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Amie Wilson

Spurs news: Vertonghen's absence explained, Pochettino on Ajax advantage and West Ham defeat

Tottenham suffered their first defeat at their new home on Saturday.

Michail Antonio was the first opposition player to score at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. His second half strike was enough to secure three points for the Hammers.

Despite the defeat, Spurs are likely to still end the weekend in third place, although the point gap will be reduced should both Chelsea and Arsenal win their games this afternoon (Sunday).

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Tottenham's thoughts will now be on their huge Champions League encounter on Tuesday night.

Mauricio Pochettino's men host Ajax in the first leg of the semi-final of the competition, and will be hoping to be able to take an advantage into the second leg just over a week later.

Take a look below for a roundup of all the latest Spurs stories, including reaction from the West Ham defeat and build up to the Champions League semi final.

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Jan Vertonghen's absence?

There was a name missing when the team sheet for Tottenham's London derby against West Ham was released. The absence of defender Jan Vertonghen had Spurs fans worried that the Belgian international had received an injury set-back.

But manager Mauricio Pochettino has gone some way to lessening the concerns of fans, by claiming that he rested the 32-year-old ahead of the club's Champions League semi-final against Ajax in the week.

Jan Vertonghen applauds supporters after the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)

"We cannot avoid 100 per cent the risk always in football, but sometimes like today Vertonghen is out of the squad. He finished with big fatigue and today was a massive risk to play with him." said the Spurs boss before the match against West Ham.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Ajax's Champions League advantage?

Pochettino has also been talking about the Champions League semi-final against Ajax on Tuesday.

Much has been made of a slight advantage that the Dutch side may have with their own FA stepping in and postponing their weekend Eredivisie game to give the side the best chance to prepare for the European clash with Spurs.

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Tottenham had no such luck and were beaten in the London derby on Saturday against West Ham, in their final match before the first-leg.

Pochettino has had his say on the fixture congestion.

"Like for us, after Man City, we are thinking about trying to beat West Ham not Ajax – it's completely different. We start thinking about Ajax after the game tomorrow. That is an advantage, sometimes yes, sometimes it's a disadvantage because you have too much time to prepare.

"I will tell you after the game. What is true is the reality is or the fact is they are going to avoid risk, we are going take risks."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Pochettino post West Ham defeat

Before attentions of Spurs fans and players turned to the massive European night on Tuesday, the team had a small matter of a London derby to get through.

The Lillywhites lost their 100 per cent record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to a second half strike from Michail Antonio - the first opposition player to score at the new venue.

Despite the defeat, Tottenham are still in third place in the league, and are still in the driving seat for a top four finish at the end of the season.

Read every word that manager Pochettino had to say after the match HERE, including if he thinks that the players had one eye on the upcoming Champions League semi final.

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