Eric Dier has outlined the importance of Tottenham's mentality under Antonio Conte following their hard-fought 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Under the cosh for large parts of the encounter with Steve Cooper's men taking the game to them, Spurs prevailed courtesy of a Harry Kane double.
Tottenham did have numerous opportunities on the counter to extend the scoreline, with their main man also seeing a penalty saved by Dean Henderson in the second half. Certainly not at their best again but getting three points on the board, Dier has stated that it is really exciting knowing that Tottenham can perform so much better.
"I think obviously since the manager arrived we've improved in many aspects, I think the mentality is one. We did well in that sense in this games. Difficult moments, I think right at the start of the game defending set plays, at the end the same. In those moments, staying strong together," the centre-back explained to Sky Sports.
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"And yeah I think we're happy to be picking up the points we're picking up. I think we can play a lot better but it's good we're still managing to pick up the points. Maybe that's where the mentality comes in. I think we can play a lot better than we have been in these last couple of games.
"We're happy to have the points that we do. We've done well to get them, shown a lot of different qualities to get them but we can perform a lot better than we have been. I think that's what is exciting as well."
On the scoresheet in the recent games against Chelsea and Wolves, Kane netted his fourth of the league campaign with a double at the City Ground. Equalling Andrew Cole's Premier League goal tally of 187 in the process, Dier is very confident that his teammate will surpass Alan Shearer's record of 260 goals.
"Obviously if he gets his chances he normally scores them," said the ex-Sporting CP man. "The penalty is a rarity and obviously he's so effective in front of goal. I'm pretty sure he'll end up in that No.1 spot [in Premier League scoring history]."
Kane's second of the afternoon came from a sublime ball from Richarlison, with the new signing picking out his teammate with a cross with the outside of his boot from the left flank. A great option for Conte to bring off the bench in the last three games, Dier has stated that the £60million man is going to be a "really really important player" for Spurs.
"I think we're always going to create chances and we did that today. We could have scored a few more. We have great options," he explained. "Richy was fantastic when he came on, the energy he gave us and a fantastic cross for the second goal as well. He's going to be a really really important player for us I'm sure."
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