King Kane bags brace as Tottenham trounce West Ham
Published:
Holly Thackeray | November 22, 2015
Tottenham 4-1 West Ham United
- Harry Kane hit the opener for Spurs
- Centre back Toby Alderweireld made it two before half-time
- Kane struck again just after the break to bag a brace and his eighth goal in five
- Kyle Walker notched the fourth before allowing Manuel Lanzini to lash in a late consolation
Tottenham press top four with cracking quartet of goals
The Hammers managed a late response but return to Upton Park without a win in three, while Spurs are still unbeaten at White Hart Lane in the league this season and undefeated since the first matchweek.
Kane crowns early Spurs spirit
Spurs bossed the first 45 minutes, regularly switching the play from flank to flank, though initially failed to breach the Hammers, who dug deep and faced everything head on.
It took 20 minutes for Irons number one Adrian to be called into action, as Christian Eriksen took a potshot from outside the area. The Dane’s devilishly deflected strike stung the Brazilian stopper’s palms but was eased away, allowing the guests a breather.
Then up stepped Harry Kane who, if there were still doubts, illustrated he is firmly back in form as he found the net for the fifth fixture in a row. South Korea superstar Son Heung-Min cut inside after linking well with Mousa Dembele, and cleverly threaded the ball to Dele Alli, who clearly fancied his chances following an impressive strike for England.
The young Englishman’s attempt was blocked, but the resulting bobbling ball fell fortuitously to an alert Kane, who shrugged off Carl Jenkinson to twist and thump in a fine finish on the turn.
Kane, once again the hero in a London derby, did later fluff his lines, however, after an excellent Alli surged from deep and drew a panicked Hammers defence out. Somehow the ball slipped through to Kane who galloped clear and unchallenged into the box, only to scoop his shot woefully wide. Though, there was much more still to come from the homegrown hitman.
Alderweireld gets in on goal act
While pre-match praise focused on the strong defensive partnership between Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, it was the former centre half’s attacking display which grabbed attention here.
Before Kane missed his chance to kill the game, Alderweireld rose with an athletic jump to meet a looping corner and nod in Spurs’ second around 32 minutes to put Tottenham emphatically in charge before the break. West Ham’s defensive disorganisation was to blame, as Winston Reid lost the Belgian before being blocked off by own clubmate Diafra Sakho.
Hungry for a third, Tottenham challenged Adrian again through Son, whose low shot was saved, and Alli’s follow-up header clanged off the crossbar.
As for West Ham, clearly missing Dimitri Payet’s playmaking abilities, their best chance fell to Cheikhou Kouyate, who burst into Spurs’ box before attempting a bicycle-kick which again careered of the woodwork.
No second-half reprieve for hapless Hammers
Mauricio Pochettino’s men picked up where they left off following the break, as Kane soon added his second, after Eriksen pounced on slack pass from James Tomkins to slip the striker through. The Three Lions forward duly obliged this time, making no mistake by dispatching low and lethally to complete a brilliant brace.
Eager Eriksen had a chance to make it four soon after, but Adrian acrobatically came out to deny the Danish dangerman, as Spurs (now 6/4 with Coral for a top four finish) piled on the pressure.
Slaven Bilic responded with a double substitution, hauling Hammers Andy Carroll and Victor Moses off for Nikica Jelavic and Mauro Zarate, both brought on to replace in a desperate throw of the die.
Though a little wind was knocked out of Tottenham’s sails, as Alli was needlessly booked for a nothing altercation with Mark Noble, meaning he misses the next game against Chelsea. Ryan Mason was perhaps exchanged for his fellow midfielder shortly after with that in mind.
West Ham out of tune as Walker finds fourth
Mason almost caused mischief himself, with exposed Adrian dashing out to deny the Englishman’s volley and subsequent rebound. Meanwhile, ex-Arsenal man Alex Song was brought on to a chorus of boos from the home crowd to limit the damage.
The midfield shield could do little however, as another of full back back Kyle Walker’s forays down the right flank resulted in a fourth and final goal for terrific Tottenham. On his 250th club appearance, the defender’s smart exchange with lively Son allowed Walker sight of goal, and his crisp finish fooled under-the-cosh Adrian.
A late consolation strike was all the Hammers could muster, though Manuel Lanzini’s effort deserved applause. Jelavic got the better of Walker, to supply the Argentine, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
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