Stoke 1-2 Spurs - report from bet365 Stadium

Christian Eriksen scored twice as we held off a spirited Stoke City side to strengthen our grip on fourth place in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

After a patient first half in which Heung-Min Son was denied by Potters goalkeeper Jack Butland, the Danish international star was set up by Dele Alli to give us a 52nd-minute lead against a determined home outfit who were chasing vital points in their bid to avoid the drop.

But five minutes later it was all square again as Hugo Lloris' clearance hit Mame Diouf and allowed the front man to make it 1-1.

However, we regained the lead when Eriksen's trademark free-kick flew in. Harry Kane appeared to have got a slight touch with a header but the goal was later awarded to Eriksen.

It was far from plain sailing from then on, however, as Stoke rallied along with their fans at the bet365 Stadium and had a handful of chances to equalise.

Xherdan Shaqiri hit the bar with a free-kick 10 minutes from the end, Diouf squandered a four-on-one counter-attack and Ryan Shawcross headed wide, but we held firm to move level with third-placed Liverpool and 11 points clear of Chelsea in fifth, with the Blues facing West Ham on Sunday.

TEAM NEWS

Mauricio Pochettino made four changes to the team that started at Chelsea last weekend - Serge Aurier for Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose for Ben Davies, Victor Wanyama for Eric Dier and Kane for Erik Lamela. Kane returned to the starting line-up for the first time since his ankle injury at Bournemouth on March 11 while Lloris made his 200th Premier League appearance for us.

KEY ACTION

SAVE: SON DENIED BY BUTLAND - 28mins
We were soon in control in terms of possession but Stoke carved out the first chance after 12 minutes. Erik Pieters got on the overlap down the left side and drilled in a low cross that Diouf skied over six yards out. We continued to get into pockets of space for the rest of the half, without capitalising. Aurier was a threat down the right but a succession of crosses were cleared. Our best chance was created brilliantly, first by Eriksen's pass from deep in to Dele on half-way, then Dele's lob to release Son through on goal. He charged into the box but Butland stayed big and blocked one-on-one.

GOAL: STOKE 0-1 SPURS - CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 52mins
The important breakthrough was orchestrated by Mousa Dembele, who found space deep before releasing Dele in the right channel. He took his time before rolling back to Eriksen who drilled home from 12 yards.

Above: The players celebrate Christian Eriksen's opener.

GOAL: STOKE 1-1 SPURS - MAME DIOUF - 57mins
A goal out of nothing saw Stoke draw level. Shaqiri picked a pass between Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez for Diouf to chase, Lloris came out to meet it but his clearance hit Diouf and the ball landed at the striker's feet to slot into the empty net.

GOAL: STOKE 1-2 SPURS - CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN - 63mins
We stayed composed and were back in front on 63 minutes. Eriksen whipped a trademark free-kick in with pace from the left and it looked like Kane had glanced home with the slightest of touches, but the goal was later awarded to Eriksen.

WOODWORK: SHAQIRI SO CLOSE FOR STOKE - 80mins
Shaqiri's 69th-minute free-kick initially led to Glen Johnson firing wide via a deflection. From the corner, Lloris palmed away and Johnson was there again, this time looping a header wide. We had a couple of openings but Aurier sliced wide before later setting up Kane, who was denied by Johnson. But the home side went closer still on 80 minutes when Shaqiri struck a free-kick over the wall, only to see it cannon back off the crossbar.

CHANCES: STOKE KEEP THE PRESSURE ON - 84-85mins
The home side weren't fading away and with changes being made, we had to stay alert. There was danger on 84 minutes when we lost possession and suddenly Stoke had four on one, Diouf delayed and delayed and eventually went for the cross, which we were thankfully able to clear. Substitute Erik Lamela curled inches wide on the break following that before Paul Lambert's men went close again, Shaqiri's corner cleared, the ball being played back in and Shawcross nodding wide at the far post. Joe Allen and Peter Crouch tried to force the issue during an extended period of added time due to treatment required for Diouf in the aftermath of his goal, but we saw the game out.

MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

"It was so, so difficult and the team competed well. It was a game we deserved to win. In the last 10 minutes we suffered a lot but the character and the personality that the team showed today was fantastic to take the three points."

HUGO LLORIS SAID

"We know every home game for Stoke is very important and today they were aggressive and disciplined but we took the game in the right way. In the second half as soon as we scored we conceded, unfortunately for me, but we had a great reaction and we kept strong towards the end. We are really happy with the three points because we’ve kept the gap with the teams below."

MATCH DATA

Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Butland, Johnson (Crouch 78), Martins Indi, Shawcross (c), Pieters, Allen, Ndiaye, Bauer (Zouma 90+5), Shaqiri, Sobhi (Campbell 69), Diouf. Substitutes (not used): Haugaard, Ireland, Cameron, Fletcher.

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c), Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama (Dier 82), Dembele, Eriksen, Dele (Sissoko 89), Son (Lamela 67), Kane. Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Davies, Lucas, Llorente.

Goals: Stoke - Diouf 57. Spurs - Eriksen 52, 63.

Yellow cards: Stoke - Pieters 32, Johnson 72, Martins Indi 90+2, Ndiaye 90+7. Spurs - Aurier 79, Kane 90+4, Rose 90+7.

Referee: Graham Scott.

Attendance: 29,515.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Christian Eriksen was named Man of the Match with 67 per cent of fans' votes on social media.

UP NEXT

It's our first home game in more than a month next weekend and a rare Saturday evening kick-off for a big test against first-placed Manchester City. The action gets underway at Wembley at 7.45pm.