HARRY KANE SALVAGED a point deep into stoppage time as Tottenham fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with West Ham in a dramatic London derby.
Goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho looked to have given West Ham an away victory at the end of a week of frenzied speculation over manager Sam Allardyce’s future.
Allardyce has had to contend with yet more questions over his job security, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, but the vastly experienced 60-year-old says he is happy to wait until the end of the campaign to hold talks.
The visitors’ display appeared set to give Allardyce the perfect tonic, only for Danny Rose to reduce the deficit nine minutes from time, before Kane scored his 24th goal of the season when he followed up after Adrian saved his penalty in the sixth minute of time added on.
https://vine.co/v/OQnr61rI0tr
Allardyce masterminded two victories at White Hart Lane last season, but failed to make it three in a row as West Ham were denied a second Premier League win in nine games.
Tottenham remain unbeaten at home in the top flight since November, but the draw is a blow to their hopes of securing a Champions League spot.
Tottenham made a bright start and Adrian made an outstanding save diving to his left to keep out Nabil Bentaleb’s rasping long-range drive five minutes in.
Kane then had a great opportunity to open the scoring when he raced onto Rose’s ball over the top and his finish trickled past Adrian, but struck the far post.
It was West Ham who were in front after 22 minutes, though, as Mousa Dembele gave the ball away and was made to pay when Aaron Cresswell’s inviting cross was met by a bullet header from Kouyate.
https://vine.co/v/OQ1PUZ3vP6E
Sakho ought to have given the visitors breathing space when Mark Noble’s incisive pass sent him clear, but the striker’s poor finish was saved by Lloris.
The Senegal forward made no mistake after 62 minutes, though, when he crept in at the back post to volley home Noble’s cross as Rose appealed for offside against Valencia.
Noble was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card moments later when he upended Bentaleb, which prompted an altercation with Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen.
Kane thought he had pulled a goal back at the second attempt after Adrian kept out his initial effort, but the flag was up for offside before Rose set up a tense finale by scoring in the 81st minute.
The left-back drilled the ball into the ground and over Adrian after the Spaniard had flapped at Erik Lamela’s cross, with the ball nestling in the bottom corner.
The Spaniard looked to have redeemed himself when he made a brilliant save from a Roberto Soldado volley, but there was one final twist to come, as Kane was brought down by Alex Song in the box at the death.
The in-form striker saw his initial spot-kick saved but Adrian could only parry the effort back into Kane’s path, and he made no mistake at the second attempt as Spurs salvaged a point.
