Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino doesn't blame absent Harry Kane for Manchester United loss: 'It's unfair to talk about him, if Dele Alli had scored the questions would be different now'

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Mauricio Pochettino refused to blame the absence of star man Harry Kane for a lacklustre 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Kane was ruled out of the weekend's big game with a hamstring injury and replacement Son Heung-Min was so ineffective he was hauled off for Fernando Llorente in the second half. Dele Alli missed the visitor's best chance shortly before Anthony Martial's 80th-minute winner.

'I said before the game, you are going to miss your main striker and Harry is one of the greatest strikers in the world, of course. But it was not an excuse for winning or losing this game as Harry was not here.

Mauricio Pochettino has refused to blame Harry Kane's absence for loss to Manchester United

'You must always adapt when players are not fit to play and I am happy with the performance of everyone – we deserve more than zero points. It's not fair to talk about Harry Kane, if Dele Alli had scored the questions would now be different. It is always about the result.'

Spurs are still giving their talisman a chance to be ready for the visit of Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. 'We'll see in the next few days if he will be fit and available. We will assess him on Sunday and after that make a decision,' added Pochettino.

Tottenham weren't at their best against United but were disappointed when their renowned back-three were breached by a long punt from United goalkeeper David de Gea, and flicked on by Romelu Luaku for Martial to score.

Kane was unavailable for selection after picking up a hamstring injury in the win over Liverpool

'It was very unlike us the way we conceded,' said wing-back Ben Davies. 'We don't concede goals like that. We switched off at the wrong time and it cost us. It changed everything.

'We went into the game believing we could win. It is a tough place to come but we were solid and thought we were going to keep a clean sheet.'

Pochettino, whose side are now three points behind United in the race to stay in touch with leaders Manchester City, said: 'We are very disappointed. It is very painful for our players, for everyone. It was an even match, to lose with an action that should have been fixed before is very painful.

Dele Alli missed a gilt-edged chance and Pochettino said if he scored things would be different

'But that is football and for me I feel very proud, the effort was fantastic. They didn't create too many chances against us. I feel we were at that same level. '

Alli was in the thick of the action and Pochettino says it is a compliment to his team that opponents try to get physical and wind them up.

'My feeling is that all the teams love to compete against us – we are the target rather than individuals. But that is good. It seems we are growing up in the last few seasons, we are competitive and the potential is there.'

Ben Davies was unhappy with how the Spurs defence was undone for Anthony Martial's winner