Ange Postecoglou gives Tottenham fans silent treatment after Nottingham Forest defeat

declined the opportunity to send a message to Tottenham supporters after overseeing his 18th defeat of the season. Tension has been brewing between Spurs fans and their under-fire manager, and Monday night's 2-1 loss at home to will not have done much to mend the relationship.

-chasing Forest and 16th-place Tottenham have found themselves in unfamiliar territory this campaign. The unlikely gulf between the two sides' recent fortunes was outlined by the visitors racing into a two-goal lead inside 16 minutes thanks to strikes from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood.

Spurs spent most of the game on the offensive, racking up 22 shots and enjoying the lion's share of possession. They pulled one back through Richarlison late on, but still came up empty-handed on a frustrating night.

Asked if he had a message for the fans after another painful result, Postecoglou said: "I don't need to say anything to the fans. The fans are disappointed and angry, I don't need to tell them anything, they clearly wouldn't be happy with our results but neither am I and neither are the players."

As the season wears on, more and more of 's focus is taken away from domestic duties and towards the Europa League. They booked their spot in a semi-final against Bodo/Glimt next month by beating Eintracht Frankfurt over two legs.

Given that Spurs can no longer be relegated or secure European qualification via their league standing, performing in the Europa League is now of primary importance. But Postecoglou rejects the notion that his players have downed tools in the Premier League.

"It's not like we lost because the players chucked it in," he insisted. "They didn't lack motivation today, our football was outstanding. We paid the price for lacking focus in key moments, and it's another game we let slip. It's happened to us a few times this year and we should learn from these things."

Both Forest goals made painful viewing from a Spurs perspective, with Guglielmo Vicario helping Anderson's strike into the net, and Micky van de Ven losing track of Wood from a cross. Postecoglou is eager to see those kinds of errors stamped out down the home stretch.

He continued: "It's another game we've lost where we shouldn't lose. We make things difficult for ourselves in key moments. Concentration, giving up poor goals. It's another loss, it's another unacceptable loss and it's frustrating."