Kane keeps his cool to carry

SPURS 1 Kane (pen, 58) MIDDLESBROUGH 0

HARRY KANE kept Tottenham in touch at the top of the Premier League table by scoring a second-half penalty to seal a narrow victory over Middlesbrough.

Spurs were dominant throughout at White Hart Lane, but they struggled to break down a resilient Boro side until Kane converted his spot-kick after the excellent Son Heungmin was fouled by Espinosa Bernardo. Victor Valdes was also fortunate not to be sent off after he pushed Dele Alli in the face.

Tottenham’s win means they reduce the gap behind Chelsea back to nine points while Middlesbrough stay 15th, one point above the relegation zone.

Boro, meanwhile, have scored only eight goals in 11 away games all season and for all their defensive organisation, they rarely looked like adding to that tally here.

Tottenham enjoyed 71% possession during a one-sided first half, but found themselves frustrated by the visitors’ disciplined rearguard action.

Son was his team’s most potent threat down the left and he should have broken the deadlock early on when set free by Alli, but his driven finish was palmed away by Valdes.

Valdes’ moment of indiscretion came soon after. Alli had just fired into the side-netting when the pair locked foreheads, with Valdes continuing the argument by pushing the midfielder in the face and poking him in the cheek.

Neither referee Mark Clattenburg nor his assistant, however, appeared to see it as the goalkeeper escaped unpunished.

For a 20-minute period, Tottenham were all flair and finesse, Alli Cruyff-flicking the ball out to Kyle Walker, Moussa Dembele dancing past Marten De Roon and Son cushioning a cross-field ball and then darting in behind all in