Tottenham ground out a 1-0 win over a gallant Cardiff City at Wembley on Saturday.

Eric Dier scored a rare goal for Tottenham after just eight minutes in what looked like being a comfortable home win against Cardiff at Wembley, but it turned out to be hard going for the hosts.

“If we want to, at the end of the season, be in the same position as today in the table and be a contender then we need to perform a lot in our performance," the Argentine said.

“We play after the defeat against Barcelona and always it's so difficult but of course I'm happy because of the victory. I think we can play better and we need to play better if we want to be a contender in the end for the top four.

“I think the opponent was with full energy and we ran a lot. Of course when we scored early in the game and then we had a lack of control to kill the game. I think it was a game that always happened. It looks like it's going to be an easy afternoon but it can be so complicated if they score in the action from the set pieces and the wide free-kicks."

He continued: “But you know that is the circumstance sometimes for you, sometimes against you. I am happy because of the victory but of course being honest we need to improve a lot. We need to kill the games. We need to have more control, more calm when you play in your home.

“You must control the game. I'm happy, the effort was fantastic and it's not easy after the defeat against Barcelona to be ready again to compete but I think we competed well and only we need to improve."