Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas described Gareth Bale’s fourth goal in three trips to Carrow Road as “beautiful” but said he was unhappy with Alex Tettey’s attempt to halt him at the halfway line as the Welshman began his brilliant solo run.

“Had the boy got on to Gareth’s ankle it’s an injury that takes him out for six months,” the Portuguese claimed.

But City boss Chris Hughton was happy to come to his midfielder’s defence.

“The way Bale went past him, there didn’t seem to be too much wrong with him to me,” he added. “I am disappointed with that because I don’t think Alex got anywhere near him.”

Tottenham, who, like the Canaries, were also knocked out of the FA Cup by lower division opposition at the weekend as Leeds won at Elland Road, had been second best in the opening half but were strong in the second period and fought back for a point.

Germany international Lewis Holtby made his Spurs debut in the second period as a substitute and impressed.

Villas-Boas added: “He was good. The team improved so much in the second half that it obviously helped Lewis’ performance.

“It was extremely good to see him out on the pitch. I think he had the right impact for such a short time.”

The Spurs boss played down the prospect of another midfielder leaving White Hart Lane, even though Tom Huddlestone was not in the squad.

Villas-Boas said: “There was an interest from Fulham. I’m not sure if they’re going to follow on that interest. He’s a player we rate very highly.”

Villas-Boas anticipates there will be little activity at Tottenham on the final day of the transfer window.

“It finishes tomorrow, thankfully,” he said last night.

“We look to be quiet in the market. It’s not impossible that a couple of things happen. It’s highly unlikely.

“We need to add quality to the squad and our quality to the squad is keeping the players we have now and Lewis arriving.”

Tottenham’s shortage of strikers meant they had to field England star Jermain Defoe, who missed the FA Cup defeat at Leeds with a pelvic injury, giving him an injection in order that he could play against the Canaries.