Tottenham 1-0 West Brom: Daily Mirror match report

Don't be fooled by the fact that this match went with the form.

This was tight, tense and fiercely contested examination of Tottenham's title credentials.

It was a white-knuckle ride through 90 minutes during which, for long periods, Spurs fans feared they would be frustrated.

And the way in which Harry Redknapp, his coaching staff and his players celebrated Jermain Defoe's brilliant winning goal told you everything you needed to know about the club's aspirations this season.

They do not see themselves as fighting for fourth place. No chance.

While everyone else continues to be seduced by the millions at City and the experience at United, Spurs truly believe they can come up on the rails and spring an almighty surprise.

The north Londoners, remember, were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United and 5-1 by City in their first two Premier League games of the season.

Since then they have been a juggernaut, losing just one in a staggering 17.

Having drawn at Swansea last Saturday when they could have put even more pressure on the top two with a win, the air was thick with anxiety right from the start of this match.

Defeat or dropped points were not an option against a West Brom side fifth from bottom.

And to Tottenham's immense credit three of their players were carried out on their shields as they matched West Brom who fought furiously for their Premier League lives.

First, Sandro limped off midway through the first half after a collision with Paul Scharner having torn a calf.

Then, William Gallas had to be replaced late in the second half with what the club believe was a similar injury. Both men will have scans on Wednesday.

And, with Tottenham backs firmly against the wall, both Jake Livermore - who had replaced Scharner - and Younes Kaboul were left covered in blood after a clash going for the same ball.

Livermore could play no further part. Kaboul had to be patched up and his shirt replaced.

Yet still Spurs kept going. Still they refused to give in.

They were already without Scott Parker, forced off at Swansea with a knee injury.

But last year Spurs would have bottled it and lost this game. This time around, they had the right attitude.

Anyone familiar with Roy Hodgson's teams would not have been surprised by the way West Brom frustrated the north Londoners.

Despite being shorn of men such as Youssuf Mulumbu, Jonas Olsson, top scorer Shane Long and influential Chris Brunt, the Baggies were still organised and hard-working.

Teenager George Thorne made his debut in the middle of a five-man midfield and Spurs struggled to break them down throughout a tense first half.

When the chance came for a first-half breakthrough for Redknapp's men, Ben Foster was equal to it.

The former Manchester United keeper was at his agile best to tip a drive from Rafael van der Vaart over the bar on 25 minutes.

And even though wideman Jerome Thomas limped off clutching his groin on 27 minutes, well-drilled West Brom stayed resolute and focussed.

It was harder for them in the second half, however, as a determined Spurs side subjected them to wave after wave of attacks in a sustained blitz.

First, Defoe fired over the bar from Emmanuel Adebayor's flick within a minute of the restart.

Then, five minutes later, Defoe found himself in space in the box but saw his own flick deflected wide.

Against the run of play, Craig Dawson almost left Spurs stunned with a header narrowly wide from Graham Dorrans' corner. But normal service was resumed just before the hour when Luka Modric sent a free-kick just over the bar.

Again, however, West Brom punctuated the dominance with an effort of their own, this time Simon Cox testing keeper Brad Friedel with a fierce cross-shot on the hour.

But with the game on a knife-edge, Defoe struck for his seventh goal in his seven starts this season.

It capped a move which saw Van der Vaart's forward pass to Gareth Bale sent in square to Defoe, just outside the six yard box.

The striker, tightly marked, saw the ball spin up into the air with his first touch. With his second, however, he swivelled and stuck it into the bottom corner.

White Hart Lane erupted.

Spurs coach Clive Allen clenched his fists in triumph. Harry Redknapp, Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan punched the air with relief.

Tottenham may be the outsiders of the three main contenders. But they are hanging in there.