ANT AND DECKED

Conte returns, but only to see his misfiring side exit the Champions League last 16 with barely a whimper

- JOHN CROSS

ANOTHER season over as Tottenham's night ended in boos, a red card and frustration.

It is threatening to turn horribly sour for Antonio Conte as the Spurs fans jeered his team off at half-time and full-time and there was a chorus of disapproval for his substitutions.

Cristian Romero was sent off for two yellow cards to cap a disastrous night as the home side kissed goodbye to their final chance of silverware by crashing out of the Champions League.

But what was even more worrying was the lack of fight from the Spurs players, who never really looked like turning the tie around from their defeat in the San Siro last month.

Boss Conte, back on the touchline for the first time in three weeks after recovering from gallbladder surgery, had used his programme notes to ask the Spurs fans to make the "stadium as loud as it's ever been.

But Conte's words fell on dear ears as the atmosphere was flat, uninspiring and at times toxic.