Tottenham equalled a 30-year-old 14-match unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at West Brom on Saturday thanks to an opening goal from teenage England international Dele Alli.The result leaves Spurs fifth in the Premier League with 26 points from 15 games. The last time Tottenham went 14 games without defeat during a stretch running from November 1984 to March 1985, Argentina’s Ossie Ardiles was running Spurs’ midfield, Peter Shreeves was in the managerial hot-seat and Band Aid’s “Do they know it’s Christmas” was in the pop charts. Spurs, kitted out in a bright purple away shirt at the Hawthorns, can beat the record if they get a result against French outfit Monaco at White Hart Lane in the Europa League next Thursday. Mauricio Pochettino made two changes to the team that drew with Chelsea last weekend – Alli back from suspension in place of injured Ryan Mason, and Erik Lamela in for Son Heung-Min. Alli was the man on the mark for Spurs with a slick volley on 15 minutes after he ran onto a deep 50 yard pass from Toby Alderweireld, who had seen the 19-year-old England international running into space. . Alli was at full pace when he slipped between Craig Dawson and Jonas Olsen before deftly guiding the ball past West Brom ‘keeper Boaz Myhill to make it 1-0 for the visitors. But Tony Pulis’ side, who beat Arsenal in their last game here, did not take going behind lightly, with Stephane Sessegnon taking the fight to Spurs in surging runs down West Brom’s right. One of which led to a free-kick taken by the Benin captain himself and headed off the line by Jan Vertonghen with Hugo Lloris beaten. The home side’s industry paid off just before the break however when James McClean levelled with his first league goal for almost two years. His header from captain Darren Fletcher’s cross zipping past Hugo Lloris on 38 minutes. Although Spurs had the Lion’s share of possession, West Brom threatened as the end approached with Lloris pulling off fine saves from Olsson and Jose Rondon. By AFP |
