A year ago, Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion appointed new managers.

In London, Tottenham dismissed Harry Redknapp after four years and awarded the manager’s job to Andre Villas-Boas. The move came as a surprise as the Portuguese coach had a negative spell at Chelsea the season before.

But, it seems, that Villas-Boas has learnt from his sour experience at Stamford Bridge. The fans warmed to the Portuguese and, if he succeeds in persuading Gareth Bale to stay, Spurs’ chances of success will improve significantly next season.

Tottenham were again denied a place in the Champions League by Arsenal. This time, the Gunners pipped their London rivals by just one point.

Tottenham’s failure to qualify for the Champions League could also be attributed to their unconvincing start to the 2012-13 campaign and a disastrous week in March when they lost to Liverpool and at home to Fulham, either side of a draining 4-1 defeat after extra-time at Inter in the Europa League.

Despite obtaining a record tally in the Premier League (72 points), Tottenham again had to settle for a berth in the Europa League.

In 2012, West Bromwich Albion were forced to call a new man as Roy Hodgson became England coach. The Baggies gave Steve Clarke his first job as manager since he had always been an assistant in the past.

Clarke did well at The Hawthorns as West Brom finished in an excellent eighth place.

On-loan striker Romelu Lukaku had a wonderful season and was chosen as player of the season by the Baggies’ fans.

Belgian international Lukaku will leave a gaping hole in West Brom’s attack as he has returned to Chelsea.

On the continent, after elimina-ting Inter from the Europa League, Tottenham succumbed to Basel in the quarter-finals.

On the domestic scene, Tottenham went down 2-1 to Leeds at Elland Road in the fourth round of the FA Cup. In the League Cup, they were eliminated at the same stage by Norwich.

The third round was the burial place for West Brom in both cup competitions. In the FA Cup, they lost to Queens Park Rangers and in the League Cup they fell at home to Liverpool.

2012-13 Premier League results

Tottenham

August − Away vs Newcastle 1-2 (Defoe).
Home vs WBA 1-1 (Assou-Ekotto).

September − Home vs Norwich 1-1 (Dembele).
Away vs Reading 3-1 (Defoe 2, Bale).
Home vs Queens Park Rangers 2-1 (Faurlin og, Defoe).
Away vs Manchester United 3-2 (Vertonghen, Bale, Dempsey).

October − Home vs Aston Villa 2-0 (Caulker, Lennon).
Home vs Chelsea 2-4 (Gallas, Defoe).
Away vs Southampton 2-1 (Bale, Dempsey).

November − Home vs Wigan 0-1.
Away vs Manchester City 1-2 (Caulker).
Away vs Arsenal 2-5 (Adebayor, Bale).
Home vs West Ham 3-1 (Defoe 2, Bale).
Home vs Liverpool 2-1 (Lennon, Bale).

December − Away vs Fulham 3-0 (Sandro, Defoe 2).
Away vs Everton 1-2 (Dempsey).
Home vs Swansea 1-0 (Vertonghen).
Home vs Stoke 0-0.
Away vs Aston Villa 4-0 (Bale 3, Defoe).
Away vs Sunderland 2-1 (Cuellar og, Lennon).

January − Home vs Reading 3-1 (Dawson, Adebayor, Dempsey).
Away vs QPR 0-0.
Home vs Manchester United 1-1 (Dempsey).
Away vs Norwich 1-1 (Bale).

February − Away vs WBA 1-0 (Bale).
Home vs Newcastle 2-1 (Bale 2).
Away vs West Ham 3-2 (Bale 2, Sigurdsson).

March − Home vs Arsenal 2-1 (Bale, Lennon).
Away vs Liverpool 2-3 (Vertonghen 2).
Home vs Fulham 0-1.
Away vs Swansea 2-1 (Vertonghen, Bale).

April − Home vs Everton 2-2 (Adebayor, Sigurdsson).
Home vs Manchester City 3-1 (Dempsey, Defoe, Bale).
Away vs Wigan 2-2 (Boyce og, Bale).

May − Home vs Southamtpon 1-0 (Bale).
Away vs Chelsea 2-2 (Adebayor, Sigurdsson).
Away vs Stoke 2-1 (Dempsey, Adebayor).
Home vs Sunderland 1-0 (Bale)

West Bromwich Albion

August − Home vs Liverpool 3-0 (Gera, Odemwingie pen, Lukaku).
Away vs Tottenham 1-1 (Morrison).

September − Home vs Everton 2-0 (Long, McAuley).
Away vs Fulham 0-3.
Home vs Reading 1-0 (Lukaku).
Away vs Aston Villa 1-1 (Long).

October − Home vs Queens Park Rangers 3-2 (Morrison, Gera, Mulumbu).
Home vs Manchester City 1-2 (Long).
Away vs Newcastle 1-2 (Lukaku).

November − Home vs Southampton 2-0 (Odemwingie 2).
Away vs Wigan Athletic 2-1 (Morrison, Caldwell og).
Home vs Chelsea 2-1 (Long, Odem-wingie).
Away vs Sunderland 4-2 (Gera, Long, Lukaku, Fortune).
Away vs Swansea 1-3 (Lukaku).

December − Home vs Stoke 0-1.
Away vs Arsenal 0-2.
Home vs West Ham 0-0.
Home vs Norwich 2-1 (Gera, Lukaku).
Away vs Queens Park Rangers 2-1 (Brunt, Green og).
Away vs Manchester United 0-2.
Home vs Fulham 1-2 (Lukaku).

January − Away vs Reading 2-3 (Lukaku 2).
Home vs Aston Villa 2-2 (Brunt, Odemwingie).
Away vs Everton 1-2 (Long).

February − Home vs Tottenham 0-1.
Away vs Liverpool 2-0 (McAuley, Lukaku).
Home vs Sunderland 2-1 (Lukaku 2, 1 penalty).

March − Away vs Chelsea 0-1.
Home vs Swansea 2-1 (Lukaku, De Guzman og).
Away vs Stoke City 0-0.
Away vs West Ham 1-3 (Dorrans pen).

April − Home vs Arsenal 1-2 (Morrison penalty).
Home vs Newcastle 1-1 (Jones).
Away vs Southampton 3-0 (Fortune, Lukaku, Long).

May − Home vs Wigan 2-3 (Long, McAuley).
Away vs Manchester City 0-1.
Away vs Norwich 0-4.
Home vs Manchester United 5-5 (Morrison, Lukaku 3, Mulumbu).