Tottenham score early and contain Norwich from having many opportunities to score.
Tottenham were currently riding a two-game winning streak after coming from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in the Premier League and beating Colchester United 4-1 in the FA Cup. Both games were important for obvious reasons — to go as far as possible in both competitions.
Now that Tottenham were facing a Norwich City team that barely lost to Liverpool in their last home game, 5-4, Spurs couldn’t take it easy on Alex Neil’s squad. They would be expecting a tough opponent and would have to start the game off fast.
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With Tottenham scoring early in the second minute and once again during the 30th minute, thanks to Delel Alli and Harry Kane, this game was practically over before it even began.
Although Norwich came alive to start off the second half, not only was it too late, but once Tottenham regained their bearings, they asserted their dominance once again and contained the Canaries from having many chances to pull a goal back.
Thus giving Tottenham their second 3-0 win over Norwich City in the Premier League.
Next: Dele Alli
Tottenham midfielder, Dele Alli
At 19-years-old, Dele Alli has already broken Nick Barmby’s previous record of six goals — a Tottenham record for a teenager during the Premier League (1992-95). Thus the rise of Dele Alli this season continues to get better.
Now something that might go unnoticed to some — or most people — is that Alli has quietly become Tottenham’s second best goalscorer with seven league goals this season. Six have come on the road are are only two behind Harry Kane who has scored eight goals away from White Hart Lane.
Spurs TV: Okay we’re here at Carrow Road with Dele. Dele, another goal. Fantastic win here, 3-0. And Norwich, I mean they put in a lot of heart here into the second half, we contained them and we come over big three points here.
Dele Alli: “Yeah you know obviously we knew they wouldn’t let it be easy for us.”
“And it’s always a hard place to come but we had to focus on ourselves and focus on our in-game.”
“And then just make sure we left with the three points today.”
STV: But tell us about that first half performance because I mean we were in control. Got the early goal through you and we were on our way weren’t we?
DA: “Yeah you know we had a game plan and we knew if we stuck to it, we had a chance for it to come. And we had to finish them off and thankfully I did early on in the game.”
“And like I said they weren’t going to make it easy for us, and we knew after we got the goal we had to finish it off. And thankfully towards the end H [Harry Kane] did with the third goal.”
STV: It’s another away win Dele, and I mean the away form has been outstanding hasn’t it?
DA: “Yeah you know we come away and we have a game plan like I said and we stick to it.”
“And you know we like to work hard and we don’t stop fighting until the end of the match and I think we showed that again today, obviously getting the goal late on.”
“And yeah I think it was a comfortable win for us today.”
STV: That’s seven goals for you in the Premier League and you’ve broken a record tonight with Spurs, because that’s the most goals for a teenager in a Premier League season. Nicky Barmby had the record before you scored your seventh tonight.
DA: “Yeah you know I didn’t know that but yeah you know obviously I’ve still got a lot to learn. Like you said, I’m still only 19, and I couldn’t think of a better place to do that.”
STV: We’ll finish it up with this. Obviously you came off at half-time. Just a quick check, just a little bit of dizziness, yeah?
DA: “Yeah yeah just a bit under the weather, and felt a bit dizzy. So nothing too bad.”
STV: Dele, well done.
Next: Toby Alderweireld
Tottenham defender, Toby Alderweireld
Losing Jan Vertonghen to injury was a blow to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. But the emergence of Kevin Wimmer following a clean sheet on Tuesday night, reassures everyone’s hopes that Tottenham’s number one ranked defense in the Premier League can only get better as the season wears on.
Having Wimmer start alongside Toby Alderweireld during the Europa League has helped the Austrain defender get a better feel for his center-back partner. With Vertonghen out for at least two months, a Wimmer and Alderweireld partnership should be more than enough to help stifle opponents during three different competitions in the chase for some silverware come May.
Spurs TV: Okay we’re here with Toby. Toby, 3-0 at Carrow Road, a good win against a Norwich team who, you know, they were determined in the second half but we didn’t let them come back into game.
Toby Alderweireld: “Yeah I think we started off very well. I think the way how you have to start a game.”
“And then the second half was much different but I think we showed a lot of character, put a lot of effort in it. And in the end, I think a well deserved victory “
STV: I mean the first half was excellent. Fourteen shots at goal to their three; two goals. I mean we already laid down the foundation didn’t we?
TA: “Yeah. Maybe if you have to say something. Maybe we could have scored a third goal I think and the game was over.”
“But in the second half, we put our shoulders underneath it. And we worked very hard for it, and kept a clean sheet — very important. And to achieve your opponent’s away points, so we’re happy.”
STV: As we said it was a different second half to what we normally play. It was a real sort of containing job wasn’t it? We were clearly confident in what we can do defensively and we just didn’t let them have a sniff really.
TA: “No, we tried. But it was difficult, in the second half to play football.”
“And then it doesn’t have to be pretty always you know. Sometimes you have to fight and you have to do your best to keep a clean sheet.”
“And I think the others are in position, but that’s it. And of course it’s difficult when they put balls in — second balls — but I think we did everything we could and we are very happy with the three — third goal.”
STV: Now there was something different tonight, because of course you lined up alongside Kevin [Wimmer] for the first time, from the start, in a Premier League game. Tell me what you think about how he did.
TA: “I think very well you know. I’ve played in a couple of Europa League games with him of course.”
“And I think he’s very comfortable under the ball. He knows how we have to play, I think there’s a good connection between us so that’s important and the lads are helping him.”
“So I think he had a very good performance today.”
STV: And tell us about Kevin. The guy comes accross as a lovely fellow as well doesn’t he?
TA: “Yeah he’s a quiet guy, quite funny as well. And he just works hard for the team, even if he was not playing, he was good working.”
“When he played, he did very well so I think this is a good opportunity for him to play a lot of games. And I think he will — no, I know for sure — that he will do well.”
STV: And obviously the games come quickly and Watford are next. And we had a real battle at Vicarage Road, so that’ll be a real interesting game back at White Hart Lane.
TA: “Yeah I think our pitch is better than their’s, at that time, so I can better football I think. And it’s going to be difficult you know, every Premier League game.”
“But Watford I think are a very good team. They play a lot long balls to their strikers. Again it’s a different test to us, but you know we’re confident. We like to keep this momentum like we do now so let’s focus on this next game.”
Next: Harry Kane
Tottenham forward, Harry Kane
After making 32 appearances this season in all competitions, Harry Kane would make his 33rd appearance against Norwich City. While no cover was signed from the winter transfer window, after beating Norwich — who were near the relegation zone — Kane has continued to show that a need for a striker isn’t as big as people are claiming.
Sure it would be nice to have just in case the dreaded injury big hits Harry Kane, or he gets too fatigued from appearing in 50-60 games. But with Nacer Chadli and Son Heung-min getting more playing time recently, which coincided with them scoring goals. Plus Clinton N’Jie eventually coming back from injury, suddenly there are four players who could play as the team’s lone striker.
Spurs TV: Okay Harry’s here. Harry, two goals against Norwich again. And I gotta get into your head. Because it was a penalty, you scored a penalty against him [Norwich ‘keeper, Declan Rudd] at White Hart Lane, so what was the mentality of it as you stepped up this time?
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Harry Kane: “Uh… no I felt good. Obviously I’ve had a few penalites in recent weeks so I’m feeling confident and yeah I felt I’d change it up today.”
“So no, I’m obviously delighted that I got into the back of the net and of course delighted to see us win again, 3-0.”
STV: So are you thinking, ‘Right if I go the same way, you’ll think I’m gonna go in a different way’, and how does it all work in your head?
HK: “I think that’s a bit too much. I think that if you overthink, you end up doing your own head in.”
“So it’s just about picking a spot. Obviously if the keeper goes early then you can see that. But no, obviously it’s what you practice for and it comes off in games.”
STV: So there’s the secret. There’s the tip for all the youngsters out there. Make up your mind and do it.
HK: “Yup not wrong, not wrong. Definitely, definitely.”
STV: Okay well tell us about this game, mate. I mean at half-time, we have 14 shots to their three, we’re 2-0 up. We’ve hit the woodwork a couple of times, it was an outstanding first half performance.
HK: “No very good. We come out the blocks flying which we needed to do. And yeah, got the early goal and then kinda just built on it from there. And got the second one and we looked comfortable. “
“Second half, they gave us trouble early on. But we held on and we always looked solid I thought. And delighted to get the third [goal] and then finished the game off.”
STV: Yeah the second half was a different performance from this team. And one that I’m sure fans won’t mind seeing. We contained them, sort of kept them at bay really, didn’t we?
HK: “Yeah they’ve never really — they’ve only had a couple of sniffs at goal. But at an overall, for the whole performance, the whole game, they didn’t really carve out too many chances.”
“So no, we look solid, we’re looking good, but we just want to keep on going. We’re enjoying it, we enjoy winning and then we have to go again on Saturday [home against Watford].”
STV: And then you put one in the end for 15 [goals] in 18 [matches], I think it is now.
HK: “Yeah, no no. Yeah I’ve had a couple off the posts today so yeah when it went through I was happy to see it find the back of the net and obviously finish the game off for us.”
Next: Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino didn’t sign any backup striker or center-back and yet he walked away with, not only a 3-0 win but a brace from Harry Kane and a clean sheet that Kevin Wimmer had a hand in. That means, the Argentine’s gamble has paid off following the close of the winter transfer window.
Other moves that are working have been giving minutes to Nacer Chadli and Son Heung-min after their recent performances during the FA Cup’s third round replay against Leicester City. Also, not to mention taking Érik Lamela out of the starting lineup after his form has dropped a bit, instead of hoping that he snaps out of it eventually.
Spurs TV: Okay Mauricio’s here. Mauricio, fine winner at Carrow Road. Never the easiest place to come, and we did all the damage in the first half. It was an excellent performance.
Mauricio Pochettino: “Yes excellent performance. I’m very pleased, the effort was fantastic. And I think the early goal helped us.”
“But in the end I think that we fully deserve the result and we need to feel proud for our players because they show up. And the performance, and the effort was fantastic from the very beginning.”
STV: Was the message to go out there and go out there early and get straight into them?
MP: “Yes it’s true. And you know, in football always, you need to show that you want to win from the beginning. And I think the effort was fantastic because this was our plan to be aggressive from the first ball.”
“And after the team show maturity and show consistency and see that we are still very young. But in the way that we improve, and I think that we need to feel proud.”
STV: The second half, I’m sure you’ll be very happy with the second half. It was a different performance: we contained them, we didn’t — I mean they had more possession but we didn’t really give them many chances.
MP: “It’s true, it’s true. Sometimes you need to play in different — in the same game — in a different way. And it’s true that the clean sheet is very important for us.”
“And the way that we manage the second half was fantastic too, we need to analyze. But it’s important sometimes to show maturity, how the team show today.”
STV: First Premier League start for Kevin alongside Toby. Clean sheet. Were you pleased with him?
MP: “Very pleased with him. It’s not easy to play, he’s very young. We’re very sad with for the injury of Jan.”
“But it’s important when we repeat always, that the squad is very important. The player need to work very hard, need to be involved and feel part with the players on the bench or on the squad.”
“And for that, it’s fantastic in the way that he play and showed very good skill and maturity. Was calm. And I think we are very happy with his performance. Only now he need to play in the same way and keep working hard. And I think we feel very pleaed for him.”
STV: And just the last one, Dele came off at half-time. Just feeling a little dizzy, was he?
MP: “Yes, was dizzy. He felt unwell and with advice from our doctor we take the decision to sub with Nacer Chadli.”
“And you know, always is better not take a risk but now he feels much better and I think it’s not a serious problem.”
Next: Tottenham One Step Closer to Groundsharing Wembley
This wraps up another edition of Conversation Corner. Up next, Tottenham face Watford this Saturday (February 6th) at White Hart Lane and will be looking to add another win to their current three-game winning streak. And hoping to improve their overall record to close the gap to Leicester City and first place.