Tottenham 2 Gent 2 (agg. 2-3): Dele Alli sees red as Spurs crash out of Europa League

Dele Alli received the first red card of his career tonight as Tottenham crashed out of the Europa League with a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Gent.

Christian Eriksen's early effort gave Spurs a dream start before Harry Kane's unfortunate glancing header into his own net gifted the visitors a crucial away goal.

Alli's deserved dismissal just before the break, which was brandished for a high lunge on Brecht Dejaegere, left the north Londoners with it all to do.

Victor Wanyama's measured finish gave Mauricio Pochettino's side a lifeline but the Belgians hit back through Jeremy Perbet to seal a 2-2 draw at Wembley and claim a place in the last 16.

Yet it all began so well for the hosts, who have only tasted victory once from four games at their temporary home this season.

The north Londoners came flying out of the blocks in front of a 80,465 sell-out crowd, seemingly determined not to repeat the slow start which cost them so dearly in the first leg.

Gent had vowed not to be overawed by the occasion but Stefan Mitrovic and Rami Gershon were caught in the Wembley headlights when they failed to clear a high ball, which broke kindly to Eriksen.

The Danish midfielder raced clear before producing a calm finish past Nikola Kalinic to level the aggregate scores with the game barely 10 minutes old.

An early strike appeared to be an ideal platform for the hosts to build on but Kane's own goal - an inadvertent header following a deep corner - soon restored the Belgians' lead.

Spurs did not lose heart and continued to carve out opportunities at will as an animated Pochettino played the role of chief cheerleader on the touchline.

Eriksen's clever quick corner caught the visitors' napping - but Wanyama was unable to convert at the back post - while Kyle Walker stung Kalinic's fingertips with a fierce drive.

Yet, for all their possession and endeavour, Spurs proved to be their own worst enemy and Dele Alli could have no complaints when he was shown a straight right card for an unsightly challenge on Dejaegere.

The 20-year-old's temper boiled over when Pochettino needed cool heads and Spurs grew increasingly erratic after the break. Eriksen found Kane with a neat through ball but, as Wembley rose to their feet in expectation, the striker dragged his shot wide of the target.

It was left to Wanyama to hand his side a fighter's chance, courtesy of a controlled, curled finish which defied his reputation as a mere destroyer.

The Kenyan's strike - and Heung-min Son's introduction - saw Spurs finally get their tails up.

Gent began to look leggy as the game wore on but their numerical advantage proved to be key in the dying minutes as Perbet put the finishing touch to a rare foray forward, consigning Spurs to an early exit.