Premier League: Tottenham 1 West Brom 0

Jermain Defoe’s second half goal was enough earn an off-the-boil Spurs victory at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Spurs dominated from start to finish but lacked their usual speed and incisive edge in the final third against a defensively resilient West Brom side.

Defoe was the difference, however, as Spurs’ fox in the box was able to poach the goal that sealed three points.

Odemwingie cut an isolated figure as the lone striker, finding himself surrounded by the home side’s defensive trio of Sandro, Younes Kaboul and William Gallas.

West Brom’s defensive approach did see them through the first 20 minutes without cause for concern, however, as, after an early flurry of corners, Spurs lacked the tempo required to unsettle Roy Hodgson’s back four and midfield five.

Gareth Bale set up an early chance from the left. The Welshman fizzed a low cross into the path of Rafael Van der Vaart but his first-time effort was tipped over the bar by Ben Foster.

After both teams had made substitutions forced by injury – Gonzalo Jara replaced Jerome Thomas for West Brom before Jake Livermore was introduced in place of Sandro, who seemed to pull a muscle, for Spurs – Bale and Adebayor linked up well on the edge of the penalty area but the Togolese could not control the final pass.

Brad Friedel remained untested in the Tottenham goal but Hodgson would have been satisfied with an efficient first-half performance in which the home side were well-contained.

Spurs began to work the ball into the West Brom penalty area more menacingly early in the second half.

After volleying over the bar when a clever Adebayor back heel took him by surprise, Defoe showcased his predatory instinct by moving inside his defender to divert van der Vaart’s cross towards goal but the England striker’s effort just evaded the far post.

There was a sense that frustration was beginning to creep in among the Spurs players and supporters, but after Adebayor ended a promising counter-attack with a poor pass, his strike partner extinguished the fears of the White Hart Lane faithful in the 63rd minute.

Defoe’s first touch on a firm van der Vaart pass into the box popped the ball up into the air but, surrounded by defenders, he neatly brought it under control before swivelling and beating Foster.

Spurs lost another man to injury as Gallas was forced off, with Sebastian Bassong coming on at centre-back, but Spurs continued to control proceedings. Bale stung Foster’s palms with a curled effort from 20 yards which the goalkeeper comfortably held.

The introduction of James Morrison, however, seemed to energise West Brom, and they carved out their first half-chance when the Scot combined with Odemwingie on the left, but his dangerous cut-back crossed the penalty area untouched.

Sensing Spurs were beginning to take their foot off the pedal, Hodgson introduced Somen Tchoyi.

The Cameroon forward tested Friedel with a 25-yard drive after substitute Niko Kranjcar had lost possession.

The home side held on to claim a win that takes them to within three points of second-placed Manchester United.