Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Stoke City 2.
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur2StokeStoke City2
Mame Diouf headed in a late equaliser for Stoke as they fought back from two goals down to draw against Tottenham in a thrilling game at White Hart Lane.
Eric Dier gave Tottenham the lead with a header from a corner and Spurs added a second before half-time when Nacer Chadli volleyed in at the back post.
Marko Arnautovic pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after Toby Alderweireld brought down Joselu.
And Diouf secured a point when he got on the end of Stephen Ireland's cross.
It was deserved point for Mark Hughes' side who diligently kept at their task in the second half, even though a comeback looked unlikely after their first-half display.
Tottenham, however, will rue missed opportunities to have secured the points having had the majority of clear-cut chances.
- Reaction to this match and the rest of Saturday's action
- Relive Stoke's fight back against Tottenham at White Hart Lane
Stoke have lost none of their steel
Potters boss Hughes has looked to develop a more expansive style of play, and that has been reflected by his recruitment policy.
Stoke have brought in more flair and attacking players under Hughes but any concerns that they have lost any of their grit was answered.
For the majority of the game they were second best to Tottenham and a lesser team might have thrown in the towel when faced with a two-goal deficit at half-time. Not a bit of it.
The spirit and battling qualities which have characterised their time in the Premier League, instilled by Hughes' predecessor Tony Pulis, were very much to the fore.
Stoke striker Diouf was the embodiment of that with his work-rate, as demonstrated in this heat map.
"At 2-0 it was a big task for us but we understood what we needed to do, disrupt their rhythm, and do the hard yards," Hughes said.
"The spirit has been great. The key is that we're bringing good players in and good guys as well."
Kane's game continues to develop
Although he did not get his name on the scoresheet, it was hard to ignore Tottenham's Harry Kane.
The striker had a hand in everything in the final third and showed he is more than just a goalscorer.
It was noticeable how Kane has worked on different aspects of his play. The manner in which he linked play, dropped deep into pockets of space and created chances for team-mates certainly bodes well.
Potters need Shaqiri and Bojan quickly
Stoke's record £12m signing Xherdan Shaqiri was forced to watch the match from the stands because of a suspension that was carried over from his time at Inter Milan.
Although they ultimately fought back the Potters looked desperately in need of a player who can unlock defences, particularly away from home.
The tireless work of Jonathan Walters, Diouf and Arnautovic was to be applauded, but that creative spark was missing until Hughes made changes.
The Welshman will be itching to get Swiss playmaker Shaqiri and Bojan, who is continuing his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury, involved as quickly as possible.
Man of the match - Mame Diouf
Manager reaction
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "In football it's never closed until the final whistle. It's disappointing. The team played very well for 70 minutes and the penalty changed the game a little bit. We need to be optimistic, look forward and keep working."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "After the break we understood what we needed to do better, talked about it in the break and came out with more resolve. The substitutions helped us, we just started to retain the ball in the final third and started to create chances.
"If the game had gone a little bit longer who knows we might have been greedy and claimed two more points."
The stats you need to know
- Spurs had won their last 74 Premier League home games when they had gone two goals ahead before this game
- Stoke came from two goals down to claim a point for the first time since December 2012
- All three of Eric Dier's Premier League goals have all come in the month of August
- With seven shots, the Potters equalled their record for most shots on target in a Premier League away game
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lloris
- 2WalkerBooked at 24mins
- 4Alderweireld
- 5Vertonghen
- 33DaviesBooked at 48mins
- 15Dier
- 8MasonSubstituted forBentalebat 69'minutes
- 19Dembélé
- 22Chadli
- 23Eriksen
- 10KaneSubstituted forLamelaat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Rose
- 6Bentaleb
- 11Lamela
- 13Vorm
- 16Trippier
- 20Alli
- 28Carroll
Stoke
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Butland
- 8Johnson
- 20Cameron
- 5MuniesaBooked at 73mins
- 3Pieters
- 15Van GinkelSubstituted forIrelandat 59'minutes
- 6WhelanBooked at 8mins
- 19WaltersSubstituted forJoseluat 59'minutes
- 14Afellay
- 10ArnautovicSubstituted forAdamat 90+1'minutes
- 18Diouf
Substitutes
- 7Ireland
- 11Joselu
- 16Adam
- 21Sidwell
- 24Given
- 25Crouch
- 26Wollscheid
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 36,004
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamStoke
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away15
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away7
- Corners
- Home4
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 2, Stoke City 2.
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Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joselu (Stoke City).
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Charlie Adam replaces Marko Arnautovic.
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Attempt saved. Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Joselu with a headed pass.
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Attempt missed. Stephen Ireland (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Marko Arnautovic with a cross.
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Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Erik Pieters (Stoke City).
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 2, Stoke City 2. Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stephen Ireland with a cross.
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Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.
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Foul by Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Erik Pieters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Mousa Dembélé (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eric Dier.
Goal!
Goal! Tottenham Hotspur 2, Stoke City 1. Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Penalty conceded by Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Stoke City. Joselu draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Foul by Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Joselu (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ibrahim Afellay with a cross following a corner.
