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Mauricio Pochettino: Michel Vorm not to blame for Spurs FA Cup defeat

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has insisted goalkeeper Michel Vorm was not to blame for Crystal Palace's goal in Sunday's 1-0 FA Cup fifth round defeat at White Hart Lane.

Vorm, who has been preferred to Hugo Lloris -- currently sidelined with a minor shoulder complaint -- in the domestic cups this season, was beaten at his near post by Martin Kelly's fierce drive during first half stoppage time.

The defeat ended Spurs' hopes of a first FA Cup win since 1991 and is likely to be Vorm's final appearance of the season -- unless Lloris fails to recover in time for Thursday's Europa League round-of-32 second leg against Fiorentina.

Kelly ran into the box unchallenged and scored from an assist by Wilfried Zaha, leaving Pochettino to defend Vorm's part in the visitors' winner.

"If you analyse it, it was a collective mistake," the Argentine told a post-match news conference. "If you analyse the action, I think he [Vorm] is the last player that you blame.

"Football is about mistakes -- when you score it's because an opponent made a mistake and when you concede a goal it's because you made a mistake.

"If not all the games would be 0-0."

Spurs dominated possession during the match and had a number of chances, but Kelly's goal allowed Palace to become only the fourth side to win at White Hart Lane this season.

Dele Alli hit both posts with one shot, Joshua Onomah twice failed to connect with crosses from close range, while Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made fine saves from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.

Pochettino, who described Spurs' remaining matches of the season as "finals", felt his side deserved more, adding: "The result was negative but we're disappointed because when you play badly, you don't deserve anything but we were unlucky and deserved more. This can happen in football.

"We created the better chances, dominated the game and if we'd managed to go ahead it would have been a different game.

"At the end when you assess the game, we deserved more but we were unlucky and when you play a lot of matches sometimes it's difficult to win every game. The effort was good again but this time with a different result.

"Now we have another final on Thursday in the Europa League, a different competition and a very tough game again.

"We are in a period now where it's impossible to rest so we need to be focused every day and ready to compete on Thursday."