RACE FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE
Kane: Cup victory can strike blow in title race
CHELSEA: 75pts
Tuesday, April 25
SOUTHAMPTON (h)
Sunday, April 30
EVERTON (a)
Monday, May 8
MIDDLESBROUGH (h)
Friday, May 12
WEST BROM (a)
Monday, May 15
WATFORD (h)
Sunday, May 21
SUNDERLAND (h)
TOTTENHAM: 71pts
Wednesday, April 26
C PALACE (a)
Sunday, April 30
ARSENAL (h)
Friday, May 5
WEST HAM (a)
Sunday, May 14
MAN UTD (h)
Thursday, May 18
LEICESTER (a)
Sunday, May 21
HULL (a)
Tottenham have the rhythm as they prepare for the Blues and an Fa Cup semi-final with Chelsea which harry Kane hopes could have repercussions for the title race.
‘It could be a big thing psychologically,’ said Kane, who scored the third in a 4-0 romp against Bournemouth and then turned his attention towards Saturday’s date at Wembley.
‘It’s a big game for the club, a massive semi-final. You never know, if we can win it might put a bit more doubt in their minds for the Premier League.’
Spurs are in fearless mood after winning seven in a row in the top flight for the first time since 1967. ‘every game we go into we’re confident,’ said Kane, speaking before Chelsea lost at old trafford yesterday to further boost Spurs’ title hopes.
‘ We’re feeling ruthless, so whenever we go ahead we seem to score the second and just kill the game off. We’re feeling as confident as we ever have done. mentally we’re strong. It’s just important to keep our momentum going.’
With six games remaining, Spurs have more points than last season when they finished third behind Leicester and arsenal.
‘Because we’re still second and Chelsea are ahead, people don’t think we’re doing as well,’ said Kane. ‘But 71 points already with six games left — it’s incredible.’
tottenham’s best Premier League total is 72 in 2012-13.
against Bournemouth, mousa Dembele was on target for the first time this season, heung-min Son grabbed his eighth in six games and Vincent Janssen celebrated his first Premier League goal not scored from a penalty.
Kane, starting his first game since an ankle injury, reached the 20-goal barrier in the league for the third successive year, becoming the first Spurs player to do it since Jimmy Greaves (1966-69).
‘Jimmy Greaves was unbelievable, a club legend,’ said Kane.
‘to get to that 20-goal mark again is great and I could’ve had a couple more. I’m kicking myself about that.’
If mauricio Pochettino’s side can add a first Fa Cup final appearance since 1991, the campaign will go down as impressive progress. there is, however, a problem. the semi-final is at Wembley, where tottenham have been inexplicably poor.
this season, in four european games, they lost twice, drew once and won only a dead rubber against CSKa moscow at the end of the Champions League group stage. Spurs’ record at the national stadium was not much better before they hired the place for european football, with only one win in five appearances since Wembley reopened in 2007.
the last of those was a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea in the League Cup final two years ago.
‘It is different, definitely,’ said Jan Vertonghen. ‘ We have improved a lot. We have beaten big teams last season and this season. We have played Chelsea and we won.
‘We don’t have anything to prove and nothing to be afraid of. not at the Lane and not on Saturday at Wembley.’
michel Vorm, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the semi-final with a knee injury. Spurs’ Dutch keeper had been told he would keep his place in the Fa Cup team, but now faces a fight to be fit before the end of the season.