Harry the hat-trick hero
Kane equals Shearer’s record by reaching 36 Premier League goals for the calendar year – and he has one game left to beat it!
This was a triumphant occasion for Harry Kane whose magnificent hattrick ensured Tottenham swept aside Burnley to regain lost ground in the race for the Champions League places.
His superlative finishing meant he again occupied centre stage for a Tottenham team that produced a command performance once they were given the early present of a seventhminute penalty Kane duly dispatched.
Not only did the England striker draw level with Liverpool’s Mo Salah as the Premier League’s top scorer, two unerring second-half finishes also ensured that he equalled Alan Shearer’s Premier League record for goals in a calendar year, which stands at 36.
More importantly perhaps, his redoubtable contribution elevated the visitors above Burnley and Arsenal up to fifth, now a mere point adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool.
“He’s such an important player,” said the Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. “It was so important for us to be in a position again to compete for the top four and change the feeling and mood from last week.
“During my three and a half years at Tottenham, his contribution not only in goals but in attitude, professional ethics, how he works, is fantastic and a massive example for everyone.
“I’m so happy for him because not only did we achieve the three points, he equalled the record with Alan Shearer. He now needs one more to move ahead of Alan, and I think that’s a massive achievement for him.”
Had Kane not, inexcusably by his standards , found the side-netting after rounding Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope during the first period, the paeans towards him may have reached an even greater crescendo.
“It’s a nice present, that’s for sure,” he said. “I am aware I’ve equalled Alan Shearer’s record. Just going into this game, I thought I can get a couple and then there’s Southampton to play. You always want to finish a game off away from home, and we didn’t want to give them an incentive.”
Finish Burnley off he did. At the same time a week ago, Tottenham had spent their Saturday evening chasing shadows in the thrall of the runaway league leaders, but this was a markedly different affair. Precious few teams can replicate the bewitching panache of Manchester City, and for all their admirable qualities, Burnley rarely threatened to embody the Catalan style that had troubled Tottenham so much.
And understandably so. The Clarets operate in a different world from most of those around them in the division. Their squad, constructed by Sean Dyche has a resolutely British flavour, though an early challenge from Dele Alli on Charlie Taylor perhaps underscored the feel to the game most emphatically. His lunge towards the Burnley left-back resembled something from the days of the old First Division, and he was punished with a yellow card despite incensed home supporters calling for his dismissal.
Dyche labelled Alli’s first meaningful contribution to the game as an “orange card”, although the perceived injustice coursing around the ground at times over-spilled in to the vilification of the midfielder. Continuously harangued, he was repeatedly called a “cheat” and assorted obscenities by the home fans after appearing to throw himself towards Kevin Long’s attempted tackle when winning the penalty that set Tottenham on their way. His sprawling tumble convinced the referee, Michael Oliver, to award a penalty, and Kane showed little compunction.
Alli, to his credit, did not react impetuously and played a central role in Kane’s third goal, earning the admiration of Pochettino in the process.
“I didn’t think it was more than a yellow and I was happy with his performance and contribution,” he said. “The penalty was a penalty, and then he always tried to help the team.
“I think it’s coming, we feel it’s coming, and of course he’s going to score. He’s a special player, he is like he is. Everyone in this country prizes him. He’s still young. Sometimes, he makes a mistake but because he’s so special, his character and the way that he plays, the focus becomes on him.
“I’m the first to demand and expect more from him but I think that he’s in a good way and you can feel that Dele is recovering all the good feelings again.”
Chasing a top-flight record of four consecutive clean sheets dating back to 1922, Burnley tried manfully to recover, but each time they responded the visitors increased their tempo. Tottenham’s counter-attacks were irresistible, and though Dyche’s team had a late Sam Vokes goal chalked off for a foul on Hugo Lloris, they rarely threatened to trouble the scoreboard.
Despite inspiring Burnley’s best period of the game, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Steven Defour’s industry amounted to few opportuni-
ties to restore parity before the visitor’s confirmed their authority.
Dyche’s biggest problem is the depth of his squad. Already without the suspended James Tarkowski and influential Irish winger Robbie Brady, Burnley’s cause was further undermined when Wood, their first choice striker had to be replaced in the 35th minute. It left Dyche with too few of his preferred starting XI to challenge Tottenham’s superiority.
“There’s some frustration about decisions today, but not decisions that were necessarily going to change the event, only a possible sending-off, because they were excellent today, simple as that,” he said.
“Some of the referees talk about that orange card where it’s so awkward, they’re in debate on it. It’s probably one of them.
“The most interesting thing is the time of the game. If that’s 60 minutes in, is it like, ‘Ooh, that’s got to go’. It was two decisions that are really hard for referees. Kevin [Long] doesn’t need to challenge, but he gets a toe on it, and he’s going down, then the contact comes. Clever players make the best of that, and that’s more gamesmanship.
“But Kane was absolutely top class. They’re a really good side but he makes them even better. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen this season.”