The Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City at White Hart Lane on Saturday Oct 24, 2009.
Tottenham suffered a shock home defeat when, after dominating for long spells, they were beaten by a goal four minutes from the end by Stoke City substitu! te Glenn Whelan.
But the real hero was goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, who began the day expecting to start on Stoke's bench but was forced to start and made a succession of outstanding saves and in so doing became the first visiting goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at White Hart Lane this season.
It should have been a special day for Spurs, with Harry Redknapp celebrating his first year as Tottenham manager and the club marking the fifth anniversary of the death of the greatest manager in their history, Bill Nicholson.
And fittingly, then, Tottenham dominated the first half and were thwarted only by the woodwork, a goal-line clearance and the brilliance of stand-in goalkeeper Sorensen.
Thoma Sorenson's name was on the team-sheet but the first-choice Stoke goalkeeper was taken ill shortly before the game and so Simonsen was a late replacement, leaving the visitors without goalkeeping cove! r on the bench.
And it was not long before Simonsen ! made his mark when, from Aaron Lennon's cross, Peter Crouch's header was palmed over.
Spurs, missing the suspended Jermain Jenas, received another blow when Jonathan Woodgate, making his first appearance of the season for the injured Ledley King, was injured clearing off the line from Matthew Etherington and had to be replaced by Michael Dawson.
But still Spurs dominated with Crouch denied again by Simonsen, who then prevented what appeared a certain goal, in the 24th minute, from Lennon.
Lennon, who was running the show, switched from right wing to left and when he turned provider, Crouch was denied again, this time by a magnificent goal-line clearance by Stoke striker James Beattie.
Still Spurs pushed and when Crouch, under the scrutiny of England manager Fabio Capello, back healed the ball to Niko Kranjcar his effort beat Simonsen but found the foot of the left post.
The second half began in the same man! ner with Simonsen saving a deflected Kranjcar free-kick, before the goalkeeper palmed away Robbie Keane's attempt. And, from the rebound, Crouch looked certain to score only for Ryan Shawcross and Dean Whitehead to combine to clear in front of goal.
Spurs brought on Roman Pavlyuchenko, in the 64th minute, for Keane, and the Russian wasted little time in attempting to break the deadlock, only to send a half volley high. He sent another shot straight into Simonsen's arms.
Spurs, who had used all three substitutes, finished with ten men for the last 13 minuets after Lennon limped off following a challenge by Whelan, who was booked for the challenge.
And in the 86th minute, Stoke shocked Spurs when they stole the winner. Ricardo Fuller beat Benoît Assou-Ekotto before squaring he ball for Whelan, who finished superbly into the top corner to earn Stoke their first away win of the season.
