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A call to play for England in the afternoon and an assist for Tottenham in the evening. It’s fair to say Dele Alli cashed in on his trip to this casino town, even if his side found a way to dump most of the loot just as they reached the door.

Tottenham were cruising, leading Monaco through Erik Lamela’s goal in a largely dull game that they clearly wanted to win. Mauricio Pochettino had gone in with his best and his best looked to be good enough.

Then an 80th minute cross came over from Nabil Dirar and was met with a header from Stephan El Shaaraway. It went straight at Hugo Lloris but too hard and from too nearby for the Frenchman to manoeuvre, so the ball hit his foot and squirmed over the line. Not a David Ospina clanger; not a terribly clever moment for a second North London goalkeeper in the space of a few days either. 

Tottenham forward Erik Lamela strokes the ball home to give Spurs the lead against Monaco at Stade Louis II on Thursday evening

Lamela was free to score after the ball fell kindly to him in the area following Dele Alli's initial shot which was saved by Danijel Subasic

Lamela wheels away to celebrate after scoring a simple tap-in into an empty net with the Monaco defence breached in the area

The Argentine frontman beams with delight as Harry Kane puts an arm around Lamela following Tottenham's goal against the French side

Young Tottenham midfielder Alli and Lamela celebrate after taking the lead against the Ligue 1 side in the Europa League

Monaco substitute Stephan El Shaarawy (right) is congratulated by Fabio Coentrao after equalising against Spurs with ten minutes to go

The Italy international, on loan from AC Milan, heads home to beat Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and levels the scores in France

How sapping for Pochettino, whose side look merely comfortable in Group J when they might have been cantering with two wins. ‘In the end it is a good result but the feeling is bad because we dominated and we need to learn because we had more chances,’ he said. ‘We are a young squad and need to learn.’

But encouragement is needed, not least because his side were so close to beating a big European club on their own turf and also because Alli continues to thrive. This, his fifth start as a Tottenham player, was the usual combination of solid defending and mature surging. He runs from deep and has a fearless appetite for charging at opposition – it is how he contributed to Lamela’s goal and it is how he made a clear chance for Harry Kane a moment later.

His elevation to join Kane as an England international at 19 years old has surprised many and it is interesting to recall Pochettino’s comments a week ago, when he indicated an apprehension about rushing such a young talent.

Speaking after this draw, the Tottenham manager was offering a brighter outlook, saying: ‘This is good news for us and for him and we are all happy. It is good for him and for Tottenham.

‘Roy Hodgson called me, sent a text and said he will look after him and it's not a problem and in the end every single player is different. He has a very good character, is very mature and how he plays is how he is.

‘The only thing is we need to work with the national team. We are here to help - we love the England players and he has the possibility to go to the national team. We have a very good relationship with Roy and together we need to look after him (Alli) and his career.’ 

Nacer Chadli controls the ball near the Stade Louis II touchline under pressure from Monaco left back Fabio Coentrao

Chadli later got the better of Portugal international Coentrao, on loan from Real Madrid, leaving the defender ground with some neat skill

Goalscorer Lamela skips past the outstretched leg of Monaco midfielder Bernando Silva as the Tottenham forward goes on the attack

England striker Kane, leading the line, points the way as Tottenham looked to claim their second Europa League win of the season

Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld stays on his feet as giant Monaco striker Lacina Traore swings a boot at the ball going forward

Italian centre back Andrea Raggi flies through the air to clear the danger and dispossesses Tottenham forward Kane 

Joao Moutinho keeps his eye on the ball as Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier, signed from Burnely this summer, closes in

On the same day he was called up to Roy Hodgson's England squad, Alli races forward as midfielder Jeremy Toulalan attempts to keep up

Dele Alli had a positive impact in the middle of the pitch for Tottenham in Monaco - CLICK HERE for more from our brilliant Match Zone

On the subject of two dropped points, which would have offered a safety layer going into the busier months of November and December, Pochettino refused to blame Lloris.

He said: ‘I think that Hugo is an unbelievable goalkeeper but it is difficult from my position (on the sidelines) to know if we made some mistakes. In football this happens.’

That is not to say Tottenham deserved to win. This was a cagey, frequently flat game that was briefly entertaining during and shortly after Lamela’s 35th-minute goal, and then only really got going again with Monaco’s equaliser. Kane should have scored after Alli’s good work; Spurs might have won if the increasingly impressive Lamela had not been taken off for a rest after 65 minutes.

A shame, then, for Tottenham. And Alli. 

Tottenham left back Danny Rose is helped to his feet following treatment after hurting his hand in a challenge with Monaco's Fabinho

Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar shoots at goal as Lamela and defender Trippier attempt to block the Frenchman's strike

Clinton N'Jie, who was introduced in place of Lamela with 25 minutes remaining, attempts to beat Carvalho on the wing

Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen attempts to poke the ball past former Chelsea and Real Madrid centre back Ricardo Carvalho

Tottenham's France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris climbs highest above his defence to pluck the ball out of the air 

Traore, who spent time on loan at Everton during the 2013-14 season, is challenged by Tottenham's Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen

Monaco midfielder Adama Traore maintains possession in the middle of the field as Eric Dier looks to close down the Malian

Kane heads towards goal unmarked in the box but the England international's header failed to trouble Monaco keeper Subasic

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on after taking his seat in the away team dugout shortly ahead of kick-off