A Harry Kane penalty was enough to give Tottenham all three points as they saw off a stubborn Middlesbrough side at White Hart Lane.

Spurs enjoyed near total dominance over their opponents, boasting almost 70 per cent of the possession and spending much of the game camped on the edge of the Boro box.

However, the Teesiders have built a reputation this season as a side who concede few goals and proved difficult to break down.

The home side eventually had to wait until the hour mark for Kane to break the deadlock from spot after Boro defender Bernardo brought down Heung-Min Son.

The win sees Spurs consolidate second position in the Premier League following Chelsea’s victory over Arsenal earlier this afternoon.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are now nine points adrift of the Blues at the summit, and three clear of the Gunners in third.

The visitors crafted the first chance of the game in the fourth minute. Adama Traore was able work some space to cross from the right and managed to find Alvaro Negredo, who headed over.

Spurs were next to go close, Dele Alli picked out Son with a pinpoint cross-field pass, but the South Korean’s effort on his left foot was parried by Victor Valdes in the Boro goal.

Alli himself was next to squander a chance for Spurs, when he could only blast into the side netting after latching onto a fantastic through ball from Christian Eriksen.

The England youngster was then involved in a scuffle with Valdes seconds later, in which the former Barcelona man appeared to push Alli in the face.

The home side saw another good opportunity go begging after Toby Alderweireld’s glancing header at the near post from a corner rattled the woodwork on the 25-minute mark.

Kane should have put his side ahead shortly after, heading narrowly over from Son’s hanging delivery from the left.

On the brink of half time, Kane did have the ball in the net. However, his close-range effort after another good ball from Son was correctly ruled offside.

Spurs started the second half in similar fashion to how they ended the first, putting Boro’s back line under more pressure.

Christian Eriksen forced a good save from Valdes after 50 minutes with a swerving effort from the edge of the area.

With Tottenham finding it difficult to break down the away side’s resolute defence, it was unsurprising the only goal eventually game from the spot.

Bernardo brought down Son with a trailing foot on the hour mark, prompting referee Mark Clattenburg to award a penatly.

Kane’s spot kick found the inside of the right post, sending Valdes the wrong way.

Boro then had their keeper to thank for preventing them from going two down a few minutes later- Valdes produced a sprawling save to deny Eriksen again.

The visitors enjoyed few clear-cut chances all afternoon, but could have left with a point, if Cristhian Stuani had not dragged wide after he was teed up by Negredo late on.

Spurs now face a potentially season-defining clash with Liverpool at Anfield next Saturday, before the first leg of their Europa League tie with Gent five days later.