Tottenham Hotspur suffered a massive blow to their title hopes after a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion, with Craig Dawson scoring at both ends.

Having gone unbeaten in their last six league games, scored seven in their last two without reply, and thumped Stoke 4-0 away last Monday, it was no surprise Mauricio Pochettino named an unchanged squad to face a Baggies side floating in mid-table anonymity.

Tottenham knew only a win in the rain and cold would realistically keep the title race alive, with defeat meaning Leicester could wrap the title up by the next time Spurs got their boots on the pitch.

A draw does not end the season – if Manchester United lose their next game, Spurs are guaranteed Champions League next campaign, but that game is against Leicester, who will secure the title with victory on Sunday.

Spurs had all four of their PFA Team of the Year representatives on the pitch – Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and young player of the year Dele Alli – but it was two of the unheralded stars who shone brightest against a stubborn West Brom.

While Mousa Dembele ran much of the game from the midfield, it was a sumptuous, undefendable cross from Christian Eriksen which brought about the game’s opening goal.

A Spurs free kick out wide right was taken by Eriksen, and it was swept into the six yard box with keeper Boaz Myhill staying at home.

Vertonghen stooped for the header, but it actually came off the chest of Craig Dawson, squeezed off the floor and somehow nutmegged Myhill.

It was all about the ball by Eriksen however, one of the crosses of the season.

The goal was completely deserved for the hosts who could have been three or four up by that point were it not for fine keeping by Myhill and the woodwork.

In the sixth minute they combined, as Kane played a gorgeous one-two with Alli and looked certain to score, but it was brilliantly tipped onto the inside of the right post by the 33-year-old Welsh international.

Five minutes later Eriksen clipped the bar with a free kick, but he was not to produce his best for another 20 minutes.

In the second half, Spurs struck the post yet again, Alli once again at the centre of phenomenal interplay, flicking on for Eriksen to surge down left.

His square ball across the box found Erik Lamela, who turned it past Myhill but off the post, and Kane could not reach the follow up.

Spurs and their fans got nervier as the half wore on, and West Brom caused their worst fears to materialise as they equalised.

A hanging corner with 18 minutes to play was met by Dawson, who atoned for his earlier misdeed by beating Hugo Lloris to the ball and heading in from seven yards.

The visitors looked more likely to score until the final whistle, Stephane Sessegnon hitting the side netting on 85 minutes as the title dreams of the Lilywhites started to slip away.

There may be more bad news for Tottenham in the days ahead, with Alli again at the centre of controversy, caught on camera seemingly punching West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob in the chest.

But there is no worse news for the club than being seven points back with three games to go, the cold hard stat that Pochettino’s men have to face.