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Craig Gardner: West Brom did Spurs a favour

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Craig Gardner has waved away criticism that boss Tony Pulis shouldn't have come out in support of Leicester ahead of the Tottenham game.

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The Albion midfielder pointed out that Pulis's team picked up draws at both the King Power Stadium and White Hart Lane.

Some pundits questioned comments made by the Baggies head coach in the build-up to Monday's fixture that confirmed Pulis wanted Leicester to win the title.

"What Leicester have achieved from last season to this season, they deserve it to be honest," said Gardner. "Everyone starts on a level playing field there's no excuses, the table doesn't lie.

"They're the ones who have got the most points so why can't he have an opinion?

"When you turn the tables back and we got the result at Leicester it was the same reaction so I think we can say we did both teams a favour."

The Baggies fought back from 1-0 down at half-time to draw 1-1 at White Hart Lane and all but hand the Premier League trophy to Leicester.

Gardner says the second-half turnaround was a result of Pulis's rejuvenating half-time team talk.

"It's come from the gaffer," he said. "At half-time he drummed into us keep going, keep getting forward and making runs and we did and we caused them problems.

"It's not the first time we've caused the big teams problems this season. When the gaffer's plan comes together that's the way we perform.

"I think it was a great result and we thoroughly deserved to bounce back from Thursday night.

"The gaffer drilled it into us that we needed a reaction – and that it wasn't good enough – and he got it."

"Hopefully we can push on with three games to go and get a few more points on the board."

Although Tottenham rattled the woordwork on three occasions, Gardner reckons the Baggies deserved their first point in four games.

"They had a couple of chances when they hit the post," he said.

"Boaz has called off some unbelievable saves, but we had our chances as well.

"On another night we could have won or they could have won so I think a draw was a fair result."

Myhill was standing in for the injured Ben Foster, who is a doubt for this weekend's home match against West Ham.

It will be another tough test for Albion after three of their last four opponents have been in the top four.

"That's the Premier League," added Gardner.

"Every single game is a tough test and a different rest and I think that's the beauty of the game.

"We'll prepare rightly and be raring to go."