Match Report: Tottenham 4 – 0 Stoke City

Yet another Harry Kane hat-trick was enough for Tottenham to get back to winning ways on Sunday against Stoke City.

Tottenham tested Stoke from the start, challenging the visitor’s backline but unable to break through the in their opening forays.

The stalemate wouldn’t last long however. After an attempt at control from Christian Eriksen, Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross flicked the ball directly to the feet of Harry Kane. The England international wasted no time in sending it to Lee Grant’s far post.

With the lead secured, Tottenham’s offense only doubled down, thus leaving Stoke few opportunities and plenty of frustration. Both of their central midfielders, Glenn Whelan and Charlie Adam, picked up yellow cards for harsh fouls within five minutes of each other, and the former could easily have been a straight red.

As it stood, Stoke didn’t stand much of a chance even with their full complement of players still on the pitch. A corner kick from Eriksen found Kane on the edge of Stoke’s area in the 32nd minute. Again, Kane dispatched the goal with lethal precision.

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The feeling that Kane would score another hat-trick just a week after his last one thereafter became palpable. A free-kick earned five minutes after his second might have otherwise gone to Eriksen, but Kane stepped up instead.

It was easily the least pretty of his three strikes on the day, having gone in off a deflection, but a hat-trick is a hat-trick.

Kane’s contributions weren’t quiet over yet. A minute into extra time in the first half, Kane deftly nuanced the ball past Bruno Martins Indi and slid the ball into the path of Dele Alli. The youngster slid into scoring Tottenham’s fourth goal of the day.

As has happened so many times before, a commanding lead earned in the first half means Tottenham let off the gas in the second.

The tempo visibly decreased. Chances dried up. Stoke found a slight foothold into the game. And it was all part of Tottenham’s plan.

After five matches in two weeks, Pochettino can be forgiven for asking his players to simply see out the game. Though it’s a week until Everton come calling, this Spurs’ squad needs as much rest as it can get.

The second half wasn’t without incident however. Both Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were forced off the pitch with injuries. With the win secured, Pochettino didn’t hesitate to remove them — and there might be some encouragement in the fact that both players walked off under their own power.

Next: Harry Kane Draws Inspiration from Tom Brady

Stoke never did come much closer to a goal than a first half strike from Peter Crouch deftly saved by Hugo Lloris. Tottenham proved their better in every area of play, and justifiably came out with a much needed win.