The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Jose trains his sights on the top four

- By Matt Barlow

THREE wins in eight days, six points in his pocket and Jose Mourinho declared the hunt was on as he turned his attention on chasing down Chelsea in the race for the top four.

Spurs have scored 10 goals in their first three under their new boss and eased up to fifth with this win against Bournemout­h.

In between the two Premier League victories, Mourinho’s side have clinched a Champions League last-16 place.

Dele Alli, who scored the first two

Spurs goals, is revitalise­d and even Moussa Sissoko scored.

It was his first for more than two years and there can be no clearer indication of things turning their way.

There is work to be done tightening up at the back before Mourinho will be truly satisfied but he could not have hoped for a better way to prepare for his return to Manchester United on Wednesday.

‘When I arrived, we were 12 points behind the Champions League position and I didn’t want to think about it,’ said Tottenham’s new head coach. ‘I just wanted to play matches. We want to play European football next season. And if we thought too much about it we were going to be depressed. Now we are going into a period with a lot of matches. You have match, match, match and so you have the chance to put pressure on your opponent.

‘We play Chelsea at the end of December. If the game was tomorrow we would play them with six points difference and it would be a fantastic situation to play them. But we play them at the end of December and we have to keep close, as close as possible.’

Bournemout­h pulled back two late goals through Harry Wilson but there was no disguising Tottenham’s superiorit­y on another encouragin­g afternoon for the north London faithful.

 ?? ?? AT THE DOUBLE: Dele Alli with fellow scorer Moussa Sissoko
AT THE DOUBLE: Dele Alli with fellow scorer Moussa Sissoko
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