HARRY KANE joined the 100 club as he tore into Stoke to move Tottenham back up to second.
By BRUCE ARCHER
Harry Kane netted a sublime 37-minute hat-trick in the first half to take Mark Hughes’ beleaguered Stoke side to the cleaners.
Incredibly it was his third hat-trick in his last nine games as he moved joint-top with the Premier League’s top dogs.
The first here was the 100th club goal of his career and the third saw him join Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku on 17 league goals for the season.
He has 22 in all competitions and became the first Tottenham player since Jimmy Greaves to hit 20 in three consecutive seasons - despite missing 10 games with an ankle ligament injury earlier in the campaign. At just 23 that is some achievement.
He is quite simply on fire, but did give Tottenham fans an injury scare in the second half when he clattered the post trying to turn in a ball from Christian Eriksen.
Stoke were powerless to stop him and were four down at the break as Dele Alli turned in from Kane’s delivery.
They were off the pace and out of sorts but this had more to do with Tottenham showing their ruthless streak.
In truth Stoke started quite well with Joe Allen buzzing around and making things happen.
But he is out on his own as their best player and had little support after the first 10 minutes.
Tottenham then took control and, despite picking the same XI from Thursday’s Euro disappointment against Gent, blitzed the Potters.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have matured from last season and even though the title race is all but over they showed they still have the fight.
The midfield of Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama - with Alli and Eriksen allowed to roam ahead - is up there with the very best in the country.
Wanyama has added the steal to allow Dembele to have even more influence than last year as he glides up and down the pitch.
While Alli is almost playing as a striker alongside Kane, such is his energy to get into attacking positions.
With Manchester City not in action this weekend Tottenham moved to second in the Premier League. They are now 10 points behind Chelsea with 12 games to go.
The next step for this Spurs side is a trophy and the FA Cup - which they return to next month against Millwall - is their only chance of one this season.
But that didn’t stop Spurs turning in a big reminder here with Kane opening the scoring in the 13th minute, latching onto a loose ball in the penalty area and firing through a body of defenders.
His second came from an Eriksen corner and was turned in from the edge of the box with a wonderful finish through the legs of team-mate Wanyama.
Kane made it three and sealed his hat-trick with a 25-yard free-kick which did take a big deflection off Bruno Martins Indi but was on target so will go down as his.
Kane then turned provider with a wonderful flick over Martins Indi before driving towards the area to lay off for Alli who made it four before the break.
Spurs were in cruise control for the second half but did threaten to add to their lead with Lee Grant in superb form to keep the score down.
Toby Alderweireld hobbled off with an uncomfortable looking injury and Jan Vertonghen was replaced suggesting a knock.
But this was evidence, if any more was needed, that Spurs are the real deal at the moment and are only heading one way.
By BRUCE ARCHER
Incredibly it was his third hat-trick in his last nine games as he moved joint-top with the Premier League’s top dogs.
The first here was the 100th club goal of his career and the third saw him join Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku on 17 league goals for the season.
He has 22 in all competitions and became the first Tottenham player since Jimmy Greaves to hit 20 in three consecutive seasons - despite missing 10 games with an ankle ligament injury earlier in the campaign. At just 23 that is some achievement.
He is quite simply on fire, but did give Tottenham fans an injury scare in the second half when he clattered the post trying to turn in a ball from Christian Eriksen.
They were off the pace and out of sorts but this had more to do with Tottenham showing their ruthless streak.
In truth Stoke started quite well with Joe Allen buzzing around and making things happen.
But he is out on his own as their best player and had little support after the first 10 minutes.
Tottenham then took control and, despite picking the same XI from Thursday’s Euro disappointment against Gent, blitzed the Potters.
The midfield of Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama - with Alli and Eriksen allowed to roam ahead - is up there with the very best in the country.
Wanyama has added the steal to allow Dembele to have even more influence than last year as he glides up and down the pitch.
While Alli is almost playing as a striker alongside Kane, such is his energy to get into attacking positions.
With Manchester City not in action this weekend Tottenham moved to second in the Premier League. They are now 10 points behind Chelsea with 12 games to go.
The next step for this Spurs side is a trophy and the FA Cup - which they return to next month against Millwall - is their only chance of one this season.
His second came from an Eriksen corner and was turned in from the edge of the box with a wonderful finish through the legs of team-mate Wanyama.
Kane made it three and sealed his hat-trick with a 25-yard free-kick which did take a big deflection off Bruno Martins Indi but was on target so will go down as his.
Kane then turned provider with a wonderful flick over Martins Indi before driving towards the area to lay off for Alli who made it four before the break.
Spurs were in cruise control for the second half but did threaten to add to their lead with Lee Grant in superb form to keep the score down.
Toby Alderweireld hobbled off with an uncomfortable looking injury and Jan Vertonghen was replaced suggesting a knock.
But this was evidence, if any more was needed, that Spurs are the real deal at the moment and are only heading one way.
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