Besiktas vs Tottenham: Mauricio Pochettino bemoans 'laughable' stoppages but refuses to blame them for disappointing defeat

Besiktas 1 Tottenham 0: Spurs manager watched his side miss out on top spot in Group C

Besiktas forward Cenk Tosun scores the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Spurs (Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino was frustrated by the "laughable" floodlight failures at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium, although he was more annoyed by his players' futility in front of goal in their defeat to Besiktas.

Both sides' place in Monday's last-32 draw was already secure ahead of a match in which Spurs only needed to avoid defeat in order to top Group C.

A much-changed side looked capable of securing the desired result, only for wayward finishing, most notably from Roberto Soldado, to allow Cenk Tosun to secure Besiktas a 1-0 win.

"I am disappointed with the result because I think we deserved more than this result," Pochettino said.

"I am disappointed with result, I think like my players too. We created chances to score and always in football you need to score.

"Tonight we are really disappointed because I think the team created chances and deserved more on the pitch."

Pochettino's frustration was heightened by the disruptions to the game at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium.

Less than eight minutes were on the clock when the floodlights first failed at Besiktas' temporary home, leading to the players being taken off the field and the suspension of play for nigh-on 17 minutes.

Besiktas 1 Tottenham 0 match report

To compound matters, with victory all-but secured for the hosts, the power again failed in stoppage time, leading the team to having to once more leave the field before playing out the final few minutes.

"It is difficult to explain," Pochettino said of the power cuts. "We had a chat with the referee and you need to accept the situation.

"It's not possible [to change] anything. It's frustrating if that happens... it was laughable."

The Olympic Stadium during the floodlight fail (GETTY IMAGES)

Pochettino rejected the notion the breaks could have negatively impact his players, although conceded it does little to improve the Europa League's standing.

"Maybe yes, it's not good for reputation of the competition," he said.

"Yes, it is always bad when you need to stop two times for the floodlights.

"If all the stadium switched off the lights, then maybe you would understand because something wrong has happened.

"But all the stadium was with light, except the pitch. But it is not an excuse, we need to look forward.

"We need to see the draw on Monday and to win the Europa League. It's a shame we didn't finish on the top of the table."

PA