Tottenham will contest the first piece of silverware of the 2014-15 season on Sunday, when they face Chelsea in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley.
It would be a huge achievement for Mauricio Pochettino to lift a trophy just eight months into his managerial reign at White Hart Lane, and would certainly provide a boost of confidence for a side chasing a top four finish over the remainder of the season.
Tottenham will take comfort from the fact they head into Sunday’s showdown with the top scorer in the top flight in their ranks, with Harry Kane having fired 24 goals in all competitions this season.
His goals have moved Spurs to within three points of the top four, whilst their Europa League campaign will be tested with a trip to Fiorentina on Thursday.
But could Tottenham fans have even more to be positive about this season had it not been for these refereeing blunders?
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Mauricio Pochettino to reveal 5 refereeing balls-ups that have cost Tottenham in 2014/15
[/ffc-gallery]
Tottenham v Liverpool – August 31
In what was only Mauricio Pochettino’s third game in charge of Tottenham, Liverpool arrived at White Hart Lane and continued their excellent recent run against the north Londoners.
But the turning point in the game came courtesy of a poor refereeing decision.
With the game finely balanaced at 0-1, Joe Allen went down somewhat easily in the box under a slight bit of contact from Eric Dier. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for what seemed a very harsh penalty.
Steven Gerrard made it 2-0 from the spot, and Liverpool came away 3-0 winners on a disappointing afternoon for Tottenham fans.
Tottenham v Stoke – November 9
Things have certainly changed for Tottenham since this fixture in November. This was a defeat that left Spurs in 12th place in the Premier League and Pochettino under pressure, whilst Harry Kane was making just his first Premier League start of the season.
They weren’t helped in their quest for points by referee Mike Jones however, who dismissed Kyle Naughton with five minutes remaining for a supposed last man challenge on Victor Moses – although the fact he was fouled on the left wing made it hard to see how it was an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Any hopes of a Tottenham comeback were effectively over with that decision, with Nacer Chadli having pulled a goal back to make it 1-2 just ten minutes before, and Spurs throwing everything forward in an attempt to knick a point.
Tottenham v Chelsea – January 1
In what was arguably the best result of Tottenham’s season to date, you question whether it could have been even better for Pochettino and his side had it not been for a poor refereeing decision early on.
Gary Cahill should clearly have been shown a straight red card for his challenge on Harry Kane, on an afternoon where the England Under-21 star ran the countries vice-captain ragged.
Cahill stayed on the pitch, and amazingly avoided retrospective punishment. Tottenham went on to win 5-3, but with goal difference likely to play a part in such a tight race for fourth, you have to question this decision.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Tottenham – January 10
Alan Pardew celebrated his first Premier League match in charge of Crystal Palace with a comeback victory over their London rivals, but Tottenham were less than impressed with the standard of refereeing at Selhurst Park.
The game changed when referee Anthony Taylor awarded a controversial penalty for Benajmin Stambouli’s challenge on Joe Ledley.
And with Palace leading 2-1 late in the game, Taylor refused Tottenham’s claims for a penalty of their own, went Kane went down under a challenge from Ledley in the box.
Pochettino said after the game: “I don’t want to speak about the referee. I think it is a very difficult job, but it is true the penalty decision changed the atmosphere.”
Tottenham v Sunderland – January 17
Again, this decision did not prove costly in terms of Tottenham picking up the three points. But with this looking the tightest race for fourth spot in Premier Legaue history, goal difference may well prove decisive – so perhaps the worst offside decision the Premier League has seen in some years going against you is hardly ideal.
With Sunderland chasing a late equaliser at White Hart Lane, goalkeeper Costel Pantilmon went forward for a corner. Tottenham cleared, and broke away with Jan Vertonghen putting the ball into the empty net to wrap up a 3-1 win.
Yet somehow, the linesman had flagged for offside, despite the Belgian defender recieved the pass for the goal when stood more than one metre inside his own half. Simply shocking.
