West Bromwich Albion 0 C 1: match report

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at the Hawthorns on Sunday Feb 3, 2013.

One up: Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale celebrates his goal against West Bromwich Albion  Photo: REUTERS

Gareth Bale's 11th league goal of the season eased a potential headache for Andre Villas-Boas to complete a disastrous week for Steve Clarke.

Bale ensured Spurs remain on the road for a Champions League place with another excellent strike but days after Peter Odemwingie's motorway meltdown, Clarke's West Brom have hit a dead end.

Albion have not won this year and Clarke had another controversy to deal with when Goran Popov was given a straight red card for spitting at Kyle Walker early in the second half.

But despite seeing Spurs extend their unbeaten league run to nine matches, Villas-Boas lost Jermain Defoe to injury to increase concerns over his lack of forwards.

Spurs supporters chanted "we should have bought a striker" after Defoe's departure in a clear message to chairman Daniel Levy, who was surprisingly quiet on transfer deadline day after a bid to sign Internacional striker Leandro Damiao collapsed.

It was a tale of absent forwards for West Brom too, with Odemwingie left at home after his extraordinary behaviour on Thursday when he drove to QPR without his club's permission.

Odemwingie's popularity levels have diminished to such an extent that Clarke took him out the firing line, though the Nigerian's antics are unlikely to be forgotten any time soon.

A banner with the words "Odemwingie out" was unfurled in the Birmingham Road end before kick-off to illustrate the depth of ill feeling from Albion while it took only two minutes for the travelling supporters to chant "he drives where he wants".

Shane Long missed a chance to settle the home team's nerves when he was sent clear from Graham Dorrans's sublime pass but Hugo Lloris saved the shot with his legs.

Spurs threatened frequently, with Bale predictably prominent, and the Wales international endangered the safety of Albion's supporters with a dreadful 34th minute free kick from 18 yards.

Roy Hodgson was sat in the stands and will have squirmed uncomfortably in his seat when Defoe collapsed after an innocuous challenge from Long. Defoe left the field with his ankle strapped up and is surely a doubt for Wednesday's friendly against Brazil. His injury could have severe ramifications for Spurs too.

After the Odemwingie saga, the last thing Clarke needed was further drama but Popov provided it two minutes into the second half by spitting at Walker after a squabble on the byline.

The dismissal enabled Spurs to dominate the remainder of the game and Foster produced a fine save from Lewis Holtby but could not prevent Bale from collecting his second goal of the week in the 68th minute. Albion were convinced Holtby was offside in the build-up but replays suggested he was level with Jonas Olsson.

Spurs had other chances to build a more commanding lead but were untroubled and Albion's run of eight games without a win is starting to become a concern.

Match details:

West Brom (4-4-2): Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Popov; Dorrans (Fortune 81), Yacob (Rosenberg 81), Morrison, Brunt; Lukaku (Ridgewell 52), Long. Subs (not used): Myhill, Thomas, Jones, Tamas. Sent off: Popov. Booked: Dorrans

Spurs (4-4-1-1): Lloris; Walker (Gallas 78), Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Sigurdsson 86) Parker, Dembele, Dempsey; Bale; Defoe (Holtby 39). Subs (not used): Friedel, Huddlestone, Naughton, Livermore.

Referee: Mark Clattenberg