HATS OFF TO HARRY
Kane the daddy again for Spurs with tasty treble
NEW DAD – same old Harry. Tottenham goal machine Harry Kane celebrated the birth of his first child last week with his third top-flight hat-trick. His partner Kate welcomed Ivy-Jane into the world and Harry went goal crazy. He said: “It’s been an amazing week, a bit of a whirlwind, fantastic. “Having a little daughter and to round it off like this is the best finish possible. “We were outstanding today – it’s our best performance of the season. “We could have scored a lot more if it wasn’t for Ben Foster in goal – he made some great saves.” West Brom just had no answer to the England hitman’s finishing and he could have had more but for Foster’s acrobatics. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, still glowing after the 2-0 victory over Chelsea, believes his team can now go on and win the title so cruelly taken away from them last season.
The Argentine said: “This is one of the best performances I have seen since I have been at the club. Fantastic. We have learnt from last season.
“We are now showing a lot of heart, energy and confidence. It was important after playing Chelsea that we maintained the confidence and we did.
“We are more mature this season and I am so proud of the players.
“We had to keep the momentum going and we
did. I am so pleased for Harry. What an end to a fantastic week for him!
“His life will change off the pitch now he’s a dad but I know it won’t on it.
“The only sad note is Jan Vertonghen’s ankle ligament injury.
“It looks bad, very bad but we won’t know more until we check it again on Monday. But I won’t be going into the transfer market to replace him. I have enough quality players.”
Albion boss Tony Pulis said: “When you come to a big club like this you need to be at your best. We weren’t and they punished us.
“You can’t take it away from Spurs. We conceded poor goals but they are one of the top six clubs and if they stay free of injuries then I can see a record number of points between those top six sides and the rest of us.
“We know what we can achieve. We are in their league but we are not really in their league – just look at the work being done on this stadium.” Kane took his tally for the season to 15 to see off Tottenham’s bogey side.
The Baggies had secured a run of draws against them and even blunted last season’s title tilt but on this occasion Pochettino’s men were eager not to be denied.
They got off on the front foot and stayed there. Skipper Kane had seen team-mate Dele Alli take the headlines recently with a string of goals.
Yesterday normal service resumed as Kane again did what he does best.
He rifled in three with his lethal boots before going off in the last minute to a tremendous and well-deserved ovation.
The only cloud for Pochettino was the injury to Belgium central defender Vertonghen who looked in agony as he was helped down the tunnel.
Danny Rose set the tone early, being a constant menace down the left and often leaving former team-mate Nacer Chadli in his wake. Pulis had asked Chadli to block Rose’s darting dashes from defence but the Belgian was nowhere to be seen in the fourth minute when he whacked over a cross that Kane steered narrowly wide from six yards.
Albion are usually masters in the art of defence but they were ripped open in the 12th minute.
Victor Wanyama threaded a pass to Christian Eriksen whose sweet flick put Kane clear to fire in off the bar for his 11th league goal of the season.
And it was no surprise when Tottenham added a second in the 26th minute.
Eriksen ended a five-man move with an 18-yard shot that deflected off Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley, who was credited with an own goal, giving Foster no chance.
Alli also found the net on the half-hour but he was ruled marginally offside.
Foster blocked a 33rd-minute effort from Kane following Kyle Walker’s cross and the striker’s superb first-half show continued a minute later when he shot from 25 yards, forcing the keeper to dive and palm the effort against a post.
The Baggies had little answer to Tottenham’s flying, speedy wing-backs Rose and Walker and had to wait until the 47th minute for their first shot at goal when Matt Phillips curled wide.
Tottenham were soon rampaging forward once more and Foster saved from Toby Alderweireld in the 57th minute in a furious spell of ping-pong football when the ball flashed across his goal.
A minute later Foster again denied Kane but he added his second and Tottenham’s third when he turned in Walker’s 77th-minute cross.
Then with eight minutes remaining he worked a one-two with Alli whose marvellous, lofted flick allowed him to complete his hat-trick.
Kane added: “Christian Eriksen is fantastic, I know he’s going to thread those balls through so I just stay onside.”