That Tottenham ceded the initiative from kick-off was a concern. They hardly saw the ball during the first half-hour and were cowed by their opponents' greater industry and bite.
It was no shock when West Bromwich took the lead. Spurs then began seriously to exercise the visiting defence and started the second period with the intensity that they lacked in the first.
The equaliser was not the cue for more unremitting Spurs dominance though. Instead it stung the Midlands side into recapturing their earlier spirit of adventure.
Luckily, however a defensive mistake nullified Tottenham's failings enabling them to pinch all three points.
Afterwards Martin Jol said: "We have scored 70 per cent of our goals in the last 20 minutes."