HUDDERSFIELD TOTTENHAM NOU ARE YOU? BARCA WARNED... AND DELE CROCKED
RIGHT, that’s bottom club Huddersfield out of the way... now bring on Messi and the Barcelona boys.
Harry Kane warmed up for the Wembley Champions League showpiece on Wednesday with a double to make it five Premier League goals this season.
And Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino (below) will hope his deadly striker wears the same shooting boots against the Catalan giants after seeing him revel in the role of match-winner in the more humble surroundings of the John Smith’s Stadium.
Kane scored twice in the first half and that was basically the end of a contest in which Huddersfield shed every last drop of sweat in a full-blooded, whole-hearted attempt to get their first win of the season.
They just weren’t a match on the day for the Golden Boot king.
Pochettino, though, wasn’t in the mood for wild celebrations as he counted the cost of niggling injuries with inspirational Dele Alli out of the Barca game and beyond with a hamstring injury.
He said: “The players are not machines and we need to protect them. I don’t know how long Dele will be out.
“Today the ball was more in the air than the grass. It was a massive fight between both teams.
“We will now see what happens on Wednesday but it will be a completely different game.
“The approach of the team was fantastic. We knew very well the game they were going to play. But I am so pleased because the team was ready to fight.
“Huddersfield played well. They had a good performance and you need to be at the same level as the opponents.”
Huddersfield boss David Wagner remained upbeat despite his club still not having beaten Tottenham since 1956 and said: “The players and the supporters are not lying.
“You have to show desire and passion – and then you need a little bit of luck, which we don’t have at the moment.
“We have to make sure we are all together. Be focused on our work and not the table. This is why we
came into the Premier League and this is why we fought to stay in the Premier League.”
Kane got on the score-sheet after 26 minutes. Kieran Trippier picked out the England No.9 with an accurate cross, and he squeezed home a header.
It was harsh on Huddersfield who had bravely battled to break down Tottenham’s defence and they almost equalised when Chris Lowe screamed in a first-timer which keeper Paulo Gazzaniga saved at the last moment.
If Huddersfield felt they were hard done by, their disgruntlement grew when Tottenham were awarded a 33rd-minute penalty.
Danny Rose sprinted into the box and was tugged slightly by substitute Florent Hadergjonaj. Referee Craig Pawson immediately pointed to the spot. Cue the crescendo of boos around the stadium.
Kane ignored the protests and stepped up to score in the corner.
Tottenham took their foot off the gas after the restart and allowed Laurent Depoitre to smack a shot on to the underside of the bar.
But that was it. Job done. Back home with three precious points.