Adebayor Misses Penalty, Sessegnon Scores as WBA Sink Tottenham! [Video]

Spurs in Turmoil as West Brom Take First-Half Lead in Hawthorns Thriller

Tottenham Hotspur endured a torrid first half at The Hawthorns as they trailed 3-1 to relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion in a chaotic Premier League clash on Saturday.

The hosts stunned Spurs with a blistering start, scoring within 30 seconds through Matej Vydra after a defensive lapse. Just two minutes later, Chris Brunt capitalised on another breakdown at the back to fire past Hugo Lloris, giving the Baggies a shock 2-0 lead with less than three minutes played.

Tottenham had a chance to claw one back when they were awarded a penalty midway through the half. Emmanuel Adebayor stepped up but saw his effort saved by Ben Foster — a near replica of his only other Premier League penalty miss, which also came against West Brom in 2011 with Foster again the man to deny him.

West Brom’s response was swift and ruthless. In the 30th minute, Stéphane Sessegnon outpaced Vlad Chiriches and slotted past Lloris, who endured a difficult opening period in goal.

Tottenham eventually showed signs of life, reducing the deficit before half-time. A cross from Aaron Lennon was deflected into the net by West Brom defender Jonas Olsson, leaving Foster wrong-footed and offering Spurs a lifeline.

Despite their disjointed start, Spurs now have hope heading into the second half, with manager Tim Sherwood likely to demand a strong response from his side. Tottenham currently sit sixth in the table and cannot afford further dropped points as they chase European qualification.

With West Brom only just above the relegation zone in 16th, the intensity and urgency of the fixture were evident. Pepe Mel’s side, desperate for points, came out aggressive and hungry — and were rewarded with a first half that left Spurs reeling.

The second half promises more drama as Tottenham attempt to mount a comeback, while West Brom will be looking to hold firm and secure a vital three points in their battle for survival.