Harry shows Spurs’ mettle
Tottenham striker Kane got his ninth Premier League goal of the season as Mauricio Pochettino’s men showed new Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has got a huge job in front of him.
Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura were also on target in front of just 33,012 but this was all about Tottenham finding a strong response to Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal.
Barcelona have got Lionel Messi and Co, but there are surely no better finishers than Kane and he is so reliable whenever Spurs need a goal.
It was difficult to remember such a low key atmosphere even at Wembley as swathes of red seats remained empty on a cold, rainy night.
Tottenham did their best to liven up the mood with a bright start and, early on, Hasenhuttl – who was sitting in the stands – must have wondered what he had let himself in for.
Heung-Min Son hit the post with a brilliant low volley after just three minutes and Spurs did not take much longer to take the lead. They took a short corner after nine minutes, Christian Eriksen put over a low cross and Kane ghosted in at the near post, lost his markers and then fired in from close range.
But the visitors actually responded well and came back into the game, showing more passion and determination that they have in recent weeks which ultimately cost
Mark Hughes the sack. Saints’ Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fired against the post and Spurs were pushed back.
Southampton’s caretaker boss Kelvin Davies – in charge for one game until Hasenhuttl takes over for the weekend – inspired the sort of display which had been lacking.
Kane then had a shot well saved by keeper Alex McCarthy after a brilliant Son run. McCarthy made good saves at the start of the second half from Kane and then Eriksen but could do nothing about Tottenham’s second goal.
Southampton failed to clear a corner, Moura’s first shot was charged down but the Brazilian then smashed a follow-up into the wet turf and it skidded into the far corner.
Spurs soon added a third. Kieran Trippier made a good block, Kane put over a low cross and Son was in the middle to score from close range. Saints winger Nathan Redmond had another good game and smashed a shot against the crossbar.
But suddenly you could see the size of the task in front of Hasenhuttl as gone are the days when Southampton used to come to the big clubs and upset the odds.
Spurs will be worried that Trippier limped off to be replaced by 18-year-old Oliver Skipp who was making his Premier League debut. In injury time Southampton got a goal which their battling spirit probably deserved as substitute Charlie Austin fired home a consolation.
Lloris; Trippier (Skipp 87), Foyth, Alderweireld, Rose; Dier, Winks; Moura (Sissoko 74), Eriksen (Alli 79), Son; Kane. Kane 9, Moura 51, Son 55. Leicester (a), Sat PL.
McCarthy; Soares, Yoshida, Stephens, Targett; Hojbjerg (Romeu 88), Davis; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong (Elyounoussi 81); Gabbiadini (Austin 70). Austin 90. Cardiff (a), Sat PL.
A Taylor (Cheshire).
TOTTENHAM
Goals: NEXT UP: SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Referee: (4-2-3-1): Goal: NEXT UP:
equaliser and see the spoils fairly shared in this scrappy affair.
It means Leicester are still unbeaten in seven games in all competitions since the death of their chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on October 27.
Ranieri, who was sacked by Leicester in February last year, returned to the King Power Stadium last month for the club’s first home match after the helicopter tragedy. He was again given a rousing reception by the travelling fans last night but it was another title-winning hero the Foxes really missed.
In just the third minute, Maddison released Kelechi Iheanacho on goal but he shot straight at Sergio Rico. Jamie Vardy, nursing a groin strain on the bench, would have scored.
Italian Ranieri called his Leicester players “my boys” and two more of his former Mitrovic sent Kamara surging into the box. The Frenchman dragged the ball back as Caglar Soyuncu slid in before drilling a shot through the legs of Schmeichel.
After Madison’s equaliser, a third Leicester substitute, Vicente Iborra, had the chance to win it but headed wide from a corner while Fulham’s Tom Cairey volleyed straight at Schmeichel.
In a frantic four minutes of injury time, Rico denied Gray and Madison and Mitrovic shot narrowly wide before Odoi spurned the best chance when he shot over after a Cairney pass.
FULHAM (4-2-3-1):
Rico; Christie (Ream 84), Odoi, Mawson, Le Marchand (Bryan 77); Chambers, Seri; Kamara, Vietto (Cairney 45), Sessegnon; Mitrovic. Kamara 42.
LEICESTER (4-2-3-1):
Schmeichel; Simpson (Okazaki 72), Morgan, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Mendy (Iborra 71), Ndidi; Diabate (Gray 55), Maddison, Albrighton; Iheanacho. Maddison 74.
D Coote (Notts).
Referee: Goal: Goal: