Harry Kane lamented a missed opportunity for Tottenham to demonstrate their Premier League title credentials but vowed they will pick themselves up quickly.
Spurs could have moved to within two points of Manchester City and Liverpool, who are now back on top of the table, with victory over Burnley at Turf Moor but slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
The good news was the return of Kane after seven games out with an ankle injury, who was Tottenhamโs chief threat and scored Spursโ equaliser in the 65th minute.
He said: โObviously it was a big chance for us to get the three points and get that little bit closer. Itโs a shame because, when we needed to find another gear, we didnโt have it in the locker.
โWeโve got to be real with ourselves, weโve got a tough week coming up so weโve got to dust it off and be ready for that. It was a big opportunity and itโs a shame we couldnโt take it.โ
It was deja vu for Spurs, who have shown a frustrating tendency over the past few seasons to fail to put their foot on the accelerator when a real title tilt appears to be within their grasp.
Their next three games see them face Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League before taking on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
And Kane added: โIt would be nice if we could have put the pressure on and won the first game and built from that.
โWe donโt always want to be having to react from a poor result. But weโll dust it off. Weโve still got a lot to play for.
โPeople will probably say now itโs a two-horse race but thatโs not our problem. All we can do is take care of ourselves. Today was disappointing but weโll look to bounce back as quickly as possible.
โWeโre a team who donโt like to make excuses but weโve been playing away from home for the last two years, weโve had a tough time, but it is what it is.
โWeโre in the hunt for the Premier League, weโre still in the Champions League so weโre in a good place. Weโve been there for a few years, weโve got to see whether we can take it up another level.โ
Kane is no stranger to ankle injuries but once again returned ahead of schedule having initially been expected to be sidelined until the middle of March.
โItโs a lifestyle,โ said the 25-year-old. โItโs not that you get injured and then what can I do to get better, itโs what you do throughout the whole year that, when you do get injured, your body already knows what to do.
โIโm hungry, I always want to get back as quick as possible. But Iโve got to make sure itโs right as well.
โWe got the balance right and it felt good out there today. Hopefully I can catch a bit of luck and it wonโt happen again.โ
