Tottenham 4 Stoke City 0: Sensational Harry Kane nets first-half hat-trick to put Potters to the sword
Maybe it’s because he does not court controversy. Maybe it is because he doesn’t sulk and blame his team-mates when things go wrong. Or maybe it is because he didn’t cost Tottenham Hotspur a penny. Whatever the reason, it is surely time to start giving Harry Kane the credit he deserves.
He is not just Tottenham’s top man, he is one of the very best in the Premier League – up there with Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.
Kane was the Premier League’s top scorer last season, was second in the charts the previous campaign and is now leading the way, along with Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku, once again.
Spurs 1 - 0 Stoke (Harry Kane, 14 min)
With every goal, the evidence that Kane is top-class just keeps building. His first against Stoke was his 100th at club level and his third completed Kane’s third hat-trick in nine games.
The second was the pick of the bunch, a superb left-foot volley from Christian Eriksen’s corner that had manager Mauricio Pochettino high-fiving his assistant Jesus Perez. Spurs fans will tell you they have got Jesus in the dug-out and God on the pitch.
Tottenham needed to make a statement after the midweek Europa League elimination at the hands of Gent, in which Kane had scored an own-goal and Dele Alli had been sent-off.
It only took 14 minutes for Kane to give notice of his intentions, as Alli’s pass into Christian Eriksen bounced off Ryan Shawcross and Kane drove the ball into the corner of the net. Eriksen had a hand in all three of Kane’s goals, as it was from the Dane’s corner that the 23-year-old brilliantly controlled a bouncing ball to give Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant no chance.
Spurs 2 - 0 Stoke (Harry Kane, 32 min)
Kane’s 23-minute treble was complete when Eriksen rolled a free-kick into his path and the striker’s shot clipped the boot of Peter Crouch and beat Grant.
Quite what Mark Hughes was thinking on the touchline was anybody’s guess, as Stoke’s performance was the type that compels clubs to offer their travelling fans refunds.
Jan Vertonghen had hit the crossbar before Kane secured his hat-trick and Stoke’s only moment of note had come in the 23rd minute, when Hugo Lloris was forced to save with his foot from Crouch.
Spurs 3 - 0 Stoke (Harry Kane, 37 min)
Nobody would have blamed Kane if he had attempted to net his fourth on the stroke of half-time after he had brilliantly got away from Bruno Martins Indi. But, instead of shooting himself, Kane this time squared for Alli to give his team-mate the simple task of ending a six-game scoring drought.
The only challenge for Tottenham after the break was whether or not they could maintain the same level of intensity and there was an early setback, as defender Toby Alderweireld was forced off with an injury.
In his determination to try to make the afternoon even better, Kane hurt himself by throwing his body at Eriksen’s cross to the back post but, much to the relief of the home fans, he was able to continue.
Spurs 4 - 0 Stoke (Dele Alli, 45 + 1 min)
Following a heavy schedule of Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League games, Pochettino clearly felt it was not worth taking any risks over the fitness of his players as Vertonghen was replaced Harry Winks.
The calendar gets lighter from here for Spurs and this victory meant they moved into second place in the table, a point above Manchester City and three ahead of Arsenal having played a game more.
While top spot might be out of reach for Tottenham, with leaders Chelsea 10 points clear, first place in the scoring charts is very much on for Kane. Nobody at White Hart Lane would swap him for Costa or Sanchez.
Full time: Tottenham 4 Stoke 0
Harry Kane. Amazing. Match report to follow.
84 mins
Walker has done everything but score. Here he is bursting into the area and having his shot blocked.
Kane, who has been superb, is taken off and Son comes on.
81 mins
Whelan comes off, Cameron comes on.
78 mins
Stoke cowering as multiple Spurs players attack them. Mark Hughes's team effectively defenceless.
74 mins
Harry Kane! Works a little space, curls it at goal. A bit wide.
72 mins
News coming in that Spurs have declared their first innings.
— DUCK MAGAZINE (@DUCKmagstoke) February 26, 2017
Nobody's told Harry though. He's going for mental disintegration.
70 mins
The boy Winks is involved soon enough, picking the ball up outside the box and curling at goal.
65 mins
It's not all good news for Spurs, however. Vertonghen also gets subbed off. Harry Winks on
63 mins
Spurs not satisfied yet and continue to have Stoke under a lot of pressure at a set piece.
61 mins
Eriksen has a run and shot when he ought to have passed to Walker on the left.
60 mins
The much-loved Peter Croch is taken off, warm applause. Berahino on. Adam replaced by Afellay.
59 mins
Good cross by Adam, Lloris earning his keep by denying Allen the opportunity to slot that in.
56 mins
Kane! Rises at the back post, heads juts wide. Would have created the Super Perfect hat-trick: right, left, head, freekick.
Worrying for Spurs fans as Harry clangs his knee on the post and has to have a bit of attention.
55 mins
Only a matter of time, and here it comes. Alli on the floor by the corner flag, Shawcross kicks him.
52 mins
A looooooooooong rest.
Stoke's 15 days off? Too long or Spurs too good?! #COYS
— Suave (@SuaveRepublique) February 26, 2017
50 mins
Toby A went straight down the tunnel. Quiet start to the second half.
47 mins
Kevin Wimmer, who sounds like he should be in a Judd Apatow film and not playing in defence for Tottenham.
46 mins
The second half has barely begun when there is a delay. Toby Alderwiereld has been hurt and is limping off.
Mark Hughes manages to shoo his players
out of the dressing room and onto the pitch, presumably having to use a broom or something.
Anyway. We are ready for the second half.
Dominance
These graphics, I hope you will agree, tell a tale of drunkenness and cruelty. No, hang on. That's The Kinks. These graphics, I hope you will agree, tell a tale of Tottenham dominance.
Spurs vs Stoke shots on goal Spurs vs Stoke Spurs vs Stoke 2:27PM
Looks
For someone who at a glance looks pretty average, Harry Kane is spectacularly good.
— Alex Hess (@A_Hess) February 26, 2017
Picture news
The Stoke dressing room right now. pic.twitter.com/z9VXcbVyHs
— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) February 26, 2017
Half time: Tottenham 4 Stoke 0
Poor old Stoke, there are still 45 minutes to play.
GOAL! ALLI GETS INVOLVED!
Any hopes Stoke had of at least getting through to the half without further punishment have been dashed. Kane turns provider galloping down the right, crossing with perfect power and precision. Dele Alli has a tap-in and it is four. Tottenham 4 Stoke 0 (Alli 45+)
45 mins
A quite period, Stoke shellshocked, Spurs purring and licking their whiskers.
40 mins
Game effectively over.
Stroke of luck with the goal
but on the other hand, Spurs have been knocking at the door.
Spurs vs Stoke shots on goal 2:08PM
GOAL! KANE HAT-TRICK
Yeah, that'll work. Tottenham have a freekick, central. Eriksen shifts the ball, Kane hits it low at the wall and it takes a cruel deflection off a defender's foot. No chance keeper. Hat-trick Harry Kane.
Tottenham 3 Stoke 0 (Kane 37)
Lineker on Kane
Magnificent volley from Harry Kane.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 26, 2017
Not sure I agree with this
Stoke producing the first "sod it, it's nearly the end of the season" performance I've seen this year. Punchy effort on Feb 26. 2-0 (33)
— Tom Collomosse (@TomCStandard) February 26, 2017
Think Stoke are being outplayed, not being lazy.
GOAL KANE! AGAIN!
What a hit. What a player. Eriksen dishes it up for Kane, who volleys home from 20 yards with the left peg. Sweet.
Tottenham 2 Stoke 0 (Kane 32)
Spurs 2 - 0 Stoke (Harry Kane, 32 min) 2:03PM
31 mins
Walker's effort is tipped over. The second must come soon, surely?
30 mins
Spurs have a corner, make a mess of it, and are nearly made to pay by Adam on the counter.
29 mins
Eriksen shoots, it's blocked by Bardsley, and Kane curls an excellent effort only just wide.
28 mins
Vertonghen has rattled the cross bar with a half-volley after a corner. Second's coming?
Blood in the water
— New York Spurs (@NYSpurs) February 26, 2017
27 mins
Walker with a dangerous cross from the right but Stoke's keeper Grant does well to push it clear with attackers dying to say howdee doody
24 mins
Adam into the book for fouling Alli.
22 mins
Magnificent save from Lloris to deny Arnautovic. Oh he was offside. Still, Hugo couldn't have known that.
21 mins
But this more expansive approach from Stoke has allowed some gaps for Spurs. Here they come on a rapier move, Davies plays it in to Alli, who slides it over to Walker. The onrushing fullback meets it crisply but there's no Carlos Alberto moment: it goes well over.
Miss: Spurs 1 - 0 Stoke (Kyle Walker, 22 min) 1:51PM
20 mins
Sobhi is catching the eye down the Stoke left with some dangerous running. Stoke not rolling over by any means.
18 mins
Whelan goes in with a nasty one on Jan Vertonghen and is booked.
15 mins
It's class versus determination here.
GOAL! Harry Kane has done it
And it is well deserved for Spurs. Eriksn wriggles into the box and Spurs get a lucky break when Eriksen loses it, the ball pings off the blameless Shawcross and Harry Kane calmly strokes it home. That's his 100th goal for Spurs in 219.
Spurs 1 - 0 Stoke (Harry Kane, 14 min)
Tottenham 1 Stoke 0 (Kane 14)
11 mins
Kane finds himself down by his own corner flag. Gives it away to Joe Allen. Joe shoots just wide.
10 mins
Kane leading the line superbly, Spurs look a quality outfit but Stoke are digging in hard.
7 mins
And now Spurs are enjoying success down the right, Kane has the beating of Martins Indi but cannot find a friend with his centre.
5 mins
That wonderful individual Erkisen gets down the left, beats Shawcross and crosses low. Alas there is nobody there to apply the finish.
2 mins
Spurs are looking bright and busy.
Kick off!
Stoke in pale blue.
Here are the visitors
The players are out
At White Hart Lane. It is a formidable looking Spurs side.
Right pals
Who do you fancy for this then? I am strongly pro-Spurs but Hughes has the luxury of naming an un-changed team and if his lads can get at Tottenham...
In the now widely discredited 'words' format
Tottenham: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Winks, Sissoko, Son, Janssen.
Stoke: Grant; Bardsley, Shawcross, M. Indi, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Arnautovic, Allen, Ramadan; Crouch. Subs: Given; Muniesa, Berahino, Afellay, Diouf, Cameron, Imbula.
And here are Stoke
�� Mark Hughes names an unchanged side for this afternoon's @premierleague game at @SpursOfficial. @GeoffCameron returns to the bench #SCFCpic.twitter.com/CvV6z5PBRX
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) February 26, 2017
Spurs news
#THFC: Lloris (C), Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Kane. #COYSpic.twitter.com/HX5A5YTCjp
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 26, 2017
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Winks, Sissoko, Son, Janssen. #COYS
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 26, 2017
Team news
11 a side! But who are they?
Hello sports fans
Hope you are enjoying a pleasant Sunday with your nearest and dearest, or getting away from your nearest and dearest to follow the football. No judgement here. Welcome.
Tottenham v Stoke preview - all you need to know
What is it?
This is the Premier League match between Spurs, flying high in third place, and Stoke City, flying high in ninth. It's all relative.
When is it and what time is kick-off?
The match kicks off at 1.30pm on Sunday February 26, 2017.
What TV channel is it on?
It will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD, with build-up from 1pm. Your other option is to follow all the coverage right here when this page turns into our live blog.
What is the team news?
Spurs
Tottenham will be without Danny Rose and Erik Lamela again. Rose is out with a knee injury, meaning Ben Davies is expected to continue at left-back, while Lamela is still recovering from a hip problem.
Mauricio Pochettino must decide whether to rotate after Spurs played 51 minutes with 10 men against Gent in the Europa League on Thursday.
Provisional squad: Lloris, Vorm, Lopez, Davies, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Walker, Trippier, Wanyama, Winks, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Sissoko, Onomah, Son, Janssen, Kane.
Who should make the Spurs starting XI against Stoke City?
Stoke City
Xherdan Shaqiri is set to make his return to Stoke's matchday squad after missing the last three games with a calf problem.
Phil Bardsley, who limped off in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last time out, and Wilfried Bony, ruled out of that contest because of illness, are both expected to be available. Jonathan Walters and Geoff Cameron (both knee) are close to their comebacks but it looks as if this game is too soon.
Saido Berahino could be included in the starting line-up for the first time since joining from West Brom in January.
Provisional squad: Grant, Given, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Johnson, Pieters, Bardsley, Muniesa, Whelan, Adam, Imbula, Allen, Afellay, Arnautovic, Sobhi, Shaqiri, Crouch, Berahino, Bony, Diouf, Ngoy.
Who should make the Stoke City starting XI against Spurs?
What are they saying?
Stoke City striker Saido Berahino is in contention to make his first start for the club, manager Mark Hughes has said.
Berahino has made two substitute appearances since his move from West Bromwich Albion in January and has impressed the manager during Stoke's training camp in Dubai.
"Berahino is looking really sharp and we are really pleased with what we are seeing. He is close to being ready to start now," Hughes said.
Berahino has not scored a league goal for nearly a year and saw his career stall at his former club due to a series of off-field incidents.
"Whether this weekend is too early for him we will have to wait and see," Hughes added.
"He is itching to start matches now. We are excited by him. He will play a part on Sunday because he is showing the qualities that attracted us to him in the first place."
With third-placed Tottenham yet to lose a league game at White Hart Lane this season, Hughes urged Stoke, who are ninth the in the table, not to be rattled by the north London club's impressive home record.
"Hopefully we will be sharp from the off. They are a strong side, they are very impressive at home and we will be up against it. We are in good shape though," he added.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is looking to forget the midweek Europa League defeat against Gent.
"We need to move on and forget [it] and try to be focused on Sunday, and ready to fight because the [Premier League] doesn't wait for you," he said.
"It always pushes you to give your best. Now is not the time to cry, but to move on and to start preparing for the game against Stoke."
What are the odds?
Spurs win - 4/9 Draw - 4/1 Stoke City win - 7/1
What's our prediction?
Spurs need to bounce back from their humiliating Europa League exit. They can triumph 1-0.
