Eriksen’s double whammy leaves

Christian Eriksen was credited with a brace as Harry Kane was denied a crucial goal in the Golden Boot race in Tottenham’s win over Stoke at the bet365 Stadium.

Denmark international Eriksen broke the deadlock in the second half, before scoring direct from a free-kick which appeared to just evade Kane’s head, preventing the Spurs striker from claiming a 36th goal of the season and moving four behind the Premier League’s leading scorer Mohamed Salah.

In between, Stoke had levelled through Mame Diouf, but the loss means they are four points from safety with five games to go.

Paul Lambert had insisted he would pay little attention to the previous four thrashings Spurs had inflicted on Mark Hughes’ Stoke as he set his side up differently this time around.

That was evident when he kept faith with the starting XI that lost 3-0 to Arsenal last weekend with Diouf, who overcame a calf problem to start, blazing a good opportunity over early on.

Tottenham had been sluggish to start with against Chelsea last weekend and they were struggling for momentum in the Potteries too until Son Heung-min was sent through, one on one, by Dele Alli.

The South Korean bore down on goal only for Jack Butland to rush out and smother his attempt with the half’s biggest chance.

The Potters had been typically spirited and that inspired a crowd that needed no encouragement to jeer Danny Rose for his part in a Ryan Shawcross dismissal in 2014.

Yet the majority of the bet365 Stadium was silenced seven minutes into the second half when playmaker Eriksen continued his fine form in front of goal.

Mousa Dembele’s pass released Alli down the right and he neglected passing to Kane, instead