In the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Blues gave as good as we got and that was despite losing talisman defender Thiago Silva to injury early on. However Spurs midfielder Oliver Skipp blasted in a goal within seconds of the restart and with an equaliser proving elusive, Harry Kane completed the home side’s win with their second late on.

‘I’m frustrated of course, disappointed with the result,’ was Potter’s initial reaction afterwards.

‘I thought we started the game well. For the first 20 to 30 minutes we were playing well – good regains higher up, decent control, we drove them back a little bit and had some opportunities in terms of shots and good energy in the team.

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‘The first half was relatively even, Spurs had a moment as well themselves, there was nothing in the game. And then the second half starts as badly as you can start from our perspective. In a tight game, often the first goal is really important, and while we huffed and puffed in the second half, we didn't do enough to score and then the killer goal is the second one, which is a set-piece in a game with not too many opportunities.

‘It is a game when it is not easy to create chance after chance because Tottenham defend well, in terms of numbers and with a back five.

Highlighting that it is his job to pick the players up after a result like this one, Potter added:

‘The feeling among the players is one of support. They're fighting for each other. They're fighting for the team. They want to do better and they're hurting.

‘I can feel that they want the results to get better and we're in a really tough moment. I feel for them and my job is to try to support them.'

On the subject of support, Potter praised the way the Chelsea fans are sticking by the players.

‘Our supporters have been very fair. They have supported the team. I have absolutely no complaints with the support. They're entitled to be frustrated and upset and angry with the results, and that's my responsibility. So I have absolutely no complaints with the supporters.’

Our head coach gave an early report on the condition of Thiago Silva who was replaced by Wesley Fofana before a quarter of the game was played, having been hurt when challenging Harry Kane close to our goal.

‘Hopefully it's not too serious but I haven't spoken to the doctor enough to have a diagnosis yet,’ said Potter, who also reported the Mateo Kovacic was absent due to injury.