|
Post by Football News on Dec 5, 2015 17:21:54 GMT
West Brom’s James McClean strikes to deny record-equalling Tottenham West Brom 1 - 1 SpursHome team scorers James McClean 39 Away team scorers Dele Alli 15 West Brom’s James McClean celebrates levelling the scores against Spurs at The Hawthorns. Tottenham equalled their club record of 14 league games unbeaten after surviving a spirited second-half assault from West Bromwich Albion. Not since 1985 have Spurs gone this long without defeat but their new-found resilience was tested to the full by an Albion side buoyed by James McClean’s first goal for the club that levelled out Dele Alli’s opener. In establishing a club record for unbeaten Premier League games, Spurs had to dig deep after enjoying the better of the first half. For a clash between the roundheads and the cavaliers of the Premier League, Spurs duly predictably enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half, without making it pay. Spurs, albeit with a far greater degree of steel behind their silky approach these days, came into the game as the division’s second most prolific shooters – only Manchester City had struck more efforts than their 92 on target – whereas Albion were bottom of the table in mustering only 117 shots in total, on or off. Their 39.9% share of possession in games was also the lowest in the Premier League. But while Spurs had twice as much ball as the Baggies before the break, they shared the goals. Alli, in front of the watching Roy Hodgson on the England manager’s return to The Hawthorns, struck first, with a distinctly West Brom kind of goal, getting in between Craig Dawson and Gareth McAuley to volley Toby Alderweireld’s long diagonal pass through Boaz Myhill’s legs. When Albion equalised six minutes before half-time, it was with a goal more associated with Spurs. There was some sweet short passing before Stéphane Sessègnon played in Darren Fletcher down the right wing for a cross that McClean headed emphatically home, for his first goal since his £1.5million transfer from Wigan Athletic in the summer. The tempo of the game intensified in the second period, with West Brom muscling their way into the ascendancy. Only an implausible save from Hugo Lloris prevented Jonas Olsson from giving West Brom the lead, after the defender toe-ended the ball goalwards from six yards after Dawson headed down Chris Brunt’s free-kick, and then Salomón Rondón hesitated, allowing Kyle Walker to clear, after Craig Gardner’s dink invited the £12million striker to shoot. As Albion pressed to maintain their momentum, McClean overstepped the mark with a reckless tackle high over the ball on Mousa Dembélé that, while failing to make a full connection with the opponent, could easily have brought a red card for intent. But Albion, who beat Arsenal in their last home game, were cheered off the field by their supporters as Spurs stayed fifth in the table. Guardian
|
|