Stoke scores 2 late goals, salvages 2-2 draw at Spurs

The only exception was their 2-0 victory against Hull City on 16 May.

Deployed as a central midfielder for the second successive week after spending most of last season at right-back, Dier helped to win the corner from which he scored, rising highest to nod home Christian Eriksen’s delivery from the left. “This week was fantastic for everyone”, Pochettino said.

The hosts were well on top in the opening exchanges of the second half and Harry Kane had a good chance to make it three. But it was telling that, when he was replaced by Érik Lamela, the visitors sensed their opportunity had come to get back into this match. Fitness providing, an away game without all the media attention could be the ideal encounter to hand the 22-year-old his official debut.

But they were slack after the break and Marko Arnautovic’s penalty sparked a comeback later completed by Mame Biram Diouf’s header which ensured the points were shared.

Tottenham’s Nacer Chadli celebrates after scoring a goal during…

Their collapse can not be put down exclusively to Kane’s withdrawal, especially given the suspect nature of Spurs’ defending all afternoon.

It’s fine to get rid of Emmanuel Adebayor, not just because of his wages, but also because he was absent for a good portion of the season previous year due to personal issues. Either way, it shows that Mauricio Pochettino is still in need of center forwards during the last two weeks of the transfer window.

Stoke City expected XI: (4-2-3-1) Butland, Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters, van Ginkel, Whelan, Walters, Adam, Afellay, Diouf.

“Last season [at Southampton] I didn’t make one mistake”, said the 26-year-old.

The need to add another specialist target to Pochettino’s squad was made more urgent by the club’s decision to allow Spanish forward Roberto Soldado to leave for Villarreal this week.

Beginning with Berahino, the Mirror are reporting that personal terms have now been agreed between him and the White Hart Lane outfit and the deal is said to be in the region of £100,000 a week. What is for sure is that a club which prides itself on its attacking principles, of daring until the death, needs frontline reinforcements. The problem for Stoke last week was their poor finishing and they must improve their conversion of chances rate or they will struggle all season.

A two-goal lead at the interval was no less than the home side deserved after a first half showing that featured some crisp passing and neat interplay, albeit with one or two hairy moments at the back from which Stoke should really have capitalised.

“But it’s our ground and we’ll be confident of picking up the points”.