Spurs hit self-destruct button again as season agony prolonged

Breaking news from the world of sport: Spurs hit self-destruct button again as season agony prolonged Figure caption, Calvert-Lewin penalty earns Leeds draw at TottenhamByPhil McNulty Chief football writer at Tottenham Hotspur StadiumPublished2 minutes agoThe sight of Roberto De Zerbi pulling a black hood over his face as he stalked the touchline was a symbol of another night of self-destruction by Tottenham Hotspur. New head coach De Zerbi was a picture of anguish after Richarlison squandered a chance to put Spurs in a comfort zone by blazing a simple chance over the bar as they led Leeds United by Mathys Tel's spectacular strike. It would not have settled the game - 2-0 is no guarantee with Spurs - but it might just have settled the nerves jangling around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Italian is learning quickly that no such territory as a comfort zone exists at Spurs, and certainly not when presented with the opportunity to put daylight between themselves and West Ham United and make their lives easier in the Premier League relegation battle. And so it proved as goalscorer Tel went from hero to zero in a moment of total recklessness after 74 minutes to concede the penalty that allowed Leeds to equalise from the penalty spot and deprive Spurs of two precious points. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Roberto De Zerbi has won eight points in five games as Tottenham head coachTottenham held by Leeds as relegation fight takes another twist Tel had already shown his erratic side in the first half when he found himself in a tight spot in his own penalty, then attempted to resolve the problem by delivering a perfect cross onto the head of an onrushing Leeds United forward, only for Kevin Danso's desperate clearance to spare his embarrassment.

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This was nothing compared to a bicycle kick in his own area that connected with Ethan Ampadu's head, leaving the Leeds captain in a heap. The Video Assistant Referee merely confirmed what everyone else in stadium knew, De Zerbi raising his eyes to the heavens as Dominic Calvert-Lewin slammed home the penalty. After being a relatively low-key presence in his early Spurs games, which have included vital wins away at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa, this was the night when the Italian's combustible temperament bubbled throughout.

De Zerbi jumped up and down on the spot in disgust at slow play from his team in the first half, then incurred the wrath of referee Jarred Gillett, who delivered a touchline dressing down as the Italian repeatedly left his technical area. He received a yellow card as things threatened to boil over late on, with 13 minutes of added time increasing the unbearable tension around the stadium. No wonder De Zerbi looked so frustrated at the final whistle, because the door to survival that opened wider when West Ham United lost so contentiously to Arsenal on Sunday, suddenly closed again as they missed the chance to open up a significant four-point advantage going into the final two games of the season.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.