‘Clear example’: BBC pundit worried by what £4m Tottenham Hotspur defender did against Man United last night

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Tottenham Hotspur came away with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Manchester United last night.

It was a worrying performance from Antonio Conte’s side who never got going at Old Trafford.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Ashley Williams assessed the Tottenham’s defensive performance.

Erik ten Hag’s side opened the scoring at the start of the second-half after Fred’s tame effort beat Hugo Lloris via a Ben Davies deflection.

Bruno Fernandes curled Manchester United’s second goal into the back of net to secure the win.

However, Williams was worried by Eric Dier’s reaction to the second goal, and way he tried to defend it.

As the Portuguese playmaker controls the ball, Dier puts his hands behind the back to avoid a handball.

However, he makes himself too small, and gives Fernandes the perfect guide to curl the ball around his body into the top corner.

Dier’s defending is worrying

Williams was speaking about World Cup hopeful Dier after the match, questioning his defensive technique.

“Here’s a clear example of a defender more concerned about giving away a handball than blocking a shot, which is what his job is to do,” Williams said.

“The first time, his hands are behind his back and the second time his hands are behind his back and he actually makes himself smaller than bigger to block the shot.

“He gives Bruno half the goal, it’s in defender’s minds at the minute.”

The £4m defender wasn’t the only Spurs player displaying this technique.

In the first half, Antony has a shot that Davies fails to close down, instead concentrating on putting his hands behind his back.

Although Dier didn’t have his best game, he’s typically been in brilliant form this season.

Spurs legend Ledley King says he’s been one of the best centre-backs in the league so far this year.

Dier has also broken back into the England squad, and looked ‘very assured’ back in a Three Lions shirt last month.

The ambiguous handball rule has made defending in the box much more difficult.

However, Dier’s body shape when defending worried Willams in the post-match analysis, and this is something he will need to address going forward.