Stoke stretch unbeaten run after hard fought draw

Stoke`s unbeaten run continued thanks to another outstanding defensive display at White Hart Lane.

The Potters have now gone 8 games undefeated, conceding just 4 goals in that period, and looked relatively comfortable throughout yesterday`s game.

In a game of few chances, Kenwyne Jones spurned a golden opportunity in the opening stages, but with late misses from Bale and an outstanding save from Begovic at the end, Stoke were left delighted with a point.

The Potters started the game brightly and should have taken the lead inside the opening minute when a sloppy pass from Kyle Walker found Jones, but with just the keeper to beat, the striker fired over the bar.

Stoke continued to have the better of the half, and went close again when N`Zonzi`s clever through ball found Jones on the right, but his cross hit Sandro and was saved by Lloris, with Etherington lurking.

Frustration was setting in for the hosts, with only a Vertonghen cross which evaded everyone being the most dangerous moment for The Potters in the first half.

Gareth Bale was unusually quiet in the opening 45, but the second half was a different story.

Spurs came out invigorated from the break, with Defoe`s 25 yard effort sailing past the post and acting as an early warning.

Bale was involved throughout, and could have broken the deadlock for Spurs but his header from a Lennon cross flew over the bar.

Stoke responded and Geoff Cameron surged into the Tottenham penalty area before setting up Ryan Shotton, but he failed to connect properly with his strike as the ball rolled into Lloris` arms.

Spurs continued to pressure in the hope of finding the all important winner which would take them to 3rd in the table, with numerous crosses coming in from Bale, but Stoke`s defence, marshalled by the phenomenal Ryan Shawcross, proved too strong.

Although it had Asmir Begovic to thank at the end, the goalkeeper pulling off a world class save to deny Sigurdsson, whose header looked to have stolen a deserved point from the Potters.

The hard fought draw means Stoke remain in the top 10 ahead of Christmas, and with home games against Liverpool and Southampton to come, there`s every chance it could be a very merry Christmas for Potters fans.

We at Vital Stoke would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Ryan Shawcross.

A top class performance from a top class defender, he continues to improve.

Begovic, Huth and Shawcross have to be the best defensive trio in the Premiership right now, they're proving it week by week and have already accumulated 9 clean sheets.

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