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Premier League

Dec 26, 2013 at 3pm UK

Spurs Tottenham Hotspur
1-1
West Brom West Bromwich Albion

Eriksen (36')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Olsson (38')

Match Analysis: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 26 December 2013

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the 1-1 draw between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane this afternoon.

Tim Sherwood's first match in charge of Tottenham Hotspur as full-time manager ended in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion this afternoon.

The hosts took the lead in style when Christian Eriksen fired a free kick into the top corner for his first goal in the Premier League.

The lead lasted less than two minutes, however, as Jonas Olsson capitalised on some poor marking from a free kick to poke his side level.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at an entertaining match at White Hart Lane.

Match statistics:

Tottenham:
Shots 20
On target 3
Possession 64%
Corners 12
Fouls 8

West Brom:
Shots 7
On target 4
Possession 36%
Corners 2
Fouls 12

Was the result fair?

Yes. The statistics may suggest that Tottenham dominated the match, with substantially more possession and shots, but they simply didn't do enough to win the game. Perhaps the most telling stat is that they had just three efforts on target, while West Brom had four. Spurs did indeed control the general play for large periods of the match, but West Brom used their possession better and could have been ahead at half time. The Baggies struggled to create as many chances in the second half, though, so overall a draw was the fairest result for both teams.

Tottenham's performance

They are certainly more positive and more attacking under Sherwood than they were under Andre Villas-Boas, but they are still struggling to stick the ball in the back of the net. They rarely threatened Ben Foster's goal despite all of their possession, and were forced to rely mainly on long-range efforts to come close in the second half. Their goal, of course, came from such a strike, and despite all of the creativity they have in midfield they never really looked capable of breaking down West Brom's defence with an intricate passing move. A point is not disastrous, but they should be winning these games if they want to get themselves back into Champions League reckoning.

West Brom's performance

The Baggies certainly didn't play like a side who had not won in seven games and had taken just one point from the last 15 on offer. They approached the match with a positive mindset and took the game to Spurs in the first half. They could, and perhaps should have been in front at the break as Matej Vydra and James Morrison both had good chances in addition to Olsson's goal. They were forced to do more defending in the second half, but they kept Tottenham's dangerous attackers quiet and in the end it was quite a comfortable point for them. It may extend their winless streak even further, but this was a big result - and performance - for West Brom today.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Jonas Olsson: Spurs simply couldn't break the West Brom defence down today, and Olsson was a big reason for that. He put in a very solid display at the back, keeping Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado quiet for the vast majority of the match. It also doesn't hurt that he got his side's equaliser just moments after conceding at the other end. It was an accomplished finish for a big centre-back, although he was helped by the defending.

Biggest gaffe

This one has to go to Tottenham's defending in the build-up to West Brom's equaliser. They say you are most vulnerable to conceding a goal when you have just scored one, and that was certainly the case here. It was a poor free kick from Morgan Amalfitano, but Adebayor missed the chance to clear it and Olsson found himself unmarked inside the box to poke home from close range. The defence was nowhere to be seen, and it was one of many mistakes that Vlad Chiriches, who was meant to be marking Olsson, made in the match.

Referee performance

Anthony Taylor made quite a few debatable calls during the match, but the worst of the lot was not to send Steven Reid off in the second half. The full-back dived in on Danny Rose and his challenge was arguably bad enough to warrant a straight red, and certainly a yellow card. Taylor let him off what would have been his second yellow, however, instead showing a card to Olsson for dissent. Reid really should have been off, and that would have given Spurs more than 20 minutes against 10 men, which could have changed things.

What next?

Tottenham: Tottenham's next game sees them take on Stoke City at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

West Brom: West Brom, meanwhile, will not have long to rest before travelling back to London to face West Ham United in Saturday's early kickoff.