Head coach Antonio Conte has acknowledged that Tottenham Hotspur failed to show a ruthless streak during their FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.
After shading the opening 45 minutes at the Riverside Stadium, Spurs were second-best to their Championship opponents, who prevailed through to the quarter-finals courtesy of Josh Coburn's extra-time goal.
Spurs will now go another season without winning a trophy and while suggesting that his players were to blame for their latest defeat, Conte reiterated that the setback was 'part of the process'.
The Italian is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "For sure the result is not good and we have to be frustrated. It was a pity because in these type of game you have to start and kill your opponent. If you give them hope, they will take confidence and improve during the game. Then anything can happen.
"First of all, it is important to say that Middlesbrough played a good game, deserves respect and congratulate them for the win. We have to reflect on our performance and on the game we played. These type of games, in these trophies away from home, you have to try to kill the game quickly.
"Your opponent has to understand that the night will be difficult, instead we can do much better and in the end Middlesbrough deserved to go to the next round.
"This is part of our process. I repeat, we have to try to avoid the up and down up and down and there is only one way to improve the situation is to work and learn about the defeat. We have to go ahead and we will try to do our best this season."
Spurs are not back in action until next Monday when they play host to Everton in the Premier League.
Darren Plant
