BOY TON GOOD
INSTEAD of bringing the transfer deadline forward, Harry Kane would rather they put the start of the season back.
Tottenham and England’s main man has never scored a league goal in August — yet any other month and he cannot miss. Yesterday he got two, the first lucky, the second brilliant, to take him past the milestone of 100 goals for Spurs.
The opener, after 28 minutes, was an intended cross that looped over Jordan Pickford and underneath the crossbar. But it was the only slice of luck the visitors needed as Christian Eriksen and Kane again wrapped up the game either side of half-time.
Rarely does the Premier League put on such a one-sided contest and Wayne Rooney’s dreadful week got even worse as his side were booed by home fans and he was barracked by the away end, mocking his arrest and drink-driving charge over the international break.
‘I think everyone could tell my first goal was a cross but you need that luck sometimes,’ said Kane. ‘To get a hundred goals is amazing, hopefully I can get the next hundred even quicker. It has been a crazy few years. I thought we played fantastically throughout the pitch.’
Kane has been the Premier League’s leading scorer for the past two seasons and, having now got off the mark for this season, not many will oppose him for a hat-trick of awards.
Though Everton manager Ronald Koeman was disappointed by the way his side capitulated after an even half-hour, he had enough class to acknowledge Kane’s display, which included an excellent finish at the start of the second half from Ben Davies’ cross.
‘Maybe after Messi and Ronaldo, Alexis Sanchez and one or two more, he is one of the best,’ said Koeman. ‘OK, the first goal was lucky because he didn’t mean to shoot the ball in the goal but he is a really clever player. His movement, using his body against defenders, his finishing, he is a top striker.’
Everton had won their last four games at Goodison Park without conceding a goal but they had not beaten Tottenham since David Moyes was manager.
Though the opening 28 minutes were tight, there were signs that Tottenham’s system, featuring a back-three and a midfield diamond, was causing problems even before Kane mis-hit a cross from just inside the right-hand touchline. He looked slightly embarrassed as he was quickly engulfed by celebrating team-mates.
Once ahead, Spurs did not look back. Fittingly, the two outstanding performers besides Kane combined for the second goal after 42 minutes. Left wing-back Davies advanced into the area and, when his shot was parried by Pickford, Eriksen slotted the rebound.
Koeman made half-time changes, bringing on the youthful energy of Daniel Calvert-Lewin and Tom Davies, but he then saw his side go 3-0 behind 49 seconds after the restart. Davies curled a low cross into the danger zone and Kane found space between Michael Keane and Pickford to steer the ball in with a single touch of his left boot. Goal No 101.
At the other end, Hugo Lloris did not have a save to make until the 65th minute and was so bored he appeared to lose his focus, kicking the ball straight to Idrissa Gueye on one occasion, with the Everton midfielder kicking it back wide of an empty goal.
Spurs fans amused themselves by singing ‘He only drinks when he’s driving’ at Rooney, whose poor afternoon was completed with a yellow card for lunging at Spurs midfielder Dele Alli.
‘I’m very pleased — it was a very solid performance,’ said Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. ‘When you win in football, the tactics always seem right.’
On Kane, he added: ‘It’s not important to me if it was meant to be a cross or a shot. It was a goal for us! He has scored 100 goals for Tottenham. He deserves congratulations, it is an unbelievable achievement for him.’
Koeman can be tough on his players but clearly felt this was not the right time to play mean cop.
‘Until it went 1-0, I thought we did well. Neither team created a lot,’ he said. ‘But the first goal broke our confidence a little bit and they could easily find the free player in midfield. One team is full of confidence, Everton played without any confidence.’
Pochettino was even able to take off Eriksen and Kane early with Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Borussia Dortmund in mind. That match will be played at Wembley, where Spurs have won only once in seven games. They would prefer it to be at Goodison.
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 6.5; Martino 5.5, Keane 6, Williams 6, Baines 5; Schneiderlin 5.5, Gueye 6 (Vlasic 80, 6.5); Rooney 5, Klaassen 5 (Davies 45, 6), Sigurdsson 5; Ramirez 5.5 (Calvert-Lewin 45, 5.5). Subs (not used): Stekelenberg, Jagielka, Holgate, Mirallas. Booked: Williams, Gueye, Rooney. TOTTENHAM (3-3-3-1): Lloris 6; Alderweireld 6.5, Sanchez 7, Vertonghen 6.5; Trippier 7, Dier 6, Davies 9; Sissoko 7 (Winks 78 6), Alli 7, Eriksen 8.5 (Dembele 71 6); Kane 8.5 (Son 85). Subs (not used): Vorm, Aurier, Walker-Peters, Lloriente. Booked: Alderweireld. referee: G Scott 7.