Tottenham Hotspur still ‘need to improve a lot and learn a lot’ says Pochettino after win

'For me, the end starts when you have 10, 9, 8 games left, that is the realistic time' to talk title or otherwise, said Mauricio Pochettino after his young Spurs squad defeated Sunderland on Saturday.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino shakes hands with Harry Kane on Saturday during Spurs' Premier League win at White Hart Lane. Paul Childs / Action Images / Reuters / January 16, 2016

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was pleased on Saturday with his side's reaction bouncing back from a previous loss and going down early – but is still refusing to talk of winning the title.

“It was a very important victory a good reaction,” he said.

“It was a good performance. I’m very pleased, another great effort from the team and the squad and I’m very happy.

“I think it is early to start to speak about the title, we need to improve a lot and learn a lot, we are a young squad. It is important to keep working hard because in football the situation can turn quickly.”

Read more: Greg Lea on Mousa Dembele showing he can be the man to rev Tottenham's engine

Patrick van Aanholt had fired Sunderland ahead at White Hart Lane only for Christian Eriksen to level for the hosts 91 seconds later.

Shortly afterwards Mousa Dembele arrowed in a second for Tottenham before subbed on defender Jan Kirchhoff’s token attempt at blocking an Eriksen shot from distance saw the ball loop up off his leg and past debutant goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The defender’s abject afternoon was compounded when he tripped Danny Rose in the penalty area to allow Harry Kane to sweep home the resulting spot-kick.

The victory, coupled with West Ham United's loss to Newcastle United, leaves Spurs firmly ensconced in fourth. Pochettino's men are four points off Premier League leaders Manchester City, who went top on goal difference with their 4-0 win over Crystal Palace. Arsenal and Leicester City, also level on points at the top, play on Sunday and later Saturday, respectively.

Pochettino indicated he was happy with the order of things so far, but insisted there is yet a long way to go for his team to put their sights on greater glory.

“It is true we are in a good position, we are fourth in the table but we need to keep working hard and to win the next game.

“Always for me, the end starts when you have 10, 9, 8 games left. That is the realistic time,” to talk about title chances.

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce, meanwhile, admitted it was a risk signing Kirchhoff after the defender endured a debut to forget.

The 25-year-old was signed from Bayern Munich during the week and came on at White Hart Lane with the scores level, before promptly playing a leading role in Spurs’ eventual win.

Allardyce said the former Germany Under 21 international needs time to adapt.

“There wasn’t a lot he could do about the deflection,” he told BBC Sport.

“But the penalty, you don’t hang a leg out there unless you’re certain you’ll win the ball. Hopefully he’ll learn quickly.

“It’s a bit risky signing players from abroad in January but we have to take that risk. Hopefully he learns from today.”

Allardyce, whose side remain in the bottom three as they battle against the drop, also hit out at his players for conceding so soon after getting in front at White Hart Lane.

“Our players put themselves in one fantastic position and then in the space of a minute conceded. It’s one of the reasons we ended up losing,” he said.

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