Whelan goal shocks Spurs

With Jermain Defoe suspended for the Barclays Premier League clash, Spurs could not unlock a Stoke defence assembled by boss Tony Pulis, who was a player under Redknapp at Bournemouth.

Peter Crouch had two efforts cleared off the line, both by James Beattie, and Niko Kranjcar struck the post - then the visitors stung them at the end in spectacular fashion when Whelan found the top corner.

Salif Diao's ball over the top gave Matthew Etherington an early sight of goal. Kranjcar blocked the volley but Jonathan Woodgate took a boot to the face when he was needed to clear the danger at the far post. On his first appearance of the season, it was Woodgate's only meaningful contribution as the knock forced him off before the quarter of an hour mark.

Kranjcar's ball into the penalty area was hopeful but Crouch leapt above the Stoke defence and forced Steve Simonsen into a finger-tip as the ball looped towards the far post.

Aaron Lennon forced Simonsen into another save when he checked inside Andy Wilkinson and curled an effort that would have found the top corner.

The England winger then provided a chance that required an acrobatic clearance from Beattie. Crouch got on the end of the cross and beat Simonsen with his lobbed header but Beattie hooked clear.

Kranjcar then hit the base of the post after latching onto Crouch's flick.

Beattie cleared another Crouch effort off the line and Vedran Corluka could not connect when the rebound fell to him.

The winner came four minutes from full-time when Ricardo Fuller pulled the ball back for Whelan to lash into the top corner off the post.