Mauricio Pochettino: 'Changes not to blame for Tottenham Hotspur draw'

Mauricio Pochettino has refuted suggestions that Tottenham Hotspur's 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion was due to player rotation.

With Spurs taking on Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday, Pochettino made six changes to his starting XI at the Amex Stadium.

Harry Kane put the visitors ahead on 48 minutes, but Pascal Gross levelled from the spot two minutes later as the Seagulls saw the game out for a share of the spoils.

"It was a difficult game," Pochettino told Sky Sports News at full time.

"The first half was even and the second half we started it really well. We scored and in the next section we conceded. In the second half we dominated, created chances but not enough to win the game. The draw is a little bit disappointing because the intention was to get all three.

"We were thinking of giving the team fresh legs because Saturday's game against Manchester City was tough mentally and physically. We have a squad good enough to win games. Today was not because we rotated the team. Everyone is ready to play but Brighton was a very difficult opponent and we need to give credit to them."

Despite the disappointment of dropping points, the result means that Tottenham are now unbeaten in 13 away games in all competitions.