HARRY KANE HELPED himself to a second-half brace in a 5-1 rout as Stoke City collapsed to a familiar thrashing at the hands of Tottenham.
The past three matches between the sides had finished 4-0 in favour of Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino could not have wished for more accommodating opponents as his team won for the first time in five Premier League matches.
Ryan Shawcross’s unfortunate own goal – the Stoke captain’s sixth in the top flight – punctuated an uneventful first half but the wheels came off in worrying fashion for City boss Mark Hughes after the interval.
Kane had already passed up a pair of glorious chances by the time the excellent Son Heung-min made it 2-0 and the England striker’s double made it three goals in the space of 12 second-half minutes.
The goals were Kane’s 42nd and 43rd for Tottenham in 2017 which, added to his seven international goals, takes his tally for the calendar year to a remarkable 50 in 48 games.
Christian Eriksen got in on the act as Stoke’s defence unravelled terribly, with Shawcross heading into the right net 10 minutes from the end offering meagre consolation.
Spurs are up to fifth, above Arsenal and Burnley on goal difference, while Stoke and their battered goal difference sit precariously three points above the relegation zone.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
