Spurs moved up to third in the Premier League with a point from the game against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. This is a ground where Spurs have never won and, in truth, a draw was about as much as could be hoped for on Saturday’s display. Bolton dominated the first half and Spurs were fortunate to go in at the break on level terms. The second half was better but if Spurs hope to maintain a place in the top six - never mind the top four - then this is the kind of fixture where anything less than a win must be regarded as a disappointment.

After the game, the perennially under-fire Gary Megson talked up the performance and his players. Certainly Cohen and Lee impressed in midfield, but Bolton are, at best, a workmanlike side. They may have enjoyed two recent away wins but those victories were at Portsmouth and Birmingham. Until the visit of Spurs, they had also taken just a single point at home. Yet in the first 45 minutes Spurs were overrun in midfield and, had it not been for Palacios in particular, the game could have been over by half-time. The Honduran did not have one of his better games in terms of distribution, but his usual bite and application were there. This was just as well, given the presence of Jenas who can be influential when he has the ball but maddeningly uninterested when he does not. The Reebok is not a venue where he is likely to shine. Kranjcar is also unlikely to win any medals for his battling qualities but he took his goal beautifully, as well as putting the ball on Corluka’s head for the equalizer. He certainly did enough to warrant his inclusion in the Spurs midfield alongside - rather than instead of - his fellow Croatian, Luka Modric.

Up front, Peter Crouch toiled away manfully while the four-goal Robbie Keane of last week transformed himself once again into the invisible man. The team looked much better when Keane was eventually replaced by Defoe. The only question is why it took Harry Redknapp so long to make the change, with Keane clearly offering no outlet to his beleaguered colleague in the Spurs midfield. At the back, Assou-Ekotto had a shocker but his play has been so good this season that he is entitled to an off-day. Huddlestone also came in for some criticism after the game, but he performed reasonably well in what is not his natural position, and was crucially on hand to prevent Cohen from making it 2-0.

The two week break now comes at an opportune time, giving Modric and at least one of the centre-backs a chance to rejoin the side. Next up is a visit to Fratton Park and Harry Redknapp’s old employers. Hopefully that will provide motivation enough for a more committed and effective display from the team as a whole.