Tottenham vs Stoke a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
February 27, 2017
1,973 Views
- After a week that saw Tottenham dumped out of the Europa League by Gent they certainly needed to deliver a performance yesterday at home to Stoke
- And that is exactly what happened as they hit Stoke for four for third consecutive meeting between the two sides
- Mauricio Pochettino will genuinely wish he could play them every week as they once again steamrollered Mark Hughes men
- The aggregate score is Tottenham 8 – Stoke 0 this season and once again Spurs were at the devastating best yesterday
- Harry Kane rightfully deserves the plaudits after another hat-trick
- The second in a week and the third in nine games
- You can just call him hat-trick Harry from now on
- Tottenham needed an early goal to settle the nerves and they delivered on that front when Kane opened the scoring
- It took just 14 minutes for the home side to go ahead and Kane’s well-taken finish into the bottom corner left Lee Grant flat footed
- Stoke did give Spurs a scare soon after when Peter Crouch thought he had scored but once again Hugo Lloris pulled off an incredible save to keep the ball out
- Even after watching countless replays you still wonder how the ball did not cross the line
- That was as good as it got for Stoke though in what was going to be a long afternoon
- Kane’s first goal was good but his second one was even better
- A expertly timed half-volley with his left foot from Christian Eriksen’s corner doubled Spurs advantage and you wondered how if at all Stoker were to get back in the game
- The answer is they weren’t as Kane secured his hat-trick and all three points before the break
- Once again Eriksen was on part of the build up, this time he rolled the ball off to Kane whose effort from the edge of the box took a huge deflection off of Peter Crouch and once again left Lee Grant helpless
- 3-0 before the break and there was still time for more from Kane
- This time though he would turn provider, a neat touch bought Kane the space to send a cross into the box and Dele Alli was on hand to atone for his Europa League sending off to put the icing on the cake
- 4-0 at half time and a job well done
- Stoke offered nothing but some robust tackles
- Glenn Whelan and Charlie Adam did the best to rile Alli but only picked up a booking for their troubles
- As did Marko Arnautovic before the break, you got the feeling that Stoke would be lucky to finish the game with a full contingent what with the pace they were racking up cautions
- With the game already wrapped up, the second half was a mere training exercise
- The only blot on the copy book would have been the injury to Toby Alderwiereld that saw him leave the field soon after the break
- The hope will be that it was just a precautionary measure what with nothing to play for and he will be fit and raring to go for the home tie against Everton on Sunday
- It’s a win that puts Tottenham back in 2nd and puts the pressure on the other teams below in them in the top 6 to do their bit and win their games in hand
- At this stage of the season it’s all about points on the board and putting pressure on your rivals
- Not only that but Tottenham’s goal difference will act as an extra point should it be required at the end of the season
- As for Stoke it really was a day to forget, they stay 10th and although they will once again stay up this season questions may well be asked to whether the club has peaked under Mark Hughes and whether or not a change of direction is needed in the Summer
- But yesterday it really was a case of the Spurs go marching on
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