Cape Town - Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld believes the 3-2 defeat to West Ham United was a wake-up call for Spurs that they need to maintain their focus.
Mauricio Pochettino's men were leading by two goals in their Carabao Cup clash on Wednesday after Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko scored, but Andre Ayew netted a brace and Angelo Ogbonna found the back of the net as well to give the Irons victory at Wembley.
"We were not flying or anything in our heads, but I think it's a good reality check that you still need to work very hard, even if you're 2-0 up, to get results," Alderweireld said, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
"You have to keep the level up because if you drop it a little bit you see what happens. It's a good thing to learn.
"Of course we'd love to have won, but we don't have to be too dramatic about it. Next time we have to do better, and we focus on Saturday."
The defeat ended Spurs' 11-game unbeaten run and they now prepare to travel to Manchester United for a crunch Premier League tie on Saturday.