Robert Snodgrass struck five minutes from time with his first goal for Norwich City to earn them their first away point of the Premier League season – the very least they deserved after more than matching big-spending Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The Canaries came close to taking the lead in the opening half when they created the two best chances, Russell Martin striking the bar with an early header and Spurs keeper Brad Friedel brilliantly keeping out a diving header from Snodgrass just before the break.

City went close again after the break when Friedel denied Anthony Pilkington, but it was the home side who went ahead with just over 20 minutes to go.

New �15m midfield signing Mousa Dembele, who had featured in Fulham's 5-0 win over Norwich on the opening day, fired home from just inside the penalty area after coming on as half-time substitute.

Hughton's men were not to be denied a point, however, and Snodgrass found a way past Friedel in the 85th minute with a neat finish after Martin and Grant Holt had helped on a cross from Pilkington.

There was further drama in the last minute when Spurs substitute Tom Huddlestone was sent off for a wild challenge by Jonny Howson.

It was a happy return to Spurs for City boss Chris Hughton, who spent so much of his career there, and a draw was just reward for an excellent display by his side.

After the Capital One Cup victory over Scunthorpe, it was all change as Hughton reverted to the same eleven on duty in the 1-1 Premier League draw against Queens Park Rangers.

There were changes on the bench, however, with new signing Alexander Tettey, the Norway international midfielder, included for the first time since his move from Rennes as one of the seven substitutes.

Defender Michael Turner was also back in the 18 as Ryan Bennett and Chris Martin dropped out from those on duty against Rangers.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, still looking for the first Premier League won of his reign, included new �15m midfield signing Dembele among the substitutes but most of his expensive deadline-beating captures came too late on Friday to feature against the Canaries.

Full-back Kyle Naughton, who spent last season on loan at Carrow Road, was on the bench for Tottenham.

Spurs threatened first in the third minute when Lennon's pass set up Sigurdsson for a long-range effort that flew just wide.

But it was the Canaries who almost moved ahead in the eighth minute. Snodgrass, fouled by Assou-Ekotto, floated the free-kick in and Russell Martin's powerful header rattled the crossbar.

The home side broke down the right through Sigurdsson, who eluded Garrido and crossed towards the six-yard box, and it took an acrobatic clearance from Barnett to eliminate the danger.

With 17 minutes gone, a fine ball from Russell Martin sent Jackson racing away on the Norwich right but he shot across goal when a pass to Holt might have been the better option.

Defoe shot wide from outside the area in another Tottenham raid but Martin's effort was the best by either side in the opening quarter.

Johnson produced another fine effort on 25 minutes with a left-foot shot that fizzed just over the bar from more than 20 yards after Vertonghen had headed clear from Howson's cross.

On the half-hour, Bale delivered Spurs' best attempt yet with a powerful 20-yard drive that Ruddy parried into the air, and as the hosts maintained the pressure, Sandro brought the 'keeper into action again but this time Ruddy held on to his low shot from the edge of the area.

Sandro fired wildly into the crowd and Defoe volleyed over the bar as Tottenham looked in vain for the opening goal.

Three minutes before the break, City again came close to taking the lead when Pilkington's superb cross from the left was met with a diving header from Snodgrass that goalkeeper Friedel clawed away one-handed, with Jackson just unable to get to the rebound before it was cleared.

Moments later, Jackson went down under challenge from Gallas as he chased Howson's pass, but referee Halsey was unimpressed.

The home side were booed off after a first half in which City produced the better chances.

• Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 0, Norwich City 0

There was a change at the interval for Spurs as Sandro made way for new signing Dembele.

A volley from Sigurdsson in the opening minute of the half brought Ruddy into action after full-backs Walker and Assou-Ekotto combined on the left.

City won a free-kick on the edge of the Tottenham area when Jackson was upended by Gallas, but Snodgrass curled it wide, left-footed.

Holt headed over from a Snodgrass cross as Norwich threatened again, continuing to pose problems for the home defence.

Bale was not too far away with another long-range shot as, on the touchline, Adebayor began to prepare for action. Sure enough, the striker replaced Sigurdsson 12 minutes into the half.

Spurs won a free-kick on the edge of the Norwich area as Bassong was adjudged to have fouled Defoe. After a long delay, Defoe's free-kick flew off the wall and out for a corner.

Friedel rescued Tottenham again when he saved Pilkington's low shot from a tight angle after Russell Martin and Snodgrass worked the ball well by the right corner flag.

But it was Spurs who finally took the lead on 69 minutes when Dembele marked his debut with a goal.

The move started when Howson was caught in possession by Dembele and when the ball came back to him, a yard inside the Norwich penalty area, he struck a left-foot shot all along the ground through a clutch of players and inside the post, beyond the unsighted Ruddy.

Hughton made his first change by replacing Jackson with Morison as the Canaries tried to get back on terms.

Spurs looked more at ease and Bale tried his luck again but a ricochet off Garrido took the sting out of his shot and Ruddy saved.

Villas-Boas made his final change with eight minutes left when Defoe made way for Huddlestone.

With five minutes left, however, Snodgrass brought the Canaries back on terms, to the delight of the travelling fans.

Pilkington's cross from the right appeared to be overhit, but Russell Martin did brilliantly to head it back, Holt helped it on and Snodgrass tucked a left-foot shot out of reach of Friedel.

Two minutes later, Bale was booked for dissent after disputing the award of a goal-kick to Norwich.

There was further drama in the final minute as Huddlestone produced an ugly challenge on Howson and was shown a straight red card.

In the last minute of stoppage time, City were denied a dramatic winner when Johnson's piledriver was kept out by Friedel.

• Tottenham Hotspur: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Livermore, Sandro (Dembele, 45); Lennon, Sigurdsson (Adebayor, 57), Bale; Defoe (Huddlestone, 82). Subs (not used): Cudicini, Naughton, Caulker, Townsend.

• Norwich City: Ruddy; Russell Martin, Barnett, Bassong, Garrido; Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Pilkington; Jackson (Morison, 73), Holt. Subs (not used): Rudd, Tierney, Turner, Tettey, Surman, Hoolahan.

• Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

• Attendance: 36,142.

• Goals: Spurs: Dembele (69). City: Snodgrass (85)

• Red card: Spurs; Huddlestone (89)

• Booking: Spurs: Bale (87)