Spurs ‘move’ into top four

Kane marks century milestone in style

SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, Dec 19, (AFP): Harry Kane marked his 100th Tottenham appearance with the clinical finish that lifted his side into the Premier League’s top four with a 2-0 win at Southampton on Saturday.

England striker Kane bagged the 47th goal of his Tottenham career five minutes before half-time and young midfielder Dele Alli added the second moments later to give the north Londoners their first win in four Premier League matches.

It was the perfect response from Mauricio Pochettino’s team after last weekend’s surprise home defeat against Newcastle ended their 14match unbeaten league run.

Tottenham climb above Manchester United into fourth place following Pochettino’s second win in three meetings with his former club since quitting Southampton in May 2014.

Mid-table Southampton are without a win in their last six matches in all competitions, a barren spell that includes four defeats in their last five league games.

Saints manager Ronald Koeman had been criticised for adopting a cautious approach in recent weeks as he frets about a potential slide towards the relegation zone and this errorstrewn display will do nothing to silence the doubters.

Initially, it seemed they had refound their rhythm and Senegal winger Sadio Mane’s early shot was deflected over by Toby Alderweireld.

However, Mane wasted an even better chance when he met Dusan Tadic’s low cross with a tame shot that was too close to Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Those misses proved fatal because, after a quiet opening, Tottenham took charge from the moment Alderweireld headed onto the roof of the net from Christian Eriksen’s freekick.

Kane had his first sight of goal with a low drive from an angle that was well saved by Paulo Gazzaniga.

Southampton didn’t heed the warning and Kane took advantage of some sloppy defending to put Pochettino’s side ahead in the 40th minute.

Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele combined to set Kane sprinting clear of flat-footed Saints defender Virgil van Dijk and the England star kept his cool to slip a cool finish past Gazzaniga for his 11th club goal of the season. Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele (third left), vies with Southampton’s Senegalese midfielder Sadio Mane (right), during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on

Dec 19. (AFP)