TOTTENHAM HEAD COACH Mauricio Pochettino refused to blame Michel Vorm for conceding the only goal in a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane.
Vorm was beaten at his near post by a powerful drive from Martin Kelly shortly before half-time in the fifth-round tie on Sunday, but Pochettino claimed the goalkeeper was not at fault.
“If you analyse the action he is maybe the last player that you blame,” said Pochettino, who made seven changes to the team that drew 1-1 at Fiorentina in the Europa League round of 32 on Thursday.
“It was tough. It’s like a Premier League game but you need to be clinical in front of goal. We managed the game, created chances but it was difficult to win.”
Kelly’s powerful strike sealed the win for Palace. The visitors took the lead just before the interval, when the defender thumped a shot into the top corner after dazzling skill from winger Wilfried Zaha.
Dele Alli almost put the home team ahead in the opening moments but Yohan Cabaye blocked his goal-bound header on the line and Alli later came within inches of scoring when his shot hit both posts.
Palace, who have never won the FA Cup, progress to the quarter-finals after beating Premier League opposition for the third successive round, having previously knocked out Southampton and Stoke City.
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