.

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Spurs beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday as Heung-Min Son scored twice in the first half but in the second half they took their foot of the gas and failed to put the game to bed.

Without the injured Harry Kane Spurs created plenty of chances but Vincent Janssen once again failed to find the net in the Premier League, while Boro’s Ben Gibson scoring in the second half to make it closer than it should’ve been for Tottenham.

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Pochettino revealed his frustration.

“We fully deserved the result, the most important thing is the victory. Son was fantastic but it was a collective effort,” Pochettino said. “The first half was great and we should have scored more than two. We need to learn to be more aggressive and clinical.”

With Kane likely out injured for at least 6-8 weeks, Pochettino will hope attacking midfielders like Son, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela chip in with goals until Kane returns. Son has played his part with four goals in his last three games and the South Korean has now scored six goals and added an assist in his last seven PL games.

Janssen will be the main man to carry the goalscoring burden in Kane’s absence but the Dutchman has shown signs of failing to cope with the pace of the Premier League. After playing in Holland and only bursting into the Dutch top-flight last season, it will take Janssen time to adapt.

Spurs almost let their 2-0 lead slip on Saturday at Boro and Pochettino knows if they want to challenge for the title again this season his young side must be more ruthless in front of goal.

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