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| Harry Kane (left) reels away after scoring Tottenham's opener |
IF TOTTENHAM keep turning in such emphatic performances like the one they swept West Ham away with, Mauricio Pochettino is not going to be able to keep them under the radar for long.
They extended their unbeaten fun from the opening day of the season with an emphatic 4-1 win – how then have they managed to remain outside the Champions League positions?
While Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have wilted in turn with unexpected defeats just as they look to be gaining momentum, Tottenham have quietly steam-rollered on. Albeit a steam-roller with twin turbo-chargers and spoiler on the back.
For 20 minutes they pummelled West Ham with their energy without really creating anything. Everywhere Cheikh Kouyate turned, Mousa Dembele was in front of him and West Ham found it hard enough simply to leave their own half as Tottenham knocked the ball about confidently.
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| Kane scored twice but also fluffed a magnificent chance |
Warm-up over, the home side simply cranked things up a notched. Christian Eriksen served first notice that they had done so, ending a neat move around the edge of the West Ham area involving Kyle Walker, Heung-Min Son and Dembele with a shot that deflected off James Tomkins and needed Adrian at his athletic best to keep it out of the top corner.
It was a temporary reprieve. Two minutes later, sheer determination enabled new England international Dele Alli to force the ball through to England team-mate Harry Kane, back to goal.
Until a few weeks ago, 22-year-old was supposed to be having a struggle dealing with second-season syndrome. On Sunday, the sharp turn and shot into the top corner that left Carl Jenkinson was worthy of a Kenny Dalglish in his much-seasoned prime.
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| Alderweireld converted a Christian Eriksen corner to make it 2-0 |
West Ham responded as best they could, but even with a hugely charitable offside decision that still was not enough. Kouyate was at least three yards offside when Mark Noble hit his shot which was deflected in the air but there was no indication to say that the West Ham midfielder’s acrobatic overhead kick against the bar would not have counted.
But after just 33 minutes the game was put beyond their reach when Winston Reid failed to keep with the mobile Toby Alderweireld in the penalty area and the Spurs centre-back met Eriksen’s corner with a perfect near-post header.
West Ham were in disarray and two minutes later another sublime Tottenham move wreaked havoc as Adrian did well to save from Son but could only watch as Alli’s follow-up header thumped against the crossbar.
Then six minutes before the break Kane was through again, only to pull his left-footed shot badly wide in a reminder that even in this sort of form he can sometimes get it horribly wrong.
Not often, though. Five minutes into the second half, he still had the confidence to attempt an acrobatic overhead kick from 20 yards. It may have gone tamely straight to Adrian but the West Ham goalkeeper rolled it out to Tomkins, whose pass was cut out by Eriksen, who picked out Kane again. Low shot, hard and true, into the corner. Kane was back on track.
If it wasn’t for West Ham’s Spanish goalkeeper, it could have been a cricket score. Another double save from Son and Eriksen helped spare a few derby blushes and a sharp effort from Ryan Mason needed Adrian’s outstretched boot to deflect it wide.
As a result, I took something a bit more special for Kyle Walker to mark his 250th club appearance with a goal – a one-two finished with the outside of his right foot from 15 yards, no less.
Perhaps he was still celebrating three minutes later, but a rare defensive lapse in what has been a strong season for the full-back saw Manuel Lanzini burst past Walker in the penalty area to fire in a fierce consolation between Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris and his near post.
It was a glimmer of light for West Ham, whose record in London derbies had been impeccable – Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace had all been duly despatched in performances that will live long in the Hammers’ memories.
This one has to be forgotten rather more quickly.
SPURS (4-2-3-1): Lloris 7; Walker 7, Alderweireld 8, Vertonghen 7, Rose 6; Dier 6, Dembele 8; Son 6 (Onomah 85), Alli 7 (Mason 71, 6), Eriksen 6; Kane 9 (Carroll 90).
Booked: Alli, Walker.
Goals: Kane 23, 51, Alderweireld 33, Walker 84.
WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Adrian 7; Jenkinson 5, Tomkins 5, Reid 6, Cresswell 6; Kouyate 6, Noble 5 (Song 79, 5); Sakho 6, Lanzini 6, Moses 6 (Zarate 63, 5), Carroll 5 (Jelavic 63,5).
Booked: Noble, Sakho.
Goal: Lanzini
REFEREE: A Taylor (Cheshire)
STAT OF THE DAY: Tottenham have now gone 12 Premier League games unbeaten since the opening day of the season.
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