Tottenham midfielder James Maddison admits they weren't "brave enough" in defeat to Newcastle.
Newcastle thrashed Spurs 4-0 in today's early kickoff.
Maddison said: "Just a really bad day. We conceded the first goal and when you conceded a second so quickly after at a place like this, from the kick-off we sloppily went back to the keeper knowing they're going to press. You find yourself 2-0 down and give yourself a mountain to climb.
"I felt at 0-0 out there there were some chances for us, spaces to play. We just weren't brave enough I think with the ball - too many safe passes, too many safe options, not enough courage to try and play a riskier pass. It was all a bit safe which I think cost us at 0-0. When you concede two so quickly it's sloppy little details that cost us."
On how the players rallied around Micky van de Van after his mistakes, he added: "It's one of those, you've got to get the balance right. You know if you make an error that costs a goal, you're the one to hold your hands up. We struggled to bounce back from anything. This season we've been good after conceding but today that wasn't the case."