Hello and welcome to our LIVE text commentary of Tottenham's crucial clash with Stoke from the Britannia Stadium. None of the top five have won here, but Spurs have to do just that to reignite their title tilt. Leicester dropped points yesterday, meaning only victory will do for Mauricio Pochettino's men in Staffordshire. I'm Pete Hall, and I will be bringing you the action, as it happens, live!

Still a rather subdued evening so far. Stoke have plenty to play for, but they lack any real intensity for some reason.

Kyle Walker carries the ball forward at pace, but his pass is misplaced, it ricochets to Alli, who blasts over.

Poor from Imbula as he chips aimlessly towards Bojan. The diminutive forward needs better service than that if Stoke are to get a foothold in this game.

Potters are strangely quite flat here. Tottenham dominating possession, chances and action areas so far.

Stoke fans cheer ironicly when referee Swarbrick awards them a free-kick. They have not had much else to cheer so far.

Both Kane and Alli have taken hefty blows so far, which will be of concern to Pochettino. The pair seem to have run off their knocks, though.

His consistency is astounding...

Better from Stoke. Marko Arnoutovic does really well to make space for the shot, but it is well blocked.

"Leicester City, we're coming from you" is the chant bellowing from the Spurs end, and their team are filling them with confidence with a composed display here so far.

Moussa Dembele lays the ball off for Kane, who takes two touches to his right, before curling the ball around a sea of defenders and into the bottom corner from 20-yards. Was very easy for the Spurs striker, but well taken nonetheless.

GOAL! Stoke 0-1 Tottenham. Kane gives Spurs the lead with a superb curling effort. Such a crucial strike!

Spurs seeing all of the ball at the moment, with Stoke conceding some needless free-kicks as they get frustrated chasing shadows.

CHANCE! Kane appears to be offside, but the linesman's flag stays down, his first touch lets him down, and he cannot get the ball out of his feet to get a clean strike away, allowing Given to spread himself to block. Shawcross fell asleep in allowing the England hitman so much room.

Ryan Shawcross lumps the ball forward for Bojan to chase, but it is just cut out. Stoke in the ascendancy here.

Erik Lamela whips a free-kick into the box, but that is easily cleared. Tried to keep it flatter, out of the wind.

Only drama so far is that we've had a change of ball. Wind is whistling around the stadium, and will cause the those soft southerners plenty of problems...

Referee Swarbrick gets us under way in his crucial encounter. Tottenham know only a win will do. Mauricio Pochettino has never beaten Stoke as a manager. No time like the present...

Slow it down, lads?

SEEING RED! There have been seven red cards in seven Premier League games between Spurs and Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, with only one of those matches not seeing a dismissal. Indeed, there is on average a red card every 1.9 games between these two sides - more frequent than any other Premier League fixture (minimum 10 meetings).

REFEREE CONTROVERSY! Neil Swarbrick will take charge of tonight's game, after a late switch. There was much furore over the choice of official even before a ball was even kicked, with Kevin Friend switched from the Britannia to tomorrow night's game at St James' Park. The change happened after Spurs fans took to social media to point out Friend, a Bristol City fan, lives in Leicestershire and has attended Foxes matches in the past.

Mark Hughes will not be allowing his Stoke side to lie down at the Britannia: "I have always said that on our day we can be a match for anybody," Hughes said. "We have done well against the big sides here, just not so well against others. We will have to play exceptionally well tonight, as Tottenham are a great side."