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Tottenham 2-2 Westbrom: Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Odemwingie, Cox great-strike
Tottenham missed out on the chance to move up to fourth in the Premier League table after they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane, Saturday 22/04/2011.
Peter Odemwingie opened the scoring after five minutes before Roman Pavlyuchenko levelled as the half-hour mark approached.
Jermain Defoe then fired Spurs in front midway through the second half with his 100th goal for Tottenham and a century of Premier League strikes, only for substitute Simon Cox to score a wonderful equaliser nine minutes from time.
The draw means Tottenham are now a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who play at Blackburn on Monday, while West Brom moved a step closer to securing their Premier League status for next season.
Tottenham began brightly but, just as in Wednesday's 3-3 draw with Arsenal on the same ground, they were behind after just five minutes. Carlos Vela picked out Odemwingie with a diagonal ball and - as Benoit Assou-Ekotto pulled up with a hamstring twinge - the Nigerian striker turned swiftly and fired a low finish into the far bottom corner.
Immediately after the goal Assou-Ekotto was replaced by Sandro, with Gareth Bale moving to left-back. However, that did not affect Tottenham's attacking intent, and they went on to dominate the half.
Spurs created plenty of chances, and came close to equalising when Rafael van der Vaart whipped in an inviting free-kick which William Gallas headed over the bar from inside the six-yard area.
The Londoners did eventually make the breakthrough on 27 minutes when Pavlyuchenko drilled a clinical finish from outside the box in off the foot of the post for his eighth league goal of the season.
Pavlyuchenko should then have puts Spurs ahead for the first time in the match five minutes later when he blazed a shot over the bar after some great link-up play between Van der Vaart and Luka Modric inside the area. The Dutchman's strike was parried by Scott Carson into the Russian's path, but he could not keep his shot down.
Soon after the break Odemwingie was denied his second of the game and 14th league goal of the season by a wonderful save from Heurelho Gomes after he had met Nicky Shorey's cross with a fine header.
Tottenham continued to control proceedings and won plenty of corners, but missed the aerial presence of Peter Crouch at set pieces. However, from open play they were a constant threat, and Defoe finally put them ahead for the first time in the match on 67 minutes with a crisp left-footed strike from distance that gave Scott Carson no chance.
West Brom were unperturbed be falling behind and, after they were denied a clear penalty when Michael Dawson blocked James Morrison's shot with his arm, they got the equaliser.
Cox had been introduced from the bench on 78 minutes, and he soon made a huge impact on the result when he worked some space in front of Gallas on the edge of the box and curled a delightful effort right into the far top corner for his first ever Premier League goal.
Crouch was eventually brought on with three minutes of normal time remaining but, after Van der Vaart and Defoe had efforts blocked in the area, Spurs had to make do with a point.
Tony Mabert / Eurosport
Source: uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Team Line-up:
Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Kaboul, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe; Subs: Cudicini, Lennon, Jenas, Crouch, Bassong, Sandro, Pienaar
West Brom: Carson, Reid, Meite, Olsson, Shorey, Brunt, Mulumbu, Scharner, Thomas, Odemwingie, Vela; Subs: Myhill, Tchoyi, Pablo, Morrison, Fortune, Cox, Jara
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