Mauricio Pochettino has said the connection between the fans and players at Tottenham is special and can only grow stronger.

Pochettino admitted that the relationship between the fans and management wasn't strong when he first joined as Spurs manager last May but it has become "fantastic".

The supporters' trust in the players was tested in November when striker Emmanuel Adebayor said his teammates were afraid to play at White Hart Lane due to the negative support after Spurs lost four of their six home Premier League fixtures.

"I think the connection is special now," Pochettino said. "At the beginning it was different, now it's a reality and the connection between the team and the supporters is fantastic.

Player Ratings: QPR v Tottenham 16 show all Player Ratings: QPR v Tottenham 1/16 Rob Green: 6 Pulled off some trademark stops, but will be disappointed with the way he was beaten to Andros Townsend's free kick by Harry Kane for the first goal. GETTY 2/16 Rio Ferdinand: 4 Now plays like he's thinking of that retirement home for all professionals - the world of punditry and comfort of a TV studio. Lost Kane for both Tottenham goals - the story of his lack of concentration all afternoon. Getty 3/16 Sandro: 6 There were many Tottenham fans who were upset when the club sold him to Rangers last summer, not any more. A knee ligament injury sustained a few years ago means Sandro is no longer a dominant presence in midfield. At least he gave the home side hope with a cool finish to make it 2-1. 4/16 Karl Henry: 5 Up against much quicker and younger men in the middle of the pitch and it showed. The game passed him by for long periods. Getty 5/16 Charlie Austin: 6 Lost his battle with Kane to impress England coach Roy Hodgson, who was watching in the stands. Blasted a glorious chances against the bar, which would have put QPR in front. Still can't fault his passion for the cause - produced a miracle block on the line from Ryan Mason. Getty 6/16 Hugo Lloris: 8 Bailed Walker out with a fine scrambling save to deny Charlie Austin and also denied Zamora early in the second half. Getty 7/16 Kyle Walker: 6 Produced a fine cross to create a chance for Kane early on but his bizarre back-header would have let in Austin had Lloris not been typically alert in goal. Getty 8/16 Eric Dier: 5 Struggled in the first half to contain the threat of Austin and his slack marking allowed Zamora to set up Sandro for QPR’s goal. Getty 9/16 Jan Vertonghen: 7 He generally coped well against the Rangers front two although he was relieved to see Austin’s shot rebound off the crossbar after the forward stepped inside him Getty 10/16 Nabil Bentaleb: 6 Another mature performance from a player who is rapidly becoming a leader for this team. Brave, controlled and diligent. Fortunate not to have conceded a penalty following an apparent handball. Getty 11/16 Ryan Mason: 6 Did not make quite as many forward runs as he usually does and needs to control his temper better but did well to create the second goal for Kane. Getty 12/16 Nacer Chadli: 6 His physicality and direct running will always be a threat and he kept Nedum Onouha honest without really threatening to dominate. Getty 13/16 Christian Eriksen: 6 Struggled to escape the clutches of Karl Henry in the first half but found more freedom on the left and hit the inside of the post from 25 yards. Getty 14/16 Andros Townsend: 6 Made a bright start and created the opening goal with an inswinging free-kick but faded after the break and was replaced by Mousa Dembele. Getty 15/16 Harry Kane: 8 In front of England manager Roy Hodgson, he scored twice, forced a fine save from Rob Green and nearly created another, though Rio Ferdinand was not a tough opponent. Getty 16/16 Mousa Dembele: 6 Took up a position behind Kane and showed some neat touches. Getty 1/16 Rob Green: 6 Pulled off some trademark stops, but will be disappointed with the way he was beaten to Andros Townsend's free kick by Harry Kane for the first goal. GETTY 2/16 Rio Ferdinand: 4 Now plays like he's thinking of that retirement home for all professionals - the world of punditry and comfort of a TV studio. Lost Kane for both Tottenham goals - the story of his lack of concentration all afternoon. Getty 3/16 Sandro: 6 There were many Tottenham fans who were upset when the club sold him to Rangers last summer, not any more. A knee ligament injury sustained a few years ago means Sandro is no longer a dominant presence in midfield. At least he gave the home side hope with a cool finish to make it 2-1. 4/16 Karl Henry: 5 Up against much quicker and younger men in the middle of the pitch and it showed. The game passed him by for long periods. Getty 5/16 Charlie Austin: 6 Lost his battle with Kane to impress England coach Roy Hodgson, who was watching in the stands. Blasted a glorious chances against the bar, which would have put QPR in front. Still can't fault his passion for the cause - produced a miracle block on the line from Ryan Mason. Getty 6/16 Hugo Lloris: 8 Bailed Walker out with a fine scrambling save to deny Charlie Austin and also denied Zamora early in the second half. Getty 7/16 Kyle Walker: 6 Produced a fine cross to create a chance for Kane early on but his bizarre back-header would have let in Austin had Lloris not been typically alert in goal. Getty 8/16 Eric Dier: 5 Struggled in the first half to contain the threat of Austin and his slack marking allowed Zamora to set up Sandro for QPR’s goal. Getty 9/16 Jan Vertonghen: 7 He generally coped well against the Rangers front two although he was relieved to see Austin’s shot rebound off the crossbar after the forward stepped inside him Getty 10/16 Nabil Bentaleb: 6 Another mature performance from a player who is rapidly becoming a leader for this team. Brave, controlled and diligent. Fortunate not to have conceded a penalty following an apparent handball. Getty 11/16 Ryan Mason: 6 Did not make quite as many forward runs as he usually does and needs to control his temper better but did well to create the second goal for Kane. Getty 12/16 Nacer Chadli: 6 His physicality and direct running will always be a threat and he kept Nedum Onouha honest without really threatening to dominate. Getty 13/16 Christian Eriksen: 6 Struggled to escape the clutches of Karl Henry in the first half but found more freedom on the left and hit the inside of the post from 25 yards. Getty 14/16 Andros Townsend: 6 Made a bright start and created the opening goal with an inswinging free-kick but faded after the break and was replaced by Mousa Dembele. Getty 15/16 Harry Kane: 8 In front of England manager Roy Hodgson, he scored twice, forced a fine save from Rob Green and nearly created another, though Rio Ferdinand was not a tough opponent. Getty 16/16 Mousa Dembele: 6 Took up a position behind Kane and showed some neat touches. Getty

"It's good because the team shows great character. The results make the supporters feel very proud of the team."

The connection between the fans has grown stronger over recent weeks and the Argentinian manager added that it gives them a boost as they look to qualify for next season's Champions League.

An example of how good the relationship is came on Saturday when Spurs beat QPR 2-1 at Loftus Road and Pochettino's brother and his two sons were in the away end.

"I took the picture as a souvenir. It was a fantastic moment for me and for [my family]. It was the first time I've done it in my career," he added.