Leeds United learning the 'hard way' in the Premier League following Tottenham Hotspur defeat - Luke Ayling

Luke Ayling says Leeds United are learning the 'hard way' in the Premier League following a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Marcelo Bielsa's men kicked off the new year in the capital but were well beaten by Jose Mourinho's Spurs on Saturday lunchtime.

England captain Harry Kane opened the scoring from the spot following a foul from Gjanni Alioski - who was adjudged to have tripped winger Steven Bergwijn on the line of the 18-yard box.

Son Heung-Min then doubled the advantage a short time later as he calmly converted a low cross from Kane to give the hosts a two-goal cushion at the half-time break.

Toby Alderweireld completed the scoring after the interval, securing all three points with a header that required goal-line technology to rule whether it crossed Illan Meslier's line in the second half.

United had claimed back-to-back victories over Burnley and West Bromwich Albion entering the clash with Spurs following a six-point haul over the festive period.

Leeds' stand-in skipper Ayling, though, admitted afterwards that the defeat in the capital was another learning curve for the top flight new boys.

“Their second goal, that’s just what they can do," Ayling said post-match.

“It was a great cross from Harry Kane and Son with his run, it’s so hard to defend. It's so quick and so explosive. Sloppy goals, really. The game changes from there."

“Us boys are still learning in this league and we have been caught out a few times. We are learning the hard way a lot of times, so we will keep learning and trying to put it right.

“Most of us are still only 17 games in, it takes a while to settle down and I think we are doing alright.

“It has been a real tough week. Three games in six days is what we live for and to take six points from those games makes it a good week.”

He added: "We’ve worked under the boss for a while, it’s our third season with him and we know what he wants.

“We just go out there, try to play and score goals. I think it’s been good so far, there has been ups and downs and a few spells where we haven’t been good enough.

“We’ve got 23 points, it’s still a good start, now we need to make sure it’s a good middle and ending, so it’s only a start.”