Everton 3-2 Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou under pressure after Everton loss

They turned their anger on chairman Daniel Levy and delivered a sarcastic “ole” as Spurs put passes together. The excitement of Everton’s supporters, who enjoyed just a fourth league win of the season, was met with: “You’re nothing special, we lose every week.”

The half-time whistle was met with pure vitriol, and things were only made slightly less toxic by the two late strikes that made for a tense finish of sorts.

The Spurs got what they deserved: nothing.

Postecoglou’s change of defensive strategy to three at the back failed dismally, although he insisted this was merely an attempt to find a structure with the personnel at his disposal.

The Spurs manager clearly has issues but contrasts their results and football with Andoni Iraola’s at Bournemouth.

He was without eight players and had a total of just 39 appearances on the bench at Newcastle United on Saturday, compared to the home side’s 979.

Iraola still conjured up a tactical masterclass with a 4-1 victory that leaves the Cherries unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions, just one point off the Champions League places.

This comparison is stark and unflattering for Spurs and Postecoglou.

All eyes will increasingly be on Levy, who is not known for his patience or increased tenure for struggling leaders, especially when he is the main target of clamorous discontent, not the man on the technical side.

The Spurs fans went through their full anti-Levy song sheet – never good news for any manager under his rule.

The idea of ​​firing Postecoglou is the easy bit. The hard part is finding any quality ones available now. Change for the sake of change is rarely a good solution.

Spurs and Postecoglou will be clinging to hopes of a 1-0 advantage in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool, where he will be hoping to get key defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven back fit, although Solanke will be a doubt, as he likely faces several weeks out.

They will need to play many levels above what they showed at Everton for hope not to be extinguished very quickly.

Postecoglou did not try to shy away from the problem, saying: “I have the responsibility for the group of players. I have to try to get us through this and that’s what I have to focus on.

“For me to focus on something else is to refrain from the responsibility that I have.”

And he remained defiant, adding: “My faith does not waver.

“We’re in a pretty extreme situation with injuries. If you look at the situation we’re in, eventually it will go away. I certainly hope and believe that it will.

“We want to give ourselves the opportunity to get consistency in performances and results. I certainly haven’t lost faith or the will to turn it around and the players showed in the second half that they haven’t either.”

Spurs now travel to Hoffenheim in the Europa League before a meeting with another of those Premier League strugglers, Leicester City, at home next Sunday.

‘Dr Tottenham’ has helped others – now a cure must be found closer to home, otherwise Postecoglou will be in deeper trouble.