Grim win over nine men proves Bale deal is vital

BACK SOON was the message written large across the screen.

The words streaming service Premier Sports displayed whenever the signal went down from Plovdiv could not have been better chosen.

Instantly, they conjured thoughts of the return today of Gareth Bale – rescuing despondent Spurs fans from the European horror show unfolding before their eyes and helping them dream of happier times ahead.

Because Tottenham were inexcusably poor against European minnows who the Premier League side finally overcame only after they had been reduced to nine men.

Post- match comments by Jose Mourinho, right, that there was “no panic” failed to recognise the size of the banana skin they avoided.

So perhaps the fact all the key action was lost to UK viewers was a blessing.

It meant Spurs fans were spared watching Bulgaria’s fifth- best team taking the lead against the Champions League finalists of 15 months ago.

Another tepid display after the below- par showing against Everton remained in the balance until the 71st minute, when disaster struck.

Spurs twice failed to clear a corner with poor headers before Dimitar Iliev’s cross was forced in at the far post by Georgi Minchev. Local fans congregating outside the behind- closeddoors game let off fireworks but it was an implosion not an explos explosion that finally decided the tie.

A Ben Davies header was handled on the line by Dinis Costa, resulting in a red card and penalty. Then Birsent Karag Karagaren’s not- so- subtle attempts to rake up the penalty spot with his studs earned him a second yellow. There is not a divot big enough to have prevented Harry Kane from putting the penalty into the top corner to level the scores. Five minutes later, Lucas Moura’s low cross was bundled unconvincingly into the corner of the Lokomotiv net via the shinof substitute Tanguy Ndombele.

Viewers in England finally rejoined the action for four minutes of injury time as Tottenham crept over the line to earn themselves a trip to Macedonian side Shkendija next Thursday.

But the distance they have to travel metaphorically to get back to where they are expected to be is much, much further even than that.

On this evidence, Bale cannot come back soon enough.