West Brom 0 Spurs 1 - Report

Prior to kick-off, Jose Mourinho’s side had been heavy favourites to overcome Slaven Bilic’s men.

But it was the Baggies who put in an outstanding display and who dominated the majority of the game.

Eric Dier had to hear clear from just in front of his own goal line with Karlan Grant waiting to pounce following an excellent Callum Robinson cross.

Dara O’Shea and Darnell Furlong both went close with headers from corners while Conor Gallagher hit the post with an excellent snap-shot from 25-yards.

Over the course of the 90 minutes, Spurs created very little. But right at the end, Kane nodded in a cross from Matt Doherty.

It was a soft goal to concede with Kyle Bartley and Sam Johnstone making life too easy for England’s skipper.

And it meant all Albion’s hard work had been for nothing with Mourinho’s side taking the points back to London.

Report

Albion were dealt a huge blow before kick-off when it was revealed Branislav Ivanovic and Matheus Pereira had both tested positive for COVID-19.

With those key players out, Bilic opted to make three changes to the team that put in a disappointing display at Fulham.

Switching to a 3-5-2 formation, Dara O’Shea and Kyle Bartley came into the side to join Semi Ajayi in a back three.

Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend were deployed as wing-backs with Conor Gallagher, Jake Livermore and Filip Krovinovic the midfield three.

Bilic also opted to drop Grady Diangana to the bench with Callum Robinson replacing him and joining Karlan Grant up front.

For the first time in the Premier League, Mourinho started with his star trio of Son Heung-Min, Gareth Bale and Harry Kane up front.

In what, overall, was a 4-3-3 system, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko looked to supply them with ammunition from midfield.

Before the match started, both teams observed a period of silence to commemorate Remembrance Sunday.

In what proved to be an entertaining and keenly contested opening 20 minutes, it was Albion who created the first chance of the match when Hugo Lloris bizarrely opted to punch clear a hopeful ball into the box despite having loads of time.

That allowed the Baggies to feed Robinson who hit a low drive that the keeper then did well to hold.

Prior to kick-off, the form book had predicted this would be a comfortable win for Spurs.

But the game continued to be even as the clock ticked towards the 15 minute mark with both teams then creating chances to score in a frantic 60 second spell.

It was Bilic’s men who threatened first with Robinson sending in a low cross which Gallagher met only to see his shot well blocked by a defender.

Tottenham then raced up with the other end and worked the ball to Son in the box who, with plenty of time, looked destined to find the back of the net.

But he dallied on the ball and took too much time on the ball with that hesitance allowing Semi Ajayi to race across goal and make a vital block.

From that point on, it was the Baggies who dominated the half.

A cracking cross from Furlong was met by Grant but the delivery was just a touch too high - with the striker unable to glance his header on target.

The Baggies then went even closer when the excellent Robinson stood up a cross to the back post.

Eric Dier - practically stood on his own goalline - then did brilliantly to head the ball away with Grant and Furlong both poised behind him for a tap-in.

Tottenaham just hadn’t got going with Albion’s new shape really working for them.

Krovinovic and Livermore both tried their luck from distance shortly before the interval as they continued to press.

But despite their good play, they just couldn’t find that all-important breakthrough - with a goal all that was missing from what was an outstanding first-half display.

The Baggies again came close just moments after the re-start with O’Shea meeting a corner only to see his header sail narrowly wide.

Spurs began to have a sustained spell of pressure as the clock ticked towards the hour mark.

Kane sent in a cross which a stretching Bale couldn’t turn towards goal. O’Shea made a smart block to keep out a fierce low drive from the England skipper.

Mourinho made his first change in the 64th minute with Giovani Lo Celso replacing Ndomele.

And the switch almost proved instant dividends when Reguilon saw a shot in the box blocked.

The ball then fell for Lo Celso but despite being well placed the Argetinian fired wide when he really should have scored.

To Albion’s huge credit, they weathered the Spurs storm and regained the initiative.

A brilliant snap-shot from Gallagher 25-yards slipped the post with Lloris rooted to the spot.

The Baggies then went close again when Furlong brilliantly met a corner with a glancing header.

Lloris did well to keep it out but the ball then fell for Grant who fired wide when he should have done better.

Despite Albion’s dominance, it was Spurs who looked the more likely to get a winner in the closing stages.

Dier headed a corner straight at Johnstone. The keeper then made an excellent, one-handed stop - to keep out a low drive from substitute Carlos Vinicius.

But in the 89th minute they did find a way through to break Albion hearts.

Matt Doherty sent a cross into the box that Johnstone really should have come and claimed.

But he didn’t with Bartley then not doing enough to hold off Kane who then looped a header over the keeper and into the net.

It meant all Albion’s hard work had been for nothing with the Baggies putting in a performance that warranted all three points.

In the end, though, they came away with nothing with their wait for a first league win of the campaign still rumbling on.

Teams

Albion (3-5-2): Johnstone, Furlong, Bartley, Ajayi, O’Shea, Townsend, Krovinovic, Livermore (Edwards 89), Gallagher, Robinson (Diangana 67), Grant (Phillips 84).

Subs not used: Button, Peltier, Gibbs, Sawyers

Tottenham (4-3-3): Lloris, Doherty, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Sissoko (Vinicius 79), Hojbjerg, Ndombele (Lo Celso 68), Bale (Moura 78), Son, Kane.

Subs not used: Hart, Aurier, Davies, Rodon.