Dele Alli the inspiration as Spurs survive shock to claim Europa place

Tottenham secured a Europa League berth with a convincing 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in their final Champions League Group E encounter at Wembley.

The Lilywhites needed just a point to clinch third spot ahead of the bottom-placed Russians and eventually did it in style after Alan Dzagoev had snared a shock opener.

Goals from Dele Alli and Harry Kane got Mauricio Pochettino's men back on course heading into the interval before CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev inadvertently kicked Alli's header into his own net to seal it.

The victory put an end to a Wembley hoodoo that had seen Spurs lose both 'home' matches in this pool to table-topping Monaco and runners-up Bayer Leverkusen, results that ultimately proved costly to their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the continent's premier competition.

Ahead of the contest, Mauricio Pochettino had claimed the Europa League was still important to his side and he stuck to his word by naming a strong XI that were too good for the Russian champions on what was their coach, Leonid Slutsky's final match in charge.

Tottenham will now head to Manchester United on Sunday in confident mood as they turn their attention back to the domestic scene until the new year.

A chance for silverware or an unwanted distraction? Spurs made a mess of a Champions League group that looked very favourable when the draw was made. They finished it with a flourish and earned the consolation of a Europa League place - but will that be a hindrance in the bigger picture of their season? Pochettino may see it as a chance to land silverware or use the competition to give younger players experience in the second half of the season, but with the title race being a keenly-contested affair amongst a number of clubs, there will no doubt be those who would prefer to focus on a push on the domestic front. It remains to be seen how it affects Tottenham after the new year, but a Thursday-Sunday schedule could well prove detrimental with the added pressure of seeing any potential rivals play first.

Christian Eriksen (Tottenham): After a sluggish start to the campaign, the Dane looks to be back to his best. Creative throughout and hungry to cause havoc in the CSKA defence. Produced a series of spellbinding crosses and was unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet.

Tottenham: Lloris 6; Walker 7, Dier 6, Vertonghen 7, Rose 8; Winks 6, Wanyama 6; Eriksen 9, Dele 7, Son 6; Kane 7. Subs: N'koudou 6, Alderweireld 6, Onomah 5.

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev 6, Nababkin 6, A Berezutskiy 6, V Berezutskiy 5, Shchennikov 6, Natcho 6, Golovin 6, Tosic 6, Milanov 7, Dzagoev 7, Traore 5. Subs: Chalov 6, Gordyushenko 6, Strandberg 5.

7' - TOTTENHAM CHANCE! Eriksen floats a lovely ball into the middle for Alli, who thumps his header wide of the far post.

25' - TOTTENHAM CHANCE! Eriksen flicks a delightful pass through for the late run of Alli, who chests down before firing a tame shot straight at Akinfeev from 10 yards. Wasteful from the England midfielder.

33' - GOAL! TOTTENHAM 0-1 CSKA MOSCOW. A rare break forward sees Tosic nod down for Alan Dzagoev to run into the area and fire low past Lloris.

38' - GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-1 CSKA MOSCOW. Alli finally finds the finish, coolly chesting down and stroking a shot into the corner from Eriksen's cross.

45+1' - GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-1 CSKA MOSCOW. Kane taps in from close range after Rose's first-time cross from the left put it on a plate for the striker. Great ball by Eriksen for Rose in the build up too.

75' - TOTTENHAM CHANCE! Akinfeev just about does enough to deny Kane's volley on the stretch after another sumptuous pass from Eriksen.

77' - GOAL! TOTTENHAM 3-1 CSKA MOSCOW. Alli meets Kane's right-wing cross with a header that Akinfeev saves before inadvertently kicking it back over himself and into his own net.

No English team has managed to keep a clean sheet in the CL at Wembley, in 10 games (6 Arsenal, 3 Tottenham, 1 Man Utd)

Akinfeev has failed to keep a clean sheet in each of his last 39 Champions League apps, last doing so 10 years ago vs Arsenal.

CSKA have lost 10 of their last 12 away games in the group stage of this competition.

CSKA have not won any of their last 10 UEFA Champions League matches.