West Bromwich 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 match report: James McClean rescues Baggies a point

West Bromwich Albion 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1

James McClean celebrates scoring against Tottenham (Getty Images)

Dele Alli cemented his reputation as the teenage sensation of the season with a goal that will further enhance his standing with England manager Roy Hodgson, who was present to see the 19-year-old score for the third time for his club.

Yet, from a broader perspective it was a frustrating afternoon for Tottenham, whose unbeaten run now extends to 14 games yet who remain unable to break into the top four.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have not lost a league match since the opening day of the season but have drawn eight times subsequently. Asked afterwards if he was proud to have oversees the club’s record run, the head coach said: “Yes, but in football the most important thing is where you are at the end of the season.”

In fact, West Bromwich Albion deserved nothing less than to take a point and had a case for claiming they were worthy of more, having responded to going a goal down after 15 minutes to draw level by half-time. They had come from behind to beat Arsenal in their last home match and only a point-blank reaction save by Hugo Lloris denied them a winner.

Dele Alli celebrates his goal for Tottenham against West Brom (Getty Images)

Albion had started positively too, and perhaps they should have gone ahead in the sixth minute when Salomon Rondon forced his way past Jan Vertonghen in pursuit of a James Morrison through ball but sent his shot high and wide.

Tottenham had set up with three behind Harry Kane, with Alli, who missed the draw against Chelsea through suspension, this time in an advanced position, and evidence of his quality as a finisher came in Tottenham’s first meaningful attack.

A long ball from centre back Toby Alderweireld put Albion’s defence on the back foot. Alli made a run between Craig Dawson and Garath McAuley, his first touch pushing the ball past goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

Dele Alli scores Tottenham's opener against West Brom (Getty Images)

Yet Albion found a way back into the game. They survived when Kane almost reached an Alli cross but responded with a nicely worked move that ended with McClean heading powerfully past Lloris after outjumping Kyle Walker.

Saido Berahino, for whom Tottenham bid four times in the summer remained on the bench after a loss of form blamed by the Albion manager Tony Pulis on the transfer saga.

Teams

West Bromwich Albion: (4-1-4-1) Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Brunt; Evans; Sessègnon (Gardner, 44), Fletcher, Morrison, McClean; Rondon.

Tottenham Hotspur: (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembélé; Lamela (Son, 65), Alli (Njie, 80), Eriksen; Kane.

Referee: Jonathan Moss.

Man of the match: McClean.

Match rating: 7/10