Dele Alli salvages point for Tottenham at West Brom
ByEurosport
Updated 15/10/2016 at 17:57 GMT
The Hawthorns, Premier League - West Bromwich Albion 1 (Chadli, 82) Tottenham 1 (Alli)
Dele Alli scored a late equaliser as Tottenham came from a goal down to draw 1- 1 with West Brom at the Hawthorns.
It had looked as though former Tottenham man Nacer Chadli would condemn Spurs to a first league defeat of the season after he had given the home side the lead with 82 minutes gone.
Defeat would have been harsh on the visitors, who dominated possession and could have had a comfortable lead at half-time were it not for Ben Foster in the Baggies' goal.
He made a number of top saves including stopping Dele Alli one-on-one, denying a Ben Davies drive and tipping a Chistian Eriksen effort round the post when it looked for all the world that the ball was going in.
However shortly before the break Hugo Lloris had made a superb save of his own, reacting with lightning speed to deny Salomon Rondon on the rebound after he could only parry James McClean’s low drive.
With game looking like it was going to fizzle out, and the wind somewhat taken out of Tottenham's sails by an injury to Toby Alderweireld, it sprung in to life for the last ten minutes.
Chadli gave West Brom the lead eight minutes from time, his fourth goal in five Albion appearances, slamming into the roof of the net after Lloris had produced a great save from James McClean.
The lead would last only seven minutes though, with Alli poking home an equaliser after a scramble in the penalty box.
Fittingly though, there was still time for one last superb Foster save as he clawed away an Eriksen’s free-kick that was destined for the top corner in stoppage time.
TALKING POINT
Is Vincent Janssen up to it? The Dutchman’s link-up play was impressive all afternoon and he was involved in creating several of his side’s best chances, but rarely on hand to finish any. Spurs had plenty of possession but what they really needed was some penetration up top and to be more clinical with their chances. Janssen, playing as the lone striker, was the man you would look at to provide such qualities but he couldn’t, and ultimately strikers are judged on goals. Expect Heung-Min Son to start up front against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ben Foster (West Brom). This was easy. Foster made a range of quality saves to keep his side in it in the first half, from diving at Alli’s feet to blocking a one-on-one and stopping efforts from range. He was the lone outstanding player in an otherwise mediocre match and saved the best until last with an incredible save in the 95th minute to save a point for the Baggies.
KEY MOMENTS
38’ – SAVE! Alli is one-on-one with Foster after being put through by Janssen, but the goalkeeper saves again.
42’ – SAVE! Fantastic stop by Foster, who tips Eriksen's shot around his right post.
45+1’ – SAVE! McClean cuts in and Lloris can only parry his powerful shot straight to Rondon, but is up quickly to block the rebound.
82’ – GOAL! Chadli smashes into the roof of the net from close range after Lloris made a stunning save to deny McClean.
89’ – GOAL! There’s a scamble in the box and Alli is on hand to poke home, wrong-footing the man on the line.
PLAYER RATINGS
West Brom: Foster 9, Dawson 6, McAuley ,6 Evans 7, Nyom 6, Phillips 6, Fletcher 7, Yacob 7, McClean 6, Chadli 7, Rondon 6. Subs: Brunt 7, Gardner 6.
Tottenham: Lloris 7, Walker 6, Alderweireld 6, Vertonghen 6, Davies 6, Wanyama 7, Sissoko 5, Dele 7, Eriksen 7, Lamela 6, Janssen 6. Subs: Dier 6, Dembele 6, Son 6.
KEY STATS
Chadli has been involved in six of West Brom's last seven goals, scoring four and assisting two.
The last three league meetings between these two sides have all finished 1-1.
Tottenham remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, and are unbeaten in their first eight league games for the first time since 1990.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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