Television scheduling demands meant that what could have been the finale of Tottenham Hotspur's mammoth April instead came two days into May.

So it is then that Bleacher Report’s regular ranking of the north London club’s best monthly performers does not take into account Monday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea. The dramatic, at times brutal London derby that ended Tottenham’s Premier League title challenge.

So travel back to a time when Spurs’ dreams of becoming champions this season were just unlikely, not dead.

Mauricio Pochettino's side produced two of their most memorable performances of the season in April. On either side of that, however, came a couple of costly draws and dropped points they will now be ruing even more.

First up in the club’s five best players for April is the sole entry from Tottenham's defence. 

5. Danny Rose

Tottenham’s penultimate month of the 2015-16 season was bookended by two 1-1 draws against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion. Matches that, in the good and bad of the team’s displays, typified the gruelling nature of a title challenge as much as any.

Spurs' defence was naturally in the thick of the action and will consequently be associated a little more with the goals conceded that cost them vital points. But in between times, there was certainly still much to admire about the efforts of one of the Premier League’s best defences.

Danny Rose was the pick of the bunch here.

In the 3-0 win over Manchester United—Spurs’ first win over the Red Devils at White Hart Lane since 2001—he played like he was deployed via a bungee cord. Up and down the left wing with restless elasticity, a near-constant outlet as Mauricio Pochettino’s side absorbed pressure and then went right at the Red Devils.

His well-placed low cross teed up Erik Lamela for the match-sealing third.

Rose was just as energetic in the 4-0 dismantling of Stoke City, with his forays forward helping to overwhelm the beleaguered Potters.

West Brom proved less susceptible to Spurs' attacks. Rose was typically combative throughout, but like his team-mates, he could not prevent the match from escaping them.

4. Dele Alli

Dele Alli may have been a place or two higher in these rankings if not for the unfortunate incident that closed his April and ended his season prematurely.

During the West Brom game an innocuous but no less silly punch at Claudio Yacob led to him receiving a three-match suspension. His loss of cool in their running battle was an unfortunate precursor to events involving his team-mates against Chelsea.

Despite all this, the overall quality of Alli’s month more than warrants his inclusion here.

Against Liverpool, the midfielder was one of few Spurs players who performed with his usual urgency, even though few of his creative promptings came off.

At home against Manchester United, Alli helped weather the storm of the Red Devils' early pressure. Thereafter, he was as involved as anyone in taking the game to the visitors, showing great hunger and awareness for his goal.

Things got even better for him at Stoke City.

Neither the home side's midfield nor its defence could contain the 20-year-old as he helped Spurs toward their penalty area. Despite missing one golden chance in between, his two goals were masterfully taken.

Unfortunately, the final glimpse of Alli in the 2015-16 season was not a great one.

3. Erik Lamela

Injured on the last international break, Erik Lamela was missed considerably in Tottenham’s draw with Liverpool. The team noticeably lacked his fluid movement and silky passing in shaping attacks, as well as his wholehearted participation in the pressing that often facilitates it.

Back against Manchester United, the attacking midfielder made an immediate impact.

A golden chance to give Spurs the lead just prior to the half-hour mark was headed wide, but Lamela's feisty work was indicative of a much-improved performance. The timidity of their showing at Anfield replaced by relish of the challenge at hand.

Still, few were enjoying the contest more than Lamela.

It was his determination to win the ball that led to Dele Alli’s opening goal. Thereafter, he beautifully set up Toby Alderweireld for the second and confirmed the win with a finely taken strike of his own.

Lamela was just as good against Stoke, contributing as much as anyone to Spurs' attacking domination.

He was involved in the buildup to the second goal. Then, after breaking the offside trap, he unselfishly squared to Harry Kane for the striker's second.

Though less effective against West Brom, there was little to fault with Lamela's efforts.

2. Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen was not at his best against Liverpool, but he produced in a crucial moment. One that typified how he has been as reliable for Tottenham since the turn of the year as anyone.

Chasing Toby Alderweireld's long, over-hit pass, he corralled it just before the ball went out for a goal kick and then flicked it into the box for Harry Kane to equalise.

Prior to the month-ending draw with West Brom, Mauricio Pochettino spoke glowingly of how Eriksen's improved work ethic is complementing his already high attacking standards.

"Now you know I think his quality is very technical, now is more consistent with the ball, when is with ball in the game. But without the ball now, he has become more aggressive and works very hard for the team, and I think now is a more complete player."

Pochettino's belief that the 24-year-old is now "more consistent with the ball" has more than been backed up.

Eriksen's precision cross set up Dele Alli's goal against Manchester United. Later on, the nominal midfielder's flick on found Danny Rose’s run, and Spurs' third duly arrived.

Conducting duties were shared at times during the north Londoners' symphonic performance against Stoke. Eriksen's turns leading, though, soared as impressively as anyone's.

His upping of the tempo propelled Spurs to their third goal of the night. For their fourth, his cross set up the flourish of Alli’s fine volley.

Against West Brom, Eriksen's dipping free-kick forced the Craig Dawson own goal that gave Spurs their first-half lead.

1. Harry Kane

Immediately after scoring his equaliser against Liverpool, Harry Kane was urging his team-mates to get back to the halfway line. You would expect little else in the middle of a match with title-race implications, but it was in keeping with the man all the same.

Kane has driven this Tottenham team on through good and bad this season. The results have not always been as liked, but the efforts of the north Londoners' talisman cannot be questioned.

After earning that better-than-nothing point against Liverpool, Kane was not on the scoresheet against Manchester United. He helped batter Louis van Gaal’s side into submission, though, and made the telling pass that sent Eriksen forward for Spurs' first goal.

The match at Stoke was arguably Kane's best individual display this season—a timely showcase of the versatility and hunger that has made him so important to his team and one of the best strikers around right now.

He settled nerves with a superb goal early on. In the second half, it was his headed clearance that led to him completing his brace on the night.

Stoke just could not deal with Kane. West Brom, on the other hand, did have greater success stifling the front man and his team.

Even so, he came as close as anyone to steering the game in Spurs' favour, hitting the post in the first 10 minutes and then later on almost bundling in the rebound after Erik Lamela hit the woodwork.

There is only so much Kane can do. But April reiterated that he can be relied on to keep trying no matter what.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.