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.
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.
