Huddersfield 0-4 Spurs - report from John Smith's Stadium
Sat 30 September 2017, 14:50|
Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane took his tally to 11 goals in a quite remarkable September as a quickfire flurry of goals in the first half again paved the way for our sixth successive away win in the Premier League and seventh in all competitions at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
Kane's lack of goals in August was well-documented, but he's more than made up for it, his 11 Spurs strikes now fully eight clear of his best tally by the end of September in his first three seasons in the first team.
Just like at West Ham last weekend - where Kane struck twice in four minutes - we were clinical with a one, two, three, three goals in 15 minutes to put us firmly in charge.
Kane made no mistake when Chris Lowe missed his clearance and left him with a free run at goal after nine minutes. Ben Davies then continued his fine form with the second goal, a clever finish on 16 minutes before Kane's best, a quick spin and curler into the corner from the edge of the box for 3-0 on 24 minutes.
Dele struck the post soon after and although Laurent Depoitre fired against the crossbar just before the break, the home team rarely threatened.
As is often the case in this scenario, the second half couldn't quite match the first, although we finished in style when Moussa Sissoko came off the bench to tap home from Davies' pass in injury time to open his Spurs account.
That's seven away wins on the spin in all competitions and six in the top flight - our best away sequence now in the Premier League era.
Team news
Mauricio Pochettino made two changes to the team that started at West Ham a week ago in the Premier League. Kieran Trippier returned in place of the suspended Serge Aurier while Harry Winks came in for Sissoko - his first Premier League start since April. Christian Eriksen also recovered from the illness that kept him out of our Champions League win against APOEL on Tuesday to take his place in the starting XI.
Key action
Goal: Huddersfield 0-1 Spurs - Harry Kane - 9mins
Tommy Smith forced the first save of the game from Hugo Lloris but as the home side looked to take the early initiative, you felt there were spaces there to exploit. Kane almost got in early on but there was no stopping him when Trippier headed forward, Chris Lowe missed his clearance and sent the striker through one-on-one. The finish, clinical.
Goal: Huddersfield 0-2 Spurs - Ben Davies - 16mins
A quick passing move opened up the home team this time, Dele in to Kane and then onto Eriksen running through the right channel. Lowe got back to him and the ball flashed across the area to Davies, continuing his run, and the wing-back finished superbly, dinking over the advancing Jonas Lossl and home.
Above: Dele congratulates Ben Davies on his goal.
Goal: Huddersfield 0-3 Spurs - Harry Kane - 24mins
If proof was needed that Kane is at the top of his game, here it was. Receiving a throw with his back to goal, left of centre, he turned away and rifled into the corner from 20 yards. A magnificent strike.
Woodwork: Both Sides Close - 24-45mins
Kane was fractionally off-side when he volleyed home Davies' cross and Dele struck the post from 12 yards but Huddersfield stuck in there and Laurent Depoitre drilled against the top of the crossbar from distance just before the break.
Goal: Huddersfield 0-4 Spurs - Moussa Sissoko - 90+1mins
We had our chances in the second period, Kane with a couple of opportunities that eluded him, while Jan Vertonghen got forward but blasted wide on the hour mark. Eric Dier later saw an effort deflected wide following Eriksen's corner before Sissoko was denied by Lossl on 86 minutes. The France international got the better of the Terriers' keeper in added time, though. Fellow substitute Heung-Min Son led the break and played wide to Davies and he chipped in for Sissoko to control and finish from close range.
Mauricio Pochettino said
"We were so clinical. It’s true they started well and until today they had only conceded three goals. For us, it was a big challenge to break down their defensive line and it was fantastic in the way we played. How we dominated the game was fantastic. It was a fantastic victory. It makes us very proud about the players and the staff because we worked so hard to keep pushing, to play well, to provide (everyone) with the best condition to play. We’re happy. The performance was so good but the effort too - the effort to play three away games in a row for many players. They deserve a lot of praise because it was a big collective effort."
Harry Kane said
"We said today we had to come out with energy and get that early goal because Huddersfield have had a great start to the season, they are an energetic team themselves and we did that perfectly. We came out of the blocks flying, had early chances and kicked on from there. Once we went 3-0 up it was a matter of seeing the game out. I feel confident. I feel when I get into good positions I can work the goalkeeper and that was the case again today."
Match data
Huddersfield Town (4-2-3-1): Lössl, Löwe (Scott Malone 61), Schindler, Zanka, Smith (c); Hogg (Whitehead 82), Mooy (Billing 61); Van La Parra, Ince, Kachunga; Depoitre. Substitutes (not used): Green, Sabiri, Cranie, Hadergjonaj.
Spurs (3-4-2-1): Lloris (c), Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Trippier (Walker-Peters 82), Dier, Winks, Davies, Eriksen (Sissoko 75), Dele, Kane (Son 87). Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Foyth, Nkoudou, Llorente.
Goals: Spurs - Kane 9, 24, Davies 16, Sissoko 90+1.
Yellow cards: Huddersfield - Kachunga 65; Spurs - Dele 58.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick.
Attendance: 24,169.
Man of the match
Harry Kane once again took Man of the Match honours with 70 per cent of supporters' votes on social media.
Up next
Our players will now fly all over the world on international duty, including World Cup qualifiers.
Next up, Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday 14 October at Wembley Stadium, connected by EE.
