Booing Tottenham fans should be careful what they wish for – Conte is their best chance of success

The cacophony of boos that reverberated around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at halftime summed up the mood.

Frustration has reigned on this side of the divide in north London in recent weeks. It doesn’t help that the other sides on the road are flying high into the top of the Premier League.

On the other hand, Arsenal play their European matches on a Thursday; the Gunners would give anything to take the place of Tottenham tonight – playing in the Champions League.

Frustration has engulfed this side of the north London divide in recent weeks, and may have only grown after Wednesday’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon.

It might serve those Spurs supporters who felt it necessary to push their team through the tunnel to remember that. Were the ridicules aimed at Antonio Conte?

You might imagine some of them were amid growing murmurs among fans about Tottenham’s rigid tactical style under the Italian, while some of his replacements have been questioned by supporters in recent weeks.

Those supporters have to be careful what they wish for. The most down to earth Tottenham fan must surely agree that Conte represents their best shot at success. They only have to look at his oeuvre to realize that.

Former striker Clive Allen, who was interviewed here on the pitch at halftime, called it right when he ordered fans to get behind the team.

They clearly listened, the stadium was a cauldron of positivity in the second half – Tottenham were galvanized by this.

But fans who jeer at manager Antonio Conte and his side should be careful what they wish for

The Spurs deserved the equalizer in the 80th minute, scored by Rodrigo Bentancur. The calm mocks, suddenly, a distant memory. Emotions can touch the better football fans, especially on nights as important as this one.

But given how badly Tottenham languished before Conte’s arrival last November, the fact that the Spurs are even playing in the Champions League is almost unthinkable in itself.

Of course, history matters very little when you’re standing at the pinnacle of professional football from head to toe.

Players and managers know they are being judged on the present. But that said, there should be some semblance of perspective.

That doesn’t change the fact that Conte has to find an answer to the predicament his team is currently in. Three games without a win is never good for a team, especially one under Conte’s rule.

Even the most emotional Spurs fan would admit that Conte offers them the best chance of success

Tottenham will see the recent absence of injuries from forwards Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison as the main reasons for their recent slump in form. That’s right to an extent, both have become key players for Conte.

But it’s hard to have much sympathy for a team with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son. Conte will hope the cream eventually rises to the top as he tries to shake his underperforming team out of their rut.

Their second-half performance here against Sporting Lisbon gave reasons to be optimistic that the results will soon be around the corner.

Conte was sent off for his angry protests after Kane saw his last gasp ruled out the winner by a VAR talk that lasted an eternity.

Tottenham believed they were victims of an injustice. But that’s not really here or there. They hadn’t won – again. Until the results improve, the natives will remain restless.