This report comes courtesy of Declan Mulcahy

PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 15 APRIL 2017, 12:30p.m.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (2) 4 BOURNEMOUTH (0) 0

Scorers:-
Dembele, 16
Son, 19
Kane, 48
Janssen, 90+2

White Hart Lane, Attendance 31,943

Referee:- Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Assistant Referees:- Simon Bennett (Staffordshire), Stephen Child (Kent)
Fourth Official:- Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

Teams:-
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):
1 H Lloris (c); 2 K Walker, 4 T Alderweireld, 5 J Vertonghen, 33 B Davies; 19 M Dembele, 15 E Dier; 23 C Eriksen (9 V Janssen 87), 20 D Alli (17 M Sissoko 84), 7 H-M Son; 10 H Kane (12 V Wanyama 79) Subs Not Used: 30 P Lopez, 16 K Trippier, 27 K Wimmer, 25 J Onomah

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Manager Eddie Howe
1 A Boruc; 15 A Smith, 2 S Francis (c), 3 S Cook, 11 C Daniels; 8 H Arter, 32 J Wilshere (18 L Cook 56); 19 J Stanislas (24 R Fraser 69), 17 J King, 7 M Pugh; 9 B Afobe (31 L Mousset 77) Subs Not Used: 21 R Allsop, 38 B Cargill, 26 T Mings, 10 M Gradel Booked: Fraser (70 foul on Davies)

TH: White shirts, navy shorts and stockings B: Red and black striped shirts, black shorts and stockings

Harry Kane’s 20 Goal Hat-Trick!

This was another fine display by Tottenham Hotspur. Today’s 4-0 victory was their seventh consecutive league win and 12th consecutive home win, both records in the Premier League era. In addition Harry Kane and Vincent Janssen established personal milestones.

Mauricio Pochettino made two changes from last week’s 4-0 win over Watford with Kyle Walker returning at right back for Kieran Trippier and Harry Kane making his first start since his injury against Millwall in March replacing Janssen.

Bournemouth visited White Hart Lane for only the second time in their history. Their recent away form had been reasonably good having drawn their last three games at Anfield, Southampton and Old Trafford respectively.

Bournemouth made one change from last week’s defeat to Chelsea with Junior Stanislas who had been out with a groin injury since January replacing Ryan Fraser. Tyrone Mings who had been suspended for five matches after an off-the-ball incident at Old Trafford was back on the bench. The two Bournemouth full backs Adam Smith and Charlie Daniels started their careers at White Hart Lane. Daniels never played for the first team and Smith made a brief 14 minute appearance as a substitute in the final game of the 2011-12 season at home to Fulham.

Spurs, as is customary, played towards the Park Lane end during the first half. Both teams started with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Bournemouth’s formation was compact with very little distance between the four lines in an effort to stifle Spurs.

Bournemouth’s tactics worked in the early minutes as Spurs found it difficult to create goal-scoring opportunities. Their first shot came after 12 minutes when Dembele’s effort was saved by Boruc.

Three minutes later Spurs were awarded a disputed corner. Bournemouth felt that the ball went out off Alli however referee Michael Oliver ruled that Arter had touched the ball last. Eriksen’s corner from the left was flicked on by Alderweireld and it fell to Dembele who was unmarked. He had a simple task to score with a shot to the right post from seven yards. It was his first goal since January 2016 against Sunderland.

Three minutes later Wilshere’s attempted pass deflected to Kane. He fed the ball to Son who ran into the box and slotted the ball through Boruc’s legs for the second goal. It is the first time that Son has scored in four consecutive games for Spurs.

After 23 minutes Bournemouth finally won a corner but Cook headed over. A few minutes later Stanislas sent in a dangerous diagonal ball from the right but happily no Bournemouth player could capitalize on it.

Spurs continued to dominate. Eriksen and Son both had shots saved by Boruc. Smith needed treatment after falling awkwardly after an aerial challenge. In time added on before the interval Kane ran into the box but was tackled by Smith.

Neither team made any changes at the interval. Within two minutes of the interval the ball fell to Kane in the box. Francis the Bournemouth captain was in front of him. It initially looked as though Francis had stifled him and the chance had gone. However Kane persevered, dug the ball out, and scored with a shot towards the left post.

This was Kane’s 20th league goal of the season. It is the third season in a row he has scored 20 goals. He is only the fourth player in the Premier League era to achieve this feat and he is in august company with the other three players being Alan Shearer (1996-1997), Thierry Henry (2003-2004) and Ruud Van Nistelrooy (2003-2004).

Eriksen and Son had shots saved by Boruc.

Jack Wilshere had been booed by the crowd every time he touched the ball. It was hardly surprising given that he is on loan from Arsenal. To the great delight of the crowd he injured himself while attempting to tackle Kane and had to be replaced two minutes later when he failed to recover.

Bournemouth made their second change when Fraser replaced Stanislas. Three minutes after coming on he received the only booking of the game for a tackle on Davies. Earlier Harry Arter had received a stern lecture from Michael Oliver for sarcastically applauding after a foul had been given against him.

Spurs continued to dominate and had a number of shots saved by Boruc.

After 73 minutes Bournemouth had their only shot on target when Daniels shot was easily saved by Lloris. Shortly afterwards King hit a shot well over the bar. In the final ten minutes Daniels had another shot when went out for a throw in!

With 13 minutes remaining and the result beyond doubt Pochettino sensibly replaced Kane with Wanyama. Dembele moved to the centre of the front three midfielders with Alli moving to the left and Son taking Kane’s position up front.

Janssen replaced Eriksen during the last five minutes. In time added on, a corner from the left fell to Janssen. His initial shot was saved by Boruc but he scored with his second effort. This was his second Premier League goal since joining the club, the first having come from penalty. He will no doubt feel mightily relieved that he has finally scored from open play.

Spurs absolutely dominated the game and won with consummate ease. The team played effortlessly and I can’t remember a single error by a Spurs player throughout the match. The entire team played well. There was no single outstanding player but Son, Kane, Eriksen, Dembele and Dier all made significant contributions. Alli was perhaps a little quieter than usual.

Bournemouth will be glad that they don’t have to play Spurs again this season. In the four games over the past two seasons they have gained a solitary point out of twelve while conceding twelve goals and scoring only one. Six of the twelve Spurs goals have come from Harry Kane.

As for Spurs their rich vein of form continues. This result left them four points behind Chelsea in the league, and that situation enticingly and excitingly remains after United beat Jose Mourinho's old team 2-0 today (Sunday) to make the title race closer. There are difficult games to come, but Chelsea have to play Everton away yet, and Spurs fans can dare to dream!

Equally important Spurs and Chelsea meet in an FA Cup semi final next weekend. With Spurs outstanding current run of form they will approach the semi final with their confidence high. If they can produce a display next weekend comparable to the last few games there is every chance they can beat Chelsea and reach the FA Cup final.

The current Spurs team is probably the best we have seen since the great double winning team of the early 1960s and there is every reason to view the remaining weeks of the season with confidence.

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