West Brom 0-1 Tottenham: Bale storms past 10 man WBA

By Peter Wells: In the wake of Peter Odemwingie's desperate attempts to leave the Hawthorns, manager Steve Clarke was given another headache, when Goran Popov spat at Kyle Walker, and was rightly given his marching orders. Popov's moment of stupidity ended the contest as a spectacle and also severely knocked any chance of a West Brom winner. Gareth Bale's wonderful strike on 67 minutes all put cemented WBA's fate. After that it turned to a routine Tottenham victory, which could have had more gloss on it had the players wanted.

Spurs have now moved within a point of 3rd place Chelsea, while West Brom remain in 9th, and set to stay at least 9th for another two weeks.

The first chance of a dull opening fell to West Brom loanee striker, Lukaku who struck low at Lloris' near post, but the effort was easily kept out. Tottenham's best chance of the 1st half came just a minute later when Aaron Lennon displayed his speed down the right hand side, before chipping the ball to Dempsey at the back post, who got his angles all wrong, heading into the side netting.

Tottenham dominated possession in the 1st half, but the best chance well to West Brom's, Shane Long. Dorrans did well to find Long, with a through ball on the edge of the Tottenham penalty area, but the front man's tame effort was well blocked by Lloris.

Bad news then for Tottenham, as Jermain Defoe, limped off after badly twisting his ankle, and things could have gotten worse, had it not been for Dawson, who just did enough to put off Lukaku when he was through on goal.

Bale, who had been Tottenham's biggest threat down the middle, brought a fine stop from Foster, who tipped over the Welshman's effort.

The 2nd half started with drama straight away, when Popov and Walker exchanged words, before the West Brom man spat at the Tottenham right back. Popov saw a straight red, leaving West Brom, which a monstrous task ahead of them.

Tottenham seized control, but despite a few blocked efforts, didn't threaten to make the man advantage count. That was until on 67 minutes, Gareth Bale, cut in from the right hand side, before curling past Foster. It was always going to take an amazing individual effort the separate the two sides, and Gareth Bale was the man to deliver.

Tottenham were cruising now, and looked content, with a 1-0 win. Long threatened at the other end, but lacked the power to trouble Lloris.

It was a crucial 3 points for Tottenham, who just about took advantage of Popov's stupidity, and can now feel much more confident about a top 4 spot.

Man of the Match: Gareth Bale - Who else? Bale took up his role down the middle, and caused West Brom all kinds of problems, and his brilliant finish, was the cherry on top.

WEST BROM 0

TOTTENHAM 1
BALE 67