With serial champions Manchester City next up for Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou says his EPL high-fliers must improve their discipline if they are to remain in contention for trophies.
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Postecoglou is delighted to welcome Yves Bissouma back into the fold for Sunday's trip to Manchester after a one-match ban.
The former Brighton midfielder enjoyed a superb start to the season but has only played three times since being sent off after receiving two yellow cards at Luton in early October.
Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie have also seen red for Spurs this term.
"Really pleased to get Biss back. He is such an important part of our set-up," Postecoglou said.
"If you look at the first third of the season, from a results perspective we are still on the positive side of the ledger.
"Performance-wise we are on the positive side of the ledger, even though we've had some disappointments, but an area we need to improve is discipline.
"That has let us down in this first half of the year. Not just in terms of cards, but being really focused in our approach.
"It is kind of a lesson for (Bissouma) and us as a group.
"If you want things to run a bit more smoothly, you have to be really disciplined in your approach and really focused in what you do."
The return of Bissouma is welcome for the former Socceroos boss, who remains without defensive midfielder Pape Sarr (hamstring) and this week discovered Rodrigo Bentancur (ankle) will be out until February.
Spurs' list of absentees is at double figures, which contributes towards the visitors being long odds to upset City - EPL champions in five of the last six seasons - on Sunday.
However Tottenham boast an excellent record against the Premier League champions, albeit previously playing in a pragmatic way, and Postecoglou knows his markedly different attacking approach will bring questions.
"That's not a bad thing. That's a good thing," he said.
"We need to be scrutinised. I need to be scrutinised, I need to be questioned. That's what tests my resolve.
"I ain't going to change, but bring it on. It doesn't just test me, it tests the players, it tests the club. How resolved are we about doing this?
"Look at all the top teams, they've all been through the process, through the tough times. They've all got questioned, they've all got scrutinised, they've all had criticism.
"How did they handle it, the ones that are through the other side? The ones who handled it differently, where are they now?
"I have a real strong belief in what I do and where the team is heading and I'm just not going to waver from it."
Australian Associated Press
