Tottenham seal progress with victory over Partizan

Benjamin Stambouli scored his first Tottenham goal as they sealed their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League after a 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade.

The game was under threat of being abandoned when the referee took the players off on 42 minutes after a pitch invader disrupted the match on three occasions.

Following a delay of around 10 minutes, the players returned to the field.

Spurs' decision to leave Harry Kane on the bench meant they had little firepower in the first half.

Their only chances of note came when Roberto Soldado dragged a shot wide while Erik Lamela also failed to find the target.

Mauricio Pocchetino's side improved after the break and broke the deadlock when Soldado's effort hit the post and Frenchman Stambouli slammed in the rebound.

That sparked Spurs into life with Soldado again going close but was denied by a fine stop by Milan Lukac, while Lamela hit two long-range efforts that narrowly missed the target.

Partizan's best chance came in the dying minutes when Hugo Lloris produced a world class save to tip away Vladimir Volkov's header while Andrija Zivkovic found the side netting with the rebound.

The win sees Spurs stay top of Group C and remain unbeaten in the competition.

1' - EARLY CHANCE: Soldado is set up by Lamela, but drags his shot inches wide from the edge of the box.

18' - PARTIZAN SHOT: Ilic loops the ball into the box, Naughton misses it allowing Lazovic to fire in an effort which fizzes past the post.

41' - PLAY INTERRUPTED: Pitch invader number three comes onto the field and causes a nuisance. The referee has told the players to come off the field.

41' - GAME RESUMES: After a delay of around ten minutes, Officials and players are coming back onto the pitch to the delight of the crowd and the game is being restarted.

45'+5 - LAMELA EFFORT: Lamela drags his snap shot from 20 yards just wide.

49' - GOAL! Soldado hits the post and Stambouli slams in the rebound from close range.

56' - SOLDADO EFFORT: Soldado fails to find the net again! He has acres of space but his stabbed shot is well saved.

68' - LAMELA GOES CLOSE AGAIN: Kane with a nice pass for Paulinho who is tackled, the ball breaks for Lamela but he fires his effort over.

71 ' - KANE FREE-KICK: Spurs free-kick 30 yards out. Kane tests the keeper with a well directed side-footed shot.

85' - FANTASTIC SAVE: World class save from Lloris to tip away Volkov's header while Zivkovic finds the side netting with the rebound.

88' - SPURNED CHANCE: Stambouli is through on goal but opts to pass to Lamela but the angle is too tight and he puts his effort wide.

90'+2 - TOP SAVE: Stunning save from Lukac to tip over Lamela's curling drive.

Spurs are unbeaten in seven matches of the Europa League including the qualifier.

Tottenham, who play Everton on Sunday, have lost three times in the league following a European game.

Is it time that Spurs cut their losses and sold Roberto Soldado? The striker was again not on the scoresheet due to a combination of poor finishing and bad luck. He has not had the rub of the green since joining from Valencia last year and it was a strange call to start him instead of Harry Kane. Soldado has had this sort of frustrating game plenty of times and the clock is ticking on whether he can return to the form he showed in Spain.

Erik Lamela (Tottenham): The Argentine was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet with his series of long-range efforts. He combined well with Stambouli throughout and looked like Spurs' most dangerous player. No Rabona-type goal tonight but an impressive display nonetheless.

Tottenham: Lloris 7, Naughton 4, Chiriches 5, Vertonghen 5, Davies 6, Dembele 5, Stambouli 8, Lennon 6, Paulinho 6, Lamela 7, Soldado 7. Subs: Bentaleb 5, Kane 6, Winks 5.

Partizan: Lukac 7, Volkov 6, Stankovic 5, Cirkovic 5, B.Ilic 6, Ninkovic 6, Grbic 7, Markovic 5, S.Ilic 5, Lazovic 5, Skuletic 5. Subs: Zivkovic 5, Marinkovic 4, Kojic 4.