Tottenham substitute Harry Kane proved just why he deserves a crack in the starting line-up by netting a dramatic late winner at Aston Villa.
Spurs fans were left wondering just what the academy graduate had to do to earn a first Premier League start, having scored eight times in 12 games this season, as under pressure boss Mauricio Pochettino stuck with the divisive Emmanuel Adebayor.
In contrast the Villans had Christian Benteke up front, who put in an imperious display until he stupidly saw red, giving Spurs their route back into the game as Nacer Chadli cancelled out Andreas Weimann's opener and Kane stole all three points.
Neither side came into the match in decent form, so it was unsurprising to see nervousness dominating more than skill and clear cut chances, and even when opportunities did arise they were badly squandered.
A prime culprit of wastefulness was much-maligned Spurs striker Roberto Soldado, who somehow managed to put a totally free header wide from a staggering total of just four yards out. The travelling supporters immediately made their feelings known to Pochettino by breaking into chants of ‘Harry Kane’.
At the other end Benteke was proving precisely why he is the sort of striker the north London outfit would benefit from having in their ranks as he cannoned a blistering left-footer off the outside of the post.
But Weimann ensured Villa took advantage of their building momentum as he toe-poked in Charles N’Zogbia’s cross on 16 minutes to put the hosts ahead, ending their two month barren run and 547 Premier League minutes without a goal.
Adebayor then took his opportunity to prove he can match Soldado in being just as poor a goal threat as the Togo forward burst through one-on-one and then had his tame effort easily saved by Brad Guzan. Manager Pochettino, clearly feeling the rising pressure in the Spurs dugout, took to throwing his water bottle to the ground in frustration.
The Argentine’s anger could have risen a few more notches had Benteke’s brilliant looping header fell just a few inches inside the post, rather than flicking the outside of it.
Finally, it was time for the boss to give Spurs fans what they wanted, as he hauled off the laughably bad Adebayor for man of the moment, Kane.
Immediately the England Under-21 international showed more in 60 seconds than his team-mate had in 60 minutes, winning a corner through bustling work and then planting a thumping header at Guzan’s chest.
Re-energised by Kane’s introduction, Spurs were thrown an added incentive to find an equaliser when Benteke needlessly got himself a straight red card for raising his hands and mildly slapping Ryan Mason after a feisty challenge from the youngster.
However, the Tottenham midfielder could also consider himself lucky not to walk having butted heads in the confrontation.
Villa's bench were left fuming by the incident and the temperature gauge noticeably increased on the field too as Weimann entered the book for a wild challenge on Mason.
But the testy mood was playing into Tottenham's hands as they sought and equaliser. Eventually, it would come as Chadli smartly volleyed home from a corner with six minutes remaining.
Paul Lambert desperately tried to rally his troops and Aly Cissokho was almost the unlikeliest of heroes as he smashed a shot just wide.
But it was Spurs who would end up executing a classic smash and grab as Kane hammered in a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque dipper free-kick which, aided by a vicious deflection off Nathan Baker's head, left Guzan wrongfooted.