Darren Fletcher: 'Tottenham Hotspur naive in title race'

Darren Fletcher celebrates scoring during the FA Cup game between Reading and West Bromwich Albion on February 20, 2016
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West Brom midfielder Darren Fletcher claims that Tottenham Hotspur's naivety and failure to grind out results could have cost them in this season's title race.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Darren Fletcher has hinted that Tottenham Hotspur's naivety when it comes to a title race could have cost them this season.

Mauricio Pochettino's side were held to a 1-1 draw by the Baggies at White Hart Lane on Monday night to leave them seven points adrift of Leicester City with only three games of the season remaining.

Fletcher believes that Tottenham's high-tempo style cost them an important win against his side, and suggested that they could benefit from adding some title-winning experience to their youthful squad.

"You've got to rise to the pressure and thrive under it. You've got to see it as a challenge and win games ugly. You've got to throw people in the box and see games out when you're winning 1-0," Fletcher told reporters.

"Passing the ball out from the back is nice and it's pretty on the eye but when you're winning 1-0 against West Brom, you shut up shop, see the game out and hit on the counter-attack. Who knows? It's not for me to say because Tottenham have had a fantastic season. They've been a credit to the league and playing against them is really difficult.

"To be honest at Manchester United we always had experience - we had Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Roy Keane. They'd been there and done it, they were calm, and the manager had been there and done it. We were very fortunate to be around such people. It isn't easy. You do have to take one game at a time and you do have to realise sometimes the last three of four games are the most important in the whole season."

Fletcher won four Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League during his time at Old Trafford.

Tony Pulis prior to the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Watford on April 16, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester362211364343077
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs361913467283970
3Arsenal361910759342567
4Manchester CityMan City361971068383064
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd35179943311260
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham351514660431759
7Southampton361691153391457
8Liverpool3515101059481155
9Chelsea351212115548748
10Stoke CityStoke36139143852-1448
11Everton351014115549644
12Watford35128153642-644
13Swansea CitySwansea361110153750-1343
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom361011153246-1441
15Bournemouth36118174363-2041
16Crystal Palace36109173646-1039
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3689193964-2533
18Sunderland35711174058-1832
19Norwich CityNorwich3587203561-2631
RAston Villa3637262772-4516