Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Bromwich Albion Match Report

    The second game of the season for West Bromwich Albion travel to White Hart Lane to take on AVB’s Spurs. Spurs were looking to get their first 3 points of the season after losing 2-1 to Newcastle in the opening week of the Premier League. West Brom on the other hand was looking to build upon the 3-0 win over Liverpool by taking points away from Spurs.

   

    The game kicked off well with both teams providing a threat in and around each other’s penalty area. It wasn’t long however before Spurs carved open the first opportunity of the game. The chance fell to Van Der Vaart but fortunately for West Brom his right footed effort went wide of the goal.

     

    Tottenham had started to settle down in the game and were soon dominating the possession and the game. After a West Brom attack, Bale ran deep into the West Brom half and passed to Tottenham debutant Vertonghen who’s volley sailed over the bar.

     

    The first half was not full of goal scoring opportunities as neither keeper didn’t have anything to do, this changed just before half time as Foster was forced into an easy save from a tame Defoe shot. The first half ended with the score at 0-0 and out of both teams, Spurs looked the most likely to score, yet West Brom were looking dangerous on the counter attack so the second half was set up to be better than the first.

     

    Early into the second half Spurs continued from where they left off in the first and were awarded a dangerous free kick a couple of yards outside the 18 yard box. Assou-Ekotto took the free kick but his superb free kick was matched by Foster who tipped the ball over the bar.

      

    As said, West Brom was looking very dangerous on the counter attack and it was Dorrans leading the latest attack. He ran down the left side of the box and made Friedel get down low to save his left footed effort. Dorrans looking to get back to form after an injury hit season in the last campaign looked like he was reaching his top form like he did in the Championship for West Brom.

     

    Tottenham were the first to score in the game but it was ruled out for offside, Defoe had just drifted past the West Brom defensive line putting him in the offside position. Rather lucky to say the least but it showed that Spurs was getting nearer to breaking the deadlock.

     

    West Brom brought on Lukaku for the second game in a row and instantly he made a huge impact on West Brom’s game. He was instantly involved as he saw his low drive - which was going into bottom corner - fantastically saved from Friedel. A great start again for Lukaku as he was showing the pace and strength that makes him so highly rated.

     

    West Brom should have taken the lead but Fortune missed a brilliant opportunity to but the Baggies one up at the Lane, this inevitably proved costly just a few minutes later. Bale in the middle of the goal let rip and his shot was well saved from Foster as the ball was swerving all over the place. Before the resulting corner was taken Sigurdsson was brought on to take the corner. From the Sigurdsson corner the ball was headed out to Assou-Ekotto. From 25 yards out he hit a low drive which deflected off Morrison and left Foster helpless as it went into the opposite corner.

     

    A lucky break through to say the least but a goal was coming in this game. However this didn’t dishearten the West Brom players and they still continued to pile on the pressure in the dying minutes of the game. In the 89th minute Gareth McAuley saw his header hit the bar and just about cleared from the Spurs defence. This pressure continued from West Brom as the felt they could grab a potential equaliser.

     

    In the 91st minute Mulumbu forced a corner which would be the only chance that West Brom could snatch a late equaliser. Brunt delivered the corner and there was a huge goal mouth scramble where a Lukaku header was cleared off the line. Eventually the ball fell to McAuely who passed the ball low to Morrison. Morrison from 8 yards out curled a low right footed shot which went passed a scrambling Friedel into the bottom corner.

     

    Huge delight for West Brom as the whole team were celebrating on the half way line – including Foster – but it was well deserved as West Brom piled on the pressure to force open an opportunity and when they did they took the chance with brilliance. West Brom’s delight could have been short lived if it weren’t for the fact a very late Vertonghen goal was deemed offside.

     

    The game finished 1-1 and AVB finally got his first point as Spurs manager. On the contrary, West Brom after a win in the first game against Liverpool had gained a valuable point against Spurs. Spurs should have scored early chances but their finishing had left them and it was West Brom who took advantage of this. Clarke proving his critics wrong after two games of the Premier League season, 4 points from two games is a fantastic start for him and I’m sure he’ll want to keep on progressing by getting a win against Everton at the Hawthorns in his next game.