Tottenham close in on European ambition

Tottenham's true colours as Premiership challengers remain obscure, but three points from a match in which, even by their manager Glenn Hoddle's assessment "they were never really secure", have lifted them to seventh, a position from which they can now glimpse rich pastures ahead.

From the moment when Christian Ziege put them ahead with a second-minute free-kick, this game against a side one place away from the relegation zone was always theirs to win, and further goals from Robbie Keane and the substitute Gus Poyet ensured that the majority of a 35,958 crowd went away happy.

This time last season Tottenham were in the same position before their form dropped away. The difference this year, according to Hoddle, is personnel. "This time last year we had 15 players fit," he said. "At the moment, touch wood, we have 20 to 22. I think the difference showed when we brought on Poyet and Steffen Iversen in the second half.

"We weren't at our best at all today, but the good thing was we still had three or four quality moments. We are still in touch with fourth or fifth place, and, if we can carry on like this over Christmas and the New Year, who knows where we could be? It's a good time to have everyone fit."

Hoddle knows only too well, however, that his team's prospects of extending their current run will be severely tested next Sunday with a home fixture against their north London rivals Arsenal. "I said to the lads at half time that if this was next week we'd be 3-0 down already," he said.

But West Bromwich, back in the top flight after a 16 year absence, are no Arsenal, and Tottenham's extra capacity in front of goal proved the decisive factor on a cold grey afternoon. "I don't think we were outplayed," the visiting manager, Gary Megson, said. "I think we were out-finished. That has happened to us quite a few times this season."

The harsh reality is that, unless Megson's young dogs can learn new tricks, it is likely to happen to them a few more times as they struggle to avoid returning straight back to the First Division. Megson pointed out his side had nine shots in the first half as against the three which Tottenham managed, and yet they came in 2-0 down. The transfer window may be opening again in January, but it will shed no dazzling light on The Hawthorns. Albion's budget is too tight for that.

"When you think that Spurs have Keane in their side, who cost £7.5m, and they've got Sergei Rebrov sat in the stand at £12m," Megson said, "that's not possible for us.

"There's a lot of areas where we are playing catch up with the other Premiership sides and this is one of them."

What Megson does have is a side who work hard and create numerous opportunities. But they are making life hard for themselves with their failings in front of both their own and their opponents' goal. "Our defending for their first and third goals was pathetic," Megson said, before adding with a wry grin: "The second wasn't too clever either."

Tottenham's opener, a left-foot shot from 25 yards which curved inside Russell Hoult's right-hand post, was aided by poor positioning of the Albion wall and Neil Clement's decision to abandon his defensive position on the line, which left a gap that Ziege adeptly exploited.

Tottenham's second goal arrived in the 29th minute when a delicately volleyed through ball from Ziege allowed the eager Keane to outpace Ronnie Wallwork and flick the ball wide of the oncoming goalkeeper before completing the flourish with a trademark handstand and cupping his ears at the Albion supporters who, with memories of his time at their Black Country rivals Wolves, had roundly booed him earlier.

Albion, nevertheless, had created and missed four opportunities in between Spurs' goals, the easiest of which was missed by Clement, who shot wide with the goal beckoning after 14 minutes.

Albion, with Jason Koumas outstanding, were running the midfield – but to no effect. They managed a more significant impact, however, after 72 minutes when the substitute Scott Dobie drove home a fierce cross-shot from 25 yards out. It seemed that Tottenham were facing potential embarrassment, but seven minutes later Poyet eased their anxiety by scrambling home a third goal from close range.

Albion felt that Tottenham's keeper Kasey Keller should have been sent off for bringing down Dobie just outside the box as the Albion player broke towards goal, but despite protests the referee, Mr Wiley, decided only to book Keller for obstruction.

Goals: Ziege (2) 1-0; Keane (29) 2-0; Dobie (72) 2-1; Poyet (79) 3-1.

Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2): Keller 7; King 6 (Iversen 6, 64), Perry 8, Richards 4; Carr 7, Davies 6, Redknapp 5, Anderton 6, Ziege 7; Keane 8, Sheringham 4 (Poyet 7, 74). Substitutes not used: Hirschfeld (gk), Ferdinand, Doherty.

West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2): Hoult 8; Sigurdsson 8, Wallwork 5, Gregan 5; Balis 7, Koumas 8, McInnes 6, Johnson 6 (A Chambers, 84), Clement 5; Hughes 4 (Dobie 7, 55), Roberts 7 (Dichio, 80). Substitutes not used: J Chambers, Murphy (gk).

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire) 7.

Bookings: Tottenham: Ziege, 31, Keller 65. West Bromwich: Clement 75.

Man of the match: Koumas.

Attendance: 35,958.