Tottenham Hotspur vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
White Hart LaneAttendance35,923.
Tuesday 26 April 2016 08:20, UK
Craig Dawson scored at both ends as West Brom put a major dent in Tottenham's Premier League title hopes with a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane on Monday Night Football.
The Albion centre-back put Spurs in front with an own goal on 33 minutes, squeezing the ball into his own net under pressure from Jan Vertonghen at a free-kick.
The hosts failed to convert a number of good chances, hitting the woodwork three times, and Dawson punished them with 18 minutes left when he rose above Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris to head home from a corner.
It means league leaders Leicester are just one win from the title, with three games left, and can clinch the trophy with victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Super Sunday.
Spurs could also be without Dele Alli, who may face retrospective action from the FA after he was filmed hitting out at Claudio Yacob and striking him in the stomach, off the ball and unseen by referee Mike Jones.
Tottenham dominated the first half, keeping the Baggies pinned back in their own defensive third, and Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill was forced to make two excellent saves within the first 10 minutes.
After Christian Eriksen went close with a free-kick, Myhill tipped a low Harry Kane effort onto the far post before punching away Toby Alderweireld's awkward cross-shot that could have found the net.
Eriksen then hit the crossbar on 13 minutes with another sweetly-struck set-piece that was aimed at the top right-hand corner, and then Myhill saved well again from Kane low down on 20 minutes.
Spurs were finally helped into the lead by Dawson when Eriksen's free-kick deep into the penalty area went underneath Myhill via the defender's body, with Vertonghen celebrating as if he had scored his first league goal in since March 2013.
The home side still seemed in control as Erik Lamela hit the post from Eriksen's low cross on 58 minutes and then went close through the Denmark international on 65, but they grew frustrated with themselves as the game wore on and their usual strengths began to drop.
Passing accuracy decreased, West Brom had more possession, and Tottenham failed to win the ball back as often. Salomon Rondon gave them a stern warning with a shot from a tight angle that Lloris had to tip over the bar.
And it was the France number one who was arguably to blame for the equaliser as he came to claim the resulting corner but failed to beat Dawson to the ball, and the defender found the net from six yards.
Tottenham looked shocked and deflated and struggled to create a chance in the final moments. They dropped to the turf as the final whistle was blown, knowing their title hopes have begun to fade.
Spurs are in Monday Night Football action again next week when they travel to London rivals Chelsea, by which time Leicester may have already been crowned champions.
Player Ratings
Tottenham: Lloris (6), Walker (6), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (6), Rose (6); Dembele (7), Dier (6); Lamela (5), Alli (6), Eriksen (7) Kane (6)
Subs: Son (6), Mason (6), Chadli (6)
West Brom: Myhill (7); Olsson (7), Yacob (6), Evans (6), Gardner (7), McClean (6), McAuley (7), Fletcher (6), Dawson (7), Sessegnon (6), Rondon (6)
Subs: Sandro (6)
Man of the match: Craig Gardner
