Jose Mourinho's decision to take off goal-scorer Tanguy Ndombele with 20 minutes of Tottenham Hotspur's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers remaining on Sunday evening has been heavily criticised by both Jamie Redknapp and Bobby Zamora.
The duo pinpointed Ndombele's withdrawal as the moment that opened the door for Wolves to seal a route back into the contest, with centre-back Romain Saiss heading home an equaliser with just four minutes of normal time remaining, cancelling out Ndombele's opening minute strike.
The French midfielder, who has been one of Spurs' most-improved performers so far this season, was replaced by Moussa Sissoko in the centre of the park as Mourinho looked to shield his side's one-goal lead.
However, the Portuguese chief's decision backfired, with Spurs conceding via a corner as the clock ticked down.
Following the full-time whistle, both Redknapp and Zamora questioned Mourinho's decision to take the midfield architect off when only leading by one goal.
Redknapp told Sky Sports: "He made a substitution on the 70th minute when he brought off Tanguy Ndombele, who was in the form of his life; he was running the game, doing great things, full of confidence and then he took him off.
"That sets the tone for the rest of the players. He took Son off as well and he [Mourinho] is saying: 'We are now going to hang on to what we have got.'
"That then transmits to the players and you get deeper and deeper, and in the end the inevitable comes. They were playing against a team that keeps going; we know they score late goals.
"I think, when you have given points away against West Ham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Liverpool, all in the last few minutes, it is a trait that they got to try and change.
"They shouldn't be giving away those points. They should be hanging on."
Alongside Redknapp in the Sky Sports studio was former West Ham United and Fulham striker Zamora, who was in complete agreement with his colleague's assessment.
"He [Redknapp] is right. It is not something that Jose is used to, I don't think and it is certainly not something he wants to continue," Zamora commented. "Like Jamie said, taking Ndombele off was huge.
"For me, he has been their standout player in the last couple of weeks. He holds onto the ball, buys the team time and those stats change when he comes off the pitch.
"Sissoko is not that sort of player. I think that effected the game and over time it paid."
Last season, Ndombele was a big let down following his big-money move from Lyon, with Mourinho hanging him out to dry following a 1-1 draw against Burnley back in March.
However, the Frenchman has turned his career around in north London, becoming one of the most important figures within Mourinho's side.
