SON’S SHINING Return to form is Spur-fect
IT is fair to say that the golden boot won jointly by Heungmin Son last season has looked a little tarnished and in need of a polish at times this campaign.
But the Spurs striker showed that while he may have mislaid form during a stuttering campaign in which he had found the net just six times, his class remains.
A match which centred on the possible record for Harry Kane but was dominated by the other Spurs striker. Two goals after the break from Son, and Arnaut Danjuma’s debut finish, were enough to secure safe passage to the fifth round for Spurs for the seventh time in eight seasons.
And it was also enough to suggest that the striker is showing signs of returning to his best just at the right time.
Spurs’ assistant Christian Stellini hailed Son as an ‘important’ understudy to his stricken strike partner.
He said: “Son’s a top player. He had to wait to find the right moment to find the space – it was a good game for him.
“We needed him to step up.we feel he can do this.without Harry, he became our most important striker – so it was important for him to score.”
The fact Tottenham did it without being at full strength will have delighted Antonio Conte.
Kane was not deemed fit enough to make the XI for the first time this season.
The striker, who pulled himself level with Jimmy Greaves on 266 goals for Spurs at Fulham earlier this week, had scored the winner despite not feeling 100 per cent.
But after missing three days of training this week he had trained on Friday and decided he was still not on top of his game.
Kane was one of seven changes made from the side that edged past Fulham as Conte looked to smuggle his way into the fifth round.
But a well-organised and in-form Preston side who are just two points from the play-off places battled hard to keep their illustrious visitors at bay.
It was undeniable that Spurs posed more of a goal threat in the first half hour, Dejan Kulusevski seeing a goalbound shot blocked by Liam Lindsay and Son denied twice by Freddie Woodman.
And it was undeniable that Preston’s chances were limited,
Tom Cannon getting the best sight of goal from a set piece only for his shot to be blocked at source.
But the longer they held Spurs at bay the more their confidence grew and they were good value for the stalemate at the break.
Spurs had with a bit more zip at the start of the second period and it took just five minutes for that pressure to bring a goal.
Preston were caught out by the speed of Spurs’ counter attack after losing the ball on their right wing, Japhet Tanganga getting the ball on the right flank and finding Son in a pocket 35 yards out.
Nudging the ball to his left he unleashed one as good as any this year or last, crashing an unstoppable strike from 30 yards inside the far post.
Having fallen behind Preston had no choice but to release the handbrake.
But clear-cut chances continued to elude the home side and Son’s second strike killed the tie.
Ivan Perisic was the provider flicking the ball to Son who had his back to goal near the penalty spot. With a neat spin around Jordan Storey, the Spurs striker whipped a shot past Woodman.
Danjuma added the third, turning Kulusevski’s low cross in from eight yards out with three minutes of normal time left.
Preston boss Ryan Lowe said: “We stopped them in the first half but then a world-class player came up with a world-class finish.
“The second was the same.the third was a bit scrappy but you’re up against quality players. I think we’ve given a good account of ourselves.”