Three things we learned from Chelsea loss as Tottenham take big step back on Thomas Frank’s worst night

Spurs have already lost to Bournemouth and Aston Villa at home this season but this, considering the occasion and the opposition, was particularly painful.

Efforts were made pre-match to boost the atmosphere, with the music inside the stadium stopped early. The problem was the players did not start.

There were boos at the break and then again when the referee called time on a 1-0 Chelsea win, courtesy of Joao Pedro’s first-half strike.

Spurs still sit third in the Premier League table but performances like this will not keep them there.

Spurs came into the match looking to improve on two shocking runs. One was the home form, which shows no sign of improving. From five matches in front of their own fans this season, Spurs have picked up four points. Only Burnley, who sit 17th in the table, have been beaten.

Spurs seem to shrink on home soil, particularly when the atmosphere turns edgy. It is a long-standing issue, with the team picking up just three wins from their last 19 Premier League matches at home.

Until Frank turns that around, there is a low ceiling on what his Spurs side can achieve.

It was also yet another miserable evening against Chelsea, who Spurs have beaten just once in the Premier League since 2018. They have now lost three in a row against the Blues and there was a grim inevitability about this result.

There had been promising signs for Spurs in the past week. With a slightly tweaked system consisting of two No10 in possession, Spurs looked more fluid from open play against both Everton and Newcastle.