LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino lamented Tottenham's uncharacteristic first-half display as Spurs blew the chance to go top of the Premier League with a 1-0 defeat to West Ham at Upton Park.
Michail Antonio's seventh-minute header from Dimitry Payet's corner handed the Hammers the points in the final meeting between the London rivals at the Boleyn Ground.
Spurs were completely outrun in the first half and had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping the scoreline at 1-0. But the visitors found some rhythm after the break, and went close through Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.
Pochettino admitted Spurs were not their usual selves in the first period but felt they deserved a draw for their efforts after the break.
"The first half was poor. We never found the solution to play in the way we normally play. Second half, we tried to play, create chances and manage the game. Two different halves -- the first half we were poor, second half we tried to play as we normally play.
"We made some mistakes that normally we don't make. It's true it was difficult. We repeated the first 20 minutes we played against Swansea. It was difficult to start the game against Swansea on Sunday and today we started not so good and we conceded the goal and it was very difficult. West Ham played better than us.
"We were poor. This is true. We know. Our players know and we're very disappointed. The pitch didn't help us play in the way we wanted to play.
"In the changing room, the players are very disappointed and feel very bad. The way they fought in the second half was fantastic -- we only missed scoring. The problem is that we missed 45 minutes. We conceded chances, a goal and didn't play as we normally play.
"Our players are very disappointed in the way [we conceded]. We lost ball, conceded a corner and they scored from the set piece. They believed more and we had some problems in the first half but the second half we deserved more and the draw was fair. You know you need to score."
Spurs could have topped the Premier League for the first time outside of August in their history with a win but the blow was softened by Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Swansea at the Emirates Stadium.
Pochettino's side remain three points clear of the Gunners ahead of Saturday's pivotal North London derby at White Hart Lane, and three shy of league leaders Leicester.