GOALSCORER Harry Kane praised his match winning team mate Mousa Dembele tonight after the Belgian came on as a second half subsitute and hit a late winner in a pulsating Europa League tie versus Anderlecht.

Anderlecht had already beaten Spurs in Brussels and Tottenham neeed a win to maintain their charge out of the group. But with four minutes remaining and the score at one-all, it seemed Kane's first half goal would not be enough. However, Dembele fired a wonderful shot home on 86 minutes to send Spurs to the top of their group.

Kane said: “It was a lovely finish from Mousa. Anderlecht are a very good side and it was a tough game.”

Kane, who has now hit five in three matches, added that with two ties remaining Spurs could still not be sure of getting into the knock out stages after Christmas.

He said: “This is a tough group. All the sides are taking points off each other. We still have a lot to do, with an away trip against Qarabag and then Monaco to come at home to set up a nice finish.”

Anderlecht started the brighter, with forward Stefano Okaka using brawn and brain to unsettle the Spurs centre backs. Steven Defour drove a swerving effort goalwards on 8, which Hugo Lloris did well to tip oer. Other chances followed and Tottenham were rattled, but crucially Anderlecht could not find the break through. On 22, Erik Lamela gave Spurs some hope when he jinked his way into the box and stabbed an effort narrowly wide. It was the first real chance for the home team.

The opener came against the run of play. A quick free kick centrally found Ryan Mason. He helped it on to Christian Eriksen, and the Dane's perfectly weighted through ball sat up nicely for Kane. He fired home with the look of a goal scorer who has found his confidence once more.

Spurs, who resume their Premier League campaign on Sunday when they travel down the Seven Sisters Road to face Arsenal, nearly doubled their lead on 60. Substitute Son Heung-Min created space on the left and full back Ben Davies sent a dipping volley against the bar.

Anderlecht's equaliser came moments later via the substitute Imoh Ezekiel. He ghosted on to a cross and finished from close range.

Just as it looked like Spurs had dropped points again, a flowing team move in the dying embers saw a winner to grace any occasion. Substitute Josh Onomah broke, Son came across to help out, Davies got involved and then Dembele curled a wonderful effort in the top corner. It was fluent football with a finish to match.

SPURS: Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Mason, Kane, Lamela, Dier, Trippier, Alli (Onomah, 76), Eriksen (Son, 58), Davies.
Subs: Vorm, Son, Dembele, Fazio, Onomah, Wimmer, Carroll.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Andros Townsend has made 96 appearances, and is one of the golden crop from the youth set up.

He's one of our own – but after a bust up with a fitness coach on Monday, he wasn't included in tonight's squad.

For a while, it looked like Townsend had a great future. He was getting regular games, and performing well. Then he was injured, losing his Spurs place and keeping him out of Roy Hodgsons Brazil squad.

Things have not been the same since.

Partly, this has to be the players responsibility. When he gets his chance, he has to marry his wish to show something special with the need not to over do it.

But Spurs also haven't utilised his strengths. Andros is a pacy winger with a mean left foot. His game, you sense, is more suited to playing wide left rather than the inverted winger formation.

There has been rumours he'll go in January. It would be sad if it is the case. He should've been playing tonight. Let us hope this is the shock he needs to buck up his ideas and fulfil the talent we all enjoyed at the start of his Spurs career.