Bale at least gave Spurs fans another golden memory to remember him by after a stellar season with a trademark long range strike beyond Sunderland's outstanding keeper Simon Mignolet just as stoppage time was about to begin.Spurs finish in fifth, a place lower than last season when Chelsea's Champions League win took the prize away from them, and must contest the Europa League once more.Mignolet kept Spurs at bay with a succession of saves while they were angered by referee Andre Marriner's refusal to award penalties for a foul on Bale by Seb Larsson and a second-half handball by Carlos Cuellar.They responded to the atmosphere of expectation inside White Hart Lane by dominating possession - but Mignolet was well protected by a defence missing Danny Rose, who was not eligible to play against his parent club, and Phil Bardsley.To add insult to injury Bale was cautioned for diving, his fifth booking of the season, while Spurs have not been awarded a penalty all season.Referee Marriner's decision to book Bale for diving in the 21st minute almost sent the disbelieving Villas-Boas down the tunnel in pursuit of fourth official Phil Dowd. Bale looked to be very clearly bundled to the floor by Larsson as they chased the ball into the area but the official, some distance away, enraged Spurs by not only ignoring their penalty claims but punishing the Wales international. Sunderland battled hard, despite being reduced to 10 men when David Vaughan was sent off for a second yellow card in the second half, but Spurs thoroughly deserved their win on sheer weight of pressure and chances.For all Spurs' pressure, it was Lloris who was being forced into the better saves at this stage and he was in action again to save from Graham after Huddlestone carelessly gave the ball away in midfield. Sadly, however, they have come up just short on the final day of the season and their pain will only be made more acute by the fact that it is Arsenal who have claimed the place in Europe's elite they so desperately wanted.
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