SOCCER | PREMIER LEAGUE
Nuno claims Spurs were better side despite West Ham defeat
Tottenham, who suffered defeat in midweek against Vitesse Arnhem, were once again downed by West Ham as the Hammers moved into the top four.
Nuno Espirito Santo claimed Tottenham were the better side despite limping to an insipid 1-0 defeat against West Ham on Saturday.
Spurs failed to record any second-half shot - on target or otherwise - as they collected a fifth consecutive Premier League London derby defeat thanks to Michail Antonio's second-half strike.
Tottenham forward Harry Kane has also now failed to score in each of his last five top-flight London derbies, his joint-longest wait for a goal since a run between May and December 2014.
Spurs head coach Nuno, however, insisted his side dominated proceedings at the London Stadium and did not deserve to come out on the losing side.
Nuno: "We were better than West Ham"
"All the game I think we played better, we were better than West Ham," Nuno told Tottenham's official media post-match.
"We controlled the game, the possession, the first half we created chances but we needed to be more accurate with them.
"All the game was under the control but just a moment from a set-piece we lacked our typical focus and then we concede.
"The boys were prepared, they did a good job. The aspects we need to improve are we need to be aggressive in the final third and be more accurate with the passes.
Nuno opted to not make a substitute until the 84th minute, introducing Bryan Gil and Giovani Lo Celso as he attempted to unlock West Ham's deep defence.
The former Wolves head coach defended his decision to delay his alterations, while commenting on how difficult the Hammers' defence is to breach.
"No, the game like I said was under control," Nuno told reporters at his post-match news conference.
"Changes are required when we think we should [make them]. The boys were playing good and then we made the changes in the moment that we felt that the team needed.
"Because West Ham defend in the box with a lot of men, there was not much space and we should've moved the ball faster and go to wide areas.
"But is always difficult when the team and all men are behind the ball, it is difficult to find spaces and gaps.
"It is always frustrating, a London derby that we know means a lot to our fans, means a lot to us and we were not able to win it. I am disappointed because it hurts, I know it hurts."