Spurs 2, Albion 2: Mitoma and Rutter goals secure vital point

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Albion twice come from behind to draw at Tottenham and are one point off the European places.

Bruce Talbot

2026-04-18T19:30+01:00

Jack Hinshelwood is the first to congratulate Kaoru Mitoma after his equaliser. 📷James Boardman

Georginio Rutter scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Albion twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Spurs.

The Frenchman’s third goal of the season was scored in front of more than 3,000 delerious Albion fans. No doubt a few supporters of West Ham and Nottingham Forest enjoyed it as much as they did. Spurs stay in the relegation zone.

It was no more than Albion deserved. They weren’t at their fluent best but showed tremendous spirit and Jack Hinshelwood hit the post with a first-half header.

On the run: Kaoru Mitoma celebrates his stunning goal against Spurs. 📷James Boardman

Last year’s goal of the season winner Kaoru Mitoma can up with a contender for this campaign when he volleyed a stunning equaliser in first-half stoppage time after Pedro Porro headed the hosts in front.

Xavi Simons seemed to have won it 13 minutes from time but Albion pushed and pushed and Georginio came up trumps.

More than 60,000 flag-waving home fans cranked up the pre-match atmosphere and Albion needed cool heads in a frantic opening period as Spurs pressed.

Jack Hinshelwood went close with this first-half header. 📷James Boardman

The game took time to get going.

There were groans among the home crowd when Spurs gave the ball away in midfield and Albion broke. It came to nothing but was an indication of the nerves among their fans. Thirteen fouls summed up a scrappy opening 25 minutes with neither keeper tested.

Albion suffered a setback when Diego Gomez limped off in some pain. Mitoma came on to play on the left with Minteh switching to the right. Albion began to get control and Minteh slalomed past two defenders before Micky van de Ven blocked as he was about to shoot.

Albion were denied by the post in the 33rd minute. Minteh cut past Xavi Simons and swung a deep first-time cross to the far post. Hinshelwood met it unchallenged and guided a lovely header back across Kinsky which was going in until van de Ven touched it onto the post under pressure from Danny Welbeck, who then saw a header saved at full stretch by Kinsky.

After Wieffer was booked the momentum swung Spurs’ way. Simons dinked a clever ball into the six-yard box and as Verbruggen came out to punch clear Porro nipped in to head into an empty net.

Jan Paul van Hecke and Dominic Solanke only have eyes for the ball. 📷James Boardman

It nearly got even worse moments later when Albion were opened up and Simons beat Verbruggen with a curling effort which bounced back off the post to the unmarked Porro who smashed his shot into the stands when composure was needed.

In first-half stoppage time Albion hit back with a stunning strike from Mitoma. Gross had time to tee up a cross from wide on the right and Mitoma, arriving unmarked on the corner of the six-yard box, couldn’t have met it more sweetly as his right-foot volley scorched past Kinsky. It nearly got even better but Hinshelwood’s header dropped just wide of the left-hand post.

Jack Hinshelwood blocks Pedro Porro's way forward. 📷James Boardman

Albion started where they left off as Yasin Ayari and Mitoma saw shots in the box blocked but Verbruggen had another uncomfortable moment when his clearance ricocheted off Conor Gallagher but fortunately for Albion wide of goal.

The Dutchman, on his 100th Albion start, saved Albion midway through the half though, adjusting his position to keep out Joao Palhinha’s shot when it took a big deflection off Welbeck.

Albion came again. Welbeck found some space in the six-yard box but couldn’t get a clean connection and Kinsky saved before Minteh eased past Kevin Danso but couldn’t pick out a teammate with his cross.

But it was Spurs who regained the lead with 13 minutes to go. Van Hecke was dispossessed by Lucas Bergvall as Spurs pressed and he worked it to Simons. With two defenders in front of him Simons still had work to do but did it adroitly, curling a right-foot shot past Verbruggen and in off the far post.

They're singing his song again. Georginio takes the acclaim after his stoppage-time goal made it 2-2. 📷James Boardman

Could Albion respond again? Babis Kostoulas came on, van Hecke was pushed up front and Spurs settled for what they had. Eight added minutes only added to the angst in the stands but Albion’s seemed to have gone when Minteh’s cross eluded everyone except the unmarked Ferdi Kadioglu, who found the side netting with his half-volley.

But no. Van Hecke did well to keep the ball in play, and funnell it back to Rutter 15 yards out and the Frenchman lashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

There was one last chance for Spurs which Archie Gray fired straight at Verbruggen. If that had gone in it would have been harsh on Albion, who thoroughly deserved a point.

Albion: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Minteh, Gross, Ayari, Gomez (Mitoma 20 (De Cuyper 76)), Hinshelwood (O’Riley 75), Welbeck (Rutter 75).