Kane brace helps Poch back to winning ways
professional, a lovely kid and it is fantastic to work with him,” said Pochettino.
“I am so happy for him. He is so important for the team. We give him the credit he deserves. You can all recognise his talent.”
Certainly, Stoke were glad to see the back of him after 86 minutes. One problem – the damage had been done.
He had run 18-year-old defender Tom Edwards ragged and the youngster was eventually taken off after 70 minutes.
“He is a young player and he will learn from experiences like that,” said Stoke manager Mark Hughes.
Edwards may take a bit of convincing about that today, but he was not to blame for Stoke’s capitulation. Son’s presence had been a menace all match, even in a first half after which the teams were separated by a freakish goal that was more at home on a pinball table than a football pitch.
In the 21st minute, Son crossed low, the ball hit Kurt Zouma and then Ryan Shawcross to give the magnificent Jack Butland no chance in the Stoke goal.
“We spoke at half-time about the need to keep it tight and keep a foothold in the game and maybe push forward towards the end,” said Hughes. It would appear that few must have been listening.
After 53 minutes, Alli sent Son clear and his finish was clinical and the Stoke defence all over the place.
Within a minute, it was game over. A Ben Davies cross, no challenge on Kane and the header was in the net.
Kane drove home a fourth and then Eriksen a fifth as Stoke crumbled.
A late header from Shawcross silenced a travelling support who had managed just one chorus of “Hughes Out” before they celebrated their consolation.
Afterwards, Pochettino said: “I was so pleased with the quality of our performance. Harry Kane, yes, he is one of the best strikers around. And I would have said that even if he had not scored.
“The first goal was important. It always is. It gives you more confidence.”
And he is hopeful Spurs are now out of the run that sabotaged their push to win the Premier League. “Now we have to try to keep this level,” he said. Brighton on Wednesday at Wembley will be the test of that.
For Hughes, the problem is at the other end of the table – and going to Burnley on Tuesday is not an enticing prospect.
“We have just got to clear our heads and focus on that match,” said Hughes who will be looking for more defensive discipline.
“You can’t give players like Spurs have the space we gave them today.”
He must be hoping they hear his half-time message at Turf Moor.