Sherwood makes a point

Tottenham 1 West Brom 1

Of course, there is only so much the new man has been able to do since he was, on Monday, confirmed as the permanent successor to the Portuguese. It must also be stressed, however, that there was a renewed purpose and ambition amongst his charges that has not been seen in this part of North London in recent weeks.

Yet against a dogged but limited West Brom side we saw a team that struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, strikers failing to find space in crowded penalty areas and a defence that suffered from playing a high line.

The result was another frustrating day at White Hart Lane for the home supporters as Tottenham made it 15 points dropped in nine home Premier League games.

Sherwood, though, was keen to look at the positives. The 44-year-old has played the politics superbly to be given his chance at Tottenham, although the spectre of the World Cup — after which managers such as Louis Van Gaal, Fabio Capello and Cesare Prandelli may be available — looms large.

Sherwood is sanguine about that prospect, though. He admits his appointment may be ‘a gamble’ due to his lack of experience but it’s in his hands. Win matches and he can be here long-term.

“Of course it’s a gamble because I have never done it before,” he said. “But there are a lot of good managers who had never done it before and become a success.

“I was never a professional footballer until I stepped onto the field.

“Is it an insult that people think I am only keeping the seat warm? I regard it as an insult but it is only an insult if I go and win all the games. What can we do? If we win all the games and someone else comes in and keeps it and brings in someone else after I’ve won the league then I’m off to Real Madrid.

“The expectations are there but there are no demands. I want to win as many games as I can and if I do that everyone is happy.

“To manage Tottenham creates its own problems and to play for Tottenham creates its own problems. You have to win in front of your own fans and I am no fool. It’s been difficult as we have not had much time on the training field. I am disappointed with the result. With respect to West Brom we should be winning.”

While this was a day to remember and a result to forget for Sherwood, his opposite number, Keith Downing, was quietly pleased. Downing is just a caretaker at present and Pepe Mel is thought likely to succeed Steve Clarke permanently, but a second successive draw was not a bad way to celebrate Christmas.

“I hope an appointment is close for the players’ sakes,” he said. “The quicker they do it the better but it has to be the right one.”

And for much of the first-half we were treated to reckless, gung-ho attacking football as Sherwood decided to dispense with an attacking midfielder — ‘if we don’t give the ball away we don’t have to win it back,’ was his justification.

Only the quick reactions of Hugo Lloris denied Matej Vydra after the hosts had been cut open, and West Brom were extremely dangerous on the break.

Tottenham had their moments, though, and hit the front just after the half-hour mark with a peach of a strike from Eriksen, who curled a free-kick around the wall that went in off the bar.

It was to last just a minute and 57 seconds, though. Eriksen gave away a free-kick with a tug on James Morrison and was made to pay as Emmanuel Adebayor missed his attempted clearance and Jonas Olsson clipped the loose ball home.

Morrison shot just wide moments later as Tottenham rode their luck, and they seemed unsure whether to stick or twist in the second-half.

In the end, they did neither. Their cause was hardly helped by an atrocious decision from referee Anthony Taylor, though, who decided not to dismiss Steven Reid for a poor tackle on Danny Rose having been booked in the first-half.

Tottenham poured forward after that with Roberto Soldado and Gylfi Sigurdsson going close, but there was to be no escape from the frustration that is becoming a regular companion for Tottenham this season.

TOTTENHAM: Lloris 7, Walker 7, Dawson 6, Chiriches 7, Rose 7, Sigurdsson 6, Eriksen 7, Holtby 7 (Bentaleb, 62; 7), Chadli 5 (Lamela, 75; 6), Adebayor 6, Soldado 6.

WEST BROM: Foster 7, Reid 7, Olsson 8, Ridgewell 7, Dawson 7, Yacob 8, Morrison 7, Lugano 7, Gera 7 (Sessegnon, 77; 6), Amalfitano 7 (Mulumbu, 71; 6), Vydra 7 (Berahino, 84; 6).

Referee: Anthony Taylor