Andre Villas-Boas hails "extremely important" win

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has expressed the importance of his side's 2-1 victory over Stoke City this afternoon.

A defeat at the Britannia Stadium would have all but ended Tottenham's chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season. However, the three points have moved them into fourth place with one match left to play.

Rivals Arsenal will still pip them if they win their last two games, but Villas-Boas is pleased that his players have given themselves a chance.

"It's extremely important because it keeps us in the frame for the Champions League, so the dream is still alive for us," he told reporters. "We don't depend on ourselves anymore, but we wanted to take it to the last day.

"We were patient in the game and kept the ball moving. We made an important number of passes, and in the end we managed to make the breakthrough and get an important result.

"We've managed to invert lots of results this season. It's good for us because going through difficulty and overcoming it is excellent for a team's character."

Tottenham's last match is at home to Sunderland.