Tottenham at Wembley: Can Spurs find home comforts at national stadium?

"What can we do? What can I do? It is a perception from the media. I said before and I will say it again - it is not about Wembley. It is our performance. Playing that way we can win lots of games."

As Tottenham came to terms with yet another Wembley defeat, this time in their first league game at the stadium since their temporary relocation from White Hart Lane, manager Mauricio Pochettino knew he would face questions about the venue's impact on his team's prospects this season.

The Argentine was at pains to resist suggestions that his side's title hopes could be undermined by a ground that is coming to be seen as unlucky, the 2-1 loss to Chelsea meaning they have now won only once at the national stadium in 10 matches since a League Cup final victory over the same opponents nine years ago.

Can a stadium that is not your real home be made to feel like it? Can it possess the same atmosphere that drove Spurs on to 17 wins from 19 league games on home soil last season?

If the answer was no against Chelsea, it certainly was not for the want of trying.

Spurs did everything they could to make Wembley, the venue for their Champions League games last season, feel like home.

Their determination to transform the national stadium into White Hart Lane in all but name was obvious from the moment the arena came into view.

Giant screens outside flashed up the famous Spurs motto "to dare is to do" - a slogan even used above the refreshments in the media room - while every object inside and outside Wembley that was not moving appeared to be draped in the club crest.

A giant flag emblazoned with the Tottenham cockerel flew from Wembley's steepling stands and a blizzard of slogans flashed around the hoardings that separated their tiers.

"This is my club. My one and only club. The game is about glory."

There was even a pre-match Spurs trivia quiz on the giant screens.

And, of course, the excellent and emotive video evoking memories of Jimmy Greaves, Glenn Hoddle, Jurgen Klinsmann and a whole host of Spurs legends - a pre-match staple at White Hart Lane - was given its usual airing, along with a rousing version of Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur.

It was all very obvious and all very understandable.

Spurs' fans did not need artificial atmosphere or prompts - they were revelling in this fresh start as their home for the previous 118 years is redeveloped.

There was genuine excitement and anticipation as thousands arrived hours before kick-off and filled the areas around the stadium. It was prime selfie territory.

As the players prepared to make their entrance, the 'Spursification' of Wembley was in evidence once more. The club cockerels were positioned outside the changing rooms and the players walked out flanked again by mottoes.

This is a crucial season for Spurs after two near misses in the title race and they need to get the feel of their new surroundings quickly.

If we are to quibble about trying just a little too hard, we can take issue with attaching a drummer to a microphone to artificially pump up the volume, producing a thudding, thumping sound that was an initial shock to the senses and a cause of much mockery and mirth from Chelsea's fans in the 'away' section.

It was all a bit rock concert and did strike a jarring note.