Ange Postecoglou has himself to blame as actions risk losing Tottenham fans previously focused on Daniel Levy | OneFootball

Postecoglou’s clashes with supporters have frayed the relationship and left him failing to provide unity at Spurs

Pressure on: Ange Posetcoglou’s position at Spurs is under increasing strain

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The Australian's explanation that he only "wanted to hear them cheer" was not convincing, and he is now in danger of losing a fanbase which had previously laid the blame for the club's rough season firmly at the door of chairman Daniel Levy.

By his own admission, he has failed to provide that unity and, for all his often-powerful rhetoric, there is little doubt that his own actions have contributed to the current tensions – even if Levy remains the biggest lightning rod of supporter frustrations.

Much of the supporter anger at Tottenham is still aimed at Daniel Levy

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Postecoglou was painfully at odds with supporters over last season's home game against Manchester City in May, which many fans wanted to lose to ensure Arsenal did not win the title, before later admitting he had misread the situation.

This term, there have been clashes with fans on at least three occasions before Thursday's 1-0 defeat at Chelsea: after the loss at Bournemouth in December; following the disastrous home defeat to Leicester; and during the recent reverse at Fulham.

Postecoglou has explained that he will not let certain types of personal abuse go, but if had held his tongue and kept his head down, the heat would surely have remained on Levy.

Instead, his actions have frayed relations with supporters, which leaves the head coach in a precarious position ahead of the crunch Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt next week.

Equally as concerning, though, are the level of Tottenham's performances in recent weeks.

It is simply no longer possible to defer judgement on Postecoglou's side and assume they will improve when their injured players finally return.

Postecoglou was able to name his strongest XI against Chelsea (a flawed team themselves) – with the exception of the injured Dejan Kulusevski – and yet Spurs were abject for the first 70 minutes, barely laying a glove on the Blues and spared by a striking lack of conviction from Enzo Maresca's side.

The return of key Tottenham players has not improved performance levels

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If Jadon Sancho, who forced a brilliant save from Guglielmo Vicario shortly before the interval, had been more willing to shoot or the returning Nicolas Jackson a little sharper, Chelsea would surely have been out of sight before Enzo Fernandez's 50th-minute winner – a free header from Cole Palmer's cross.

For Spurs, it was the latest in a long line of unconvincing displays from a side which increasingly appears far less than the sum of its parts.

A visit from rock-bottom Southampton on Sunday should offer Postecoglou and his players a reprieve, although there is a case that there is little to gain from facing Ivan Juric's sorry side – and everything to lose.

Postecoglou will hope his floundering team can establish an early lead, as they did in a 5-0 win at St. Mary's in December, taking the pressure off and giving supporters something to celebrate.

If Spurs struggle on Sunday or against Frankfurt next week, however, it is easy to imagine the atmosphere in north London quickly turning toxic after the head coach's actions this week.