Spurs fail to spur on after 2 goal lead

Spurs, who lost both league games against the
Potters last season, looked on course to secure
their first three points of the campaign after first-
half goals from Eric Dier and Nacer Chadli had
given the hosts a commanding advantage.
Stoke, however, came storming back with Marko
Arnautovic converting a 78th-minute penalty before
Diouf headed in seven minutes from time to
complete an unlikely comeback.
Scrutiny is likely to be placed on Mauricio
Pochettino's substitutions after the Tottenham boss
replaced both Harry Kane and Ryan Mason in the
second half.
The changes seemed to stifle the home team's
momentum and there was a smattering of boos
from the White Hart Lane crowd at the sound of the
final whistle.
It represented a marked contrast from the feeling
of optimism at the start of the afternoon when the
home fans had cheered the presentation of
Tottenham's five summer signings, including
Lyon's Clinton Njie, whose arrival was confirmed
on Saturday morning.
Tottenham dominated possession early on and
Jack Butland had to twice deny Christian Eriksen in
the opening 10 minutes, pushing behind the Dane's
driven shot and then his whipped free-kick from
the edge of the box.
Hugo Lloris returned to the Spurs starting line-up
after recovering from a wrist injury to make his
100th appearance for the club, but the
Frenchman's rustiness nearly cost his side as he
gifted the ball to Diouf before saving the striker's
angled finish.
Stoke appeared to be finding their feet but in the
19th minute the visitors were undone in the
simplest of fashions as Eriksen fired a corner to
the near post and Dier shrugged off Marco van
Ginkel to head in Tottenham's first goal of the
season for the second year running.
Kane had struggled for his usual influence in the
early stages but the striker came to life at the end
of the half, first seeing an emphatic finish ruled out
for offside before providing a superb reverse pass
into the path of Mason, whose shot was blocked by
Butland at close range.
On the brink of half-time, however, Tottenham did
find a second and Kane was involved again, playing
in Ben Davies down the left, who looped a cross to
the back post for Chadli to slot home.
Tottenham remained in the ascendancy at the start
of the second period and Kane should have opened
his account when Chadli found him unmarked but
the finish was again saved by Butland.
Kane was substituted for Erik Lamela and Stoke
enjoyed a better spell as the contest moved past
the hour mark, with Diouf again thwarted by the
quick reactions of Lloris, who denied the
Senegalese' header.
Finally, the visitors found the goal they deserved as
substitute Joselu was wrestled to the ground by
Toby Alderweireld in the area and, with referee
Robert Madley pointing to the spot, Arnautovic
stepped up to slam the ball past Lloris.
Spurs seemed to have lost all control of the
contest and five minutes later, their lead was
cancelled out as a neat exchange between
Arnautovic and Stephen Ireland allowed the latter
to cross for Diouf, who this time headed in the
equaliser.
It could have got even worse for Tottenham when
Ireland and Diouf both went close to snatching
victory but there was to be no more late drama as
the spoils were shared.