A last-gasp Rafael Van de Vaart header saved Tottenham from a fourth consecutive defeat after Stoke had taken the lead through Cameron Jerome against the run of play.

In truth, it was a match Spurs didn’t want. After the events of Saturday involving Fabrice Muamba, White Hart Lane was a subdued place. Football was rightly taking a backseat. The only time the stadium truly erupted was when the players emerged wearing t-shirts with the message ‘Get Well Soon Fabrice’, leading to rapturous applause around the ground.

Spurs started brightly with Gareth Bale pulling the strings, floating across midfield. He twice put in Luca Modric who dragged both shots narrowly wide of the left hand post. For all their possession Tottenham were unable to open up Stoke as they cried out for more width. Bale was rarely patrolling the left flank and you began to wonder how much they missed Aaron Lennon.

The second half began in the same manner, Spurs probing but unable to make a clear-cut chance against an organised Stoke side. Bale was next to go close from distance. His deflected drive flew up and over Begovic and came crashing off the crossbar.

It seems the opposition always get a chance at White Hart Lane. With fifteen minutes left Jermaine Pennant’s costless kick was looped up into the air by Robert Huth before Jerome prodded in from close range. Stoke were on course to beat Spurs for the third time this season.

Another defeat looked likely when Bale was belatedly deployed on the left flank. He picked up the ball and whipped in a cross that was met by Van de Vaart to spare Spurs’ blushes. The Dutchman’s late effort masked the fact that Spurs had slipped to fourth, and have only picked up four points from fifteen since Harry Redknapp was linked with the vacant England managerial position.

The clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday is now crucial for Tottenham’s season. A defeat there and they might as well start checking those closest to them are subscribed to Channel 5.

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