Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has tasted defeat for the first time in his Spurs tenure.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has tasted defeat for the first time in his Spurs tenure.Credit:Getty

But everything changed after Moises Caicedo had an equaliser ruled out for offside following a VAR check but during the same incident Romero was adjudged to have conceded a penalty with an over-aggressive tackle on Enzo Fernandez and was red-carded.

Cole Palmer converted the penalty following seven minutes of confusion with keeper Guglielmo Vicario almost keeping it out.

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After a weekend of debate about the rights and wrongs of VAR,including an extraordinary rant by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Saturday,Postecoglou tried to make sense of it all.

“There will be a forensic study of every decision out there,I think that is the way the game is going and I don’t like it,” he said.

Nicolas Jackson bagged a second-half hat-trick for Chelsea.

Nicolas Jackson bagged a second-half hat-trick for Chelsea.Credit:Getty

“If you look at all that standing around we did today,maybe people enjoy that sort of thing but I’d rather see us playing football.

“You have to accept the referee’s decision,that is how I grew up.

“This constant erosion of the referee’s authority is where the game is going – they are not going to have any authority.”

Even with nine men,Spurs stayed true to Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy but Nicolas Jackson eventually put Chelsea ahead in the 75th minute,though again it involved VAR with the Senegalese appearing offside in the initial stage of the move.

Cristian Romero’s send-off was just one of a number of flashpoints in a controversial London derby.

Cristian Romero’s send-off was just one of a number of flashpoints in a controversial London derby.Credit:AP

Spurs defender Eric Dier had a goal ruled out for offside and Son drew a great save from Robert Sanchez before Jackson bagged a hat-trick as the hosts threw caution to the wind.

“It is just who we are mate,it is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here. If we go down to five men we will have a go,” Postecoglou added.

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While defeat will hurt,of even more concern is the fact that Romero will now face a suspension and his excellent defensive partner Micky van de Ven looks set for an extended lay-off after suffering a serious-looking hamstring injury.

On top of that James Maddison,who has been instrumental in Tottenham’s superb start,went off with an ankle injury.

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