PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 13TH JANUARY, 2018
(5.30PM – at Wembley)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4(1) EVERTON 0(0)

Scorers:-
Son, 26
Kane, 47, 59
Eriksen, 81

Attendance:- 76,251

Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Daniel Cook
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Lloris (Capt); Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier (sub Wanyama, 74), Dembele (sub Sissoko, 82); Eriksen (sub Lamela, 87), Dele, Son; Kane

Subs not used:- Vorm; Trippier, Walker-Peters; Llorente

No bookings

Everton (4-2-3-1):- Pickford; Kenny, Holgate, Jagielka (Capt.), Martina; McCarthy (sub Schneiderlin, 72), Gueye; Bolasie (sub Lennon, 57), Rooney, Sigurdsson; Tosun (sub Calvert-Lewin, 62)

Subs not used:- Robles; Williams; Lookman; Niasse

Booked:- Jagielka (foul on Dele), Rooney (foul on Vertonghen)

The continuing story of Harry Kane

One day Harry Kane’s story will end, but for the moment hardly a week goes by without the 24 year old (yes, still only 24) Spurs striker breaking one record or another. This week, it was two, or maybe three. Firstly, he equalled, then beat Teddy Sheringham’s Premier League goal scoring record of 97 for Spurs. Secondly, he became only the third Premier League player to score 20 or more league goals in four or more seasons. (The others were Shearer and Henry). Thirdly, he is the first Spurs player since Jimmy Greaves to score that number of goals in four consecutive seasons for Spurs. Just to repeat, Kane is still only 24, and more records will tumble as he continues his career, hopefully for several years to come yet with Tottenham.

Why, Harry wasn’t even our man of the match today! That honour fell to Son Heung-min, who achieved a record of his own today scoring in five consecutive home Premier League games to match the record of Jermain Defoe in 2004. Son scored Spurs’ first goal; laid on Harry’s first goal with a superb piece of skill before his pass, and also hit the post with another shot.

This win over Everton (against whom we have a fantastic Premier League record) was actually our biggest margin of victory since Bill Nicholson’s historic debut as manager in October 1958. The win also gives us our first league “double” of the season, and increases our run of games unbeaten against “The Toffees” to 11. It is no wonder the Everton fans started to evacuate Wembley en masse once Christian Eriksen ended a great series of passes with Spurs’ fourth goal. Spurs also had their second highest Premier League crowd of the season (76,251), which has only been beaten by the Liverpool game in domestic matches (80,827)

Everton were hit by the absence of defender Michael Keane, and Mason Holgate deputised. Sam Allardyce gave a debut to new signing Cenk Tosun, signed from Besiktas this week, but he had no impact today, up against Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen.

Mauricio Pochettino started with Eric Dier beside Mousa Dembele, and Victor Wanyama was left in reserve, replacing Dier after 74 minutes. Everton kicked off and played away from their army of fans, but made very little headway all game. After only two minutes, Harry Kane went down just outside the box under Holgate’s challenge after receiving a clever flick from Eriksen, but referee Craig Pawson was not interested in any possible infringement. A great ball by Dele Alli out to Aurier on thee right won a corner when the Spurs right back hit a powerful low cross. Dele was fouled by Gueye just outside the Everton area on the Spurs left, and Eriksen took the free kick which was met by Son towards the near post, but headed over the bar.

An attempted clearance by Sanchez fell in favour of Rooney at the other end. Rooney tried a left footed shot, but pulled it wide of the post. Sigurdsson won a d took a corner on the left after Dele’s defensive clearance, and after the corner, Gueye’s shot, which was on target, was cleared at the edge of the Spurs area. Everton then actually had the ball in the net after another corner. Rooney converted Tosun’s flick, but he had already been judged offside. That was more or less the end of Everton’s attacking threat.

Dier sent a ball into a fray where Dembele came out in possession, feeding Kane, who took the ball to the left before trying a shot which was held by Pickford. Harry’s next effort on goal was held by Pickford on the stretch. Then Spurs took the lead in simple but stylish fashion. Eriksen crossed from the left direct to Aurier who was towards the right of the Everton box. Aurier’s pass was easily converted by Son from close range for his eighth premier League goal and 11th club goal of thee season, and of course to match that record of Defoe’s. The only other action of note came at the end of the first half when Jagielka was shown yellow after a foul on Dele Alli.

Spurs got a flying start in the second half. Dier sent a ball to Son on the left. Son deceived Kenny with a skilful back-heel which he took on racing into the box feeding Kane, who scored from close range to draw level with Sheringham’s record for Spurs. Kane might have been offside, but the officials didn’t call it, so it was 2-0. Within minutes, Son was teeing up Dele, who fired a shot into the side netting. Kane picked up a loose ball in the middle after 54 minutes hitting shot which Pickford saved. Kane wanted a foul for a challenge on him as he tried to reach the keeper’s clearance to follow-up, but again Mr Pawson was not interested.

Sam Allardyce then replaced Yannick Bolasie with Aaron Lennon who received a standing ovation from the Spurs fan as he came on. Kane hit a longish pass across to Son on the right. Son came in and hit a left footed shot which beat the keeper but bounced back off the post. It was not long though before Spurs made it 3-0 and again it was Harry Kane who scored from close range. This time Eric Dier provided the pass from deep on the right, and Harry stabbed the ball home to secure that record as Spurs’ highest ever Premier League scorer. Next up will be his 100th Premier League goal, and a few more of those above him in the all-time Spurs scoring stakes will tumble before the end of the season. Harry is now only 6 behind Gilzean, with Duquemin, George Hunt and maybe even Defoe catchable this season.

Several substitutions followed, as the game naturally lost its edge, with Spurs on their way to the win. Wayne Rooney blotted his copybook with a needless and petulant foul on “Super” Jan Vertonghen who had cleanly won the ball which he was bringing out of defence. Rooney joined his captain in the referee’s book.

Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele brought the ball out of the Spurs half in unison. Wanyama then fed Dele who gave Son a chance which was saved. The ball ran to Dele, who also had his effort saved by Pickford. Son raced onto another Wanyama pass, but Holgate managed to defend at the expense of a corner. The final blow was delivered in great style with a number of team passes culminating in Son to Dele, who back-heeled the ball to Eriksen who beat Pickford to his right with a simple but effective shot from the edge of the area.

This was a great win for Spurs, who have beaten “The Toffees” 7-0 on aggregate this season. I will be supporting Man City tomorrow, because a Liverpool defeat will put Spurs above the “Reds” into the top four on goal difference, so bring it on!

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