Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou wants the young stars in his team to be "hurting" just as much as the senior players after their 2-1 Premier League loss to North London derby rivals Arsenal.
The Lilywhites were condemned to a harrowing 11th defeat of the top-flight season at the home of their bitter rivals, where they took a shock lead through Son Heung-min after being dominated in the opening 25 minutes.
The travelling supporters' elation did not last long, though, as Gabriel Magalhaes's header from a corner was deflected into the back of the net by Dominic Solanke, although Leandro Trossard appeared to touch the ball last before it went out of play for the set-piece.
The Belgian was then involved in a much less contentious goal for the Gunners, though, firing in what proved to be the winner on the stroke of half time after Yves Bissouma lost possession in midfield.
If Manchester United get the better of Southampton on Thursday evening, Spurs will end the gameweek 14th in the Premier League table, and they are only eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Postecoglou: 'Eleven losses is unacceptable'
© Imago
The performance of 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall was praised, though, while Archie Gray also put in a shift at the back for Tottenham, who remain without regular first-choice defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
However, speaking to reporters in his post-game press conference, Postecoglou had no time to find the positives in Bergvall and Gray's displays and insisted that the pair should be just as miffed as the experienced professionals.
"I want them disappointed. This can't be accepted by anyone at the club. Us losing so many games in a league season is not right," football.london quotes the Australian as saying.
"I know we are going through a tough trot and are asking big jobs but I hope they are hurting, the 18-year-olds, as much as anybody else in terms of us not being able to deliver on a big night."
While the result did not go Gray and Bergvall's way, the Spurs pair were part of history alongside Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, as Wednesday's game was the first Premier League North London derby with three starters aged 18 or under.
How did Bergvall, Gray perform against Arsenal?
© Imago
The consensus is that Bergvall was Tottenham's brightest player at the Emirates, a view that is largely backed up by the statistics, as the Swedish youngster put in a composed and tenacious performance.
Bergvall put in six tackles, five clearances and two blocks, in addition to drawing two fouls, creating one chance and completing 92% of his passes in another display far beyond his years.
As for Gray, the former Leeds United man registered six clearances and one interception, but he failed to win any of his three ground duels and was also zero for six on long balls to his teammates.
Tottenham - who have now lost three straight Premier League North London derbies for the first time ever - endeavour to end a five-game winless run in the top flight when they face David Moyes's Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Ben Knapton
