Nothing could separate Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City in the first half of their Premier League match this afternoon.

The visitors should have taken the lead after just 40 seconds as a sloppy pass from Kyle Walker was intercepted by Kenwyne Jones, but the striker couldn't find the target with his effort.

Jones had another chance to break the deadlock in the 16th minute having been found by Matthew Etherington, but this time Hugo Lloris denied the former Sunderland man.

Spurs almost got the opening goal with 10 minutes of the half left when Moussa Dembele stole the ball off Glenn Whelan before feeding Gareth Bale, whose cross was put over by a stretching Emmanuel Adebayor.

The visitors continued to push, with Jermain Defoe, Bale and Adebayor all having efforts at goal, but they failed to really test Asmir Begovic as the sides went into the break all square.