BIRMINGHAM, England -- Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino heralded his side's character after Saturday's 1-1 draw at West Brom in the Premier League but admitted it was two points dropped.
Dele Alli equalised two minutes from time to cancel out Nacer Chadli's 84th-minute opener with his fourth goal in five appearances since joining the Baggies from Spurs.
The draw leaves Spurs as the only unbeaten team in the top flight but they slipped to third after a third consecutive 1-1 draw with West Brom, who they have beaten just once in the last seven meetings.
"Today was a good message. When we conceded we showed the character. It was good, because there wasn't too much time left in the game. I feel very proud for them," Pochettino said afterwards.
"I'm happy with the performance. It's true we need to be more clinical. The team played very well in the first half. We created a lot of chances. The way we conceded disappointed us. It's always difficult to play here. Today we were a little bit unlucky not to get the victory. [West Brom goalkeeper Ben] Foster was man of the match.
"We missed an opportunity to take three points today. We missed two, but in the same way it was a very difficult game, a very physical game. West Brom is always difficult."
Foster made a number of spectacular saves, twice denying Alli in the first half before the England midfielder toe-poked into the corner after Christian Eriksen's shot was blocked.
"Sometimes when you show your skill and are much better than your opponent. During 45 minutes you have nearly 80 percent of possession and you create five or six big chances. If you don't score, you always leave it open.
"For that is why the Premier League is the best in the world. It's so difficult."
Yet Pochettino still praised his side's resiliency after the international break.
For me, the most important thing is that we kept the level after the Manchester City game," said Pochettino. "It's true that the result is different but the opponent was too. We are still unbeaten and that is important for us and our confidence and for the next few games. We have a lot of games ahead."
Alli scored Spurs' late goal but still earned some words of caution from the Tottenham manager.
"I'm happy for him, but he needs to improve," Pochettino said of Alli, who scored in the corresponding fixture last season. "He had a big chance in the first half and he needed to score. But I'm happy for him and he's a good player for us, an important player for us."
Meanwhile, Spurs are waiting on word of Toby Alderweireld's fitness. Pochettino said the Belgian defender would be assessed in the next "24 to 48 hours" after he was stretched off with an injury to his right leg in the second half but he did rule the 27-year-old out of Tuesday's Champions League match at Bayer Leverkusen.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis said: "Tottenham are one of the best teams in Europe, let alone the Premier League. It's wonderful to watch them."