Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino believes the decision to award Crystal Palace a penalty changed the game.

His side had taken the lead through Harry Kane’s 18th goal of the season but referee Anthony Taylor gave the home side a penalty after he judged Benjamin Stambouli had fouled Joe Ledley in the box.

The Spurs boss said: “I think the penalty was the key moment of the game, maybe when we scored we needed to push a little bit more.

“The penalty changed the game, maybe it was [a penalty], maybe it wasn’t.”

In a feisty London derby where chances were a premium in the first half, Spurs lacked the vigour and passion they possessed in their enthralling 5-3 victory over Cheslea on New Year’s Day.

Wilfred Zaha tormented Tottenham’s backline and it was his jinking run which gave Jason Puncheon the chance to drive home the winner for Crystal Palace in Alan Pardew’s first game in charge.

Pochettino added: “We suffered a little bit and Crystal Palace believed they could get the three points and in those challenges, they won more than us.

“Crystal Palace pushed more than us, we need to analyse the game. The first half was poor for both teams, the second half we started well but we need to manage the match.”

The Spurs boss failed to be drawn into speculation on whether his side could have been awarded a penalty when Harry Kane went down after being clipped in the box late on.

He said: “It seems the same action in both areas, if the first was a penalty, then maybe the second one was too.”

With Southampton playing Manchester United tomorrow, Pochettino lamented the chance to get his side into the top four ahead of that match.

He said: “We are not happy and we are disappointed with the result and it was a good opportunity to stay with the top four. For us it was a big disappointment.”

Spurs now play Burnley on Wednesday in an FA Cup replay before playing Sunderland at home next Saturday as their busy schedule continues.