Another damaging defeat for Chelsea has left Graham Potter on the brink as Chelsea were condemned to a third loss in a row, now without a win in six competitions. The loss to Tottenham was their first in the league at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and comes with owner Todd Boehly watching on from the stands.
Having been booed off the field against Southampton last weekend it was a game that signified more than just a London derby for the boss. Having entered what appears to be a crucial three game spell to save his job, it got off to the worst possible start.
After battling through in a scrappy first half a goal within 60 seconds of the restart for Oliver Skipp compounded the poor form. Harry Kane's second sealed the deal for Chelsea as Potter was jeered with chants of 'sacked in the morning' from some fans inside the stadium.
READ MORE: Chelsea told Graham Potter 'sacking timeline' as Todd Boehly urged with results ultimatum
With his perilous position still being defended with no immediate threat from the owners coming it was the worst possible way to start a week that will see the pressure ramped up another notch. Chelsea welcome Leeds next weekend before their Champions League second leg against Borussia Dortmund.
There continue to be calls for his head before that though, with former Spurs and Chelsea striker Gus Poyet saying before the game it might be his last in charge of the Blues. He told BettingSites: "As soon as you don’t win, you are out. That’s why, in my opinion, this game is much bigger for Chelsea than it is for Spurs.
"When everything surrounding the team; the press, the social media, is talking about the Graham Potter situation, it gets to a point where it is natural that the owners think it is better to change because it is a problem.
“That’s a thing where coaches are paying the price. We are not only depending on the way we work, and our relationships and results, but also maintaining the publicity around yourself and the team.
“And I think this game, after the defeat to Southampton, I think the pressure has increased dramatically. As a coach, I don’t like it. I would love Graham to stay and make Chelsea play similar, maybe even better, than he did at Brighton. But he knows, and we all know, that you have to win.”
Poyet isn't the only one that saw the game being the beginning of the end for Potter, with Jamie O'Hara telling TalkSPORT: "Graham Potter's next three games. He's got Tottenham, which is massive, then he's got Leeds and then he's got Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
"If he doesn't get three big results, I think he could go. Chelsea fans don't agree with me, Jason Cundy keeps saying 'no, no, there'd be no point sacking him'. I'm telling you, he loses them next three games, he's gone."
There may still be two games left to go in that run but the limp nature of defeat against their rivals is a bad sign and Paul Merson can't see things ending well. He wrote for SportsKeeda before the game, saying: "If Chelsea go and get beaten here, it adds more pressure on Potter. I want him to stay. I'm not sure if he's the one bringing these players in."
READ NEXT:
Graham Potter reveals Antonio Conte advice and messages ahead of Chelsea clash with Tottenham
Graham Potter tipped for huge future managerial job despite Chelsea pressure and sacking calls
Chelsea told Graham Potter 'sacking timeline' as Todd Boehly urged with results ultimatum
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
We simulated Tottenham vs Chelsea to get a Premier League score prediction
