Stoke vs Tottenham match report: Harry Kane ends goalscoring drought as Spurs run riot at the Britannia
Stoke City 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur: Heung Min Son scored twice and Dele Alli scored the other
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham sent out a statement in the Premier League title race as they cruised past Stoke and Harry Kane ended his goal drought.
The England man’s first goal in 10 games for club and country capped a perfect day for Mauricio Pochettino’s men after Heung Min Son’s two goals had set them on course for an emphatic win.
Dele Alli also found the net on a miserable afternoon for Stoke manager Mark Hughes, who was sent to the stands at 0-0 for remonstrating with the officials.
He could face a further probe from the FA after continuing his protestations and appearing to swear at the officials after being ordered from the dugout.
But there are no such worries for Tottenham, who overcame an low-key start to the season to signal a potential return to the form that made them strong title challengers last season.
Heavy defeat followed a solid start for Stoke and there might have been a dream start for Wilfried Bony on his debut when, in the second minute, he showed a sure touch in the Tottenham penalty area and exchanged passes neatly with Joe Allen.
However, the ball ran away from the forward and his eventually shot lacked power and was charged down.
It was an established Stoke star who thought he had given the hosts the lead on five minutes when Marko Arnautovic raced onto a fine pass from Gianelli Imbula and bent an emphatic shot into the top corner.
But the Austrian winger had started his angled run too early and his celebrations were cut short by a correctly raised offside flag.
Arnautovic was finding space regularly in the early staged and a cross from the wideman created momentary confusion between Jan Vertonghen and Ben Davies before the Welshman eventually cleared from inside his own 18-yard box.
Stoke maintained their early pressure and a powerful Glenn Whelan volley was headed over the Tottenham crossbar by Davies before Ryan Shawcross’s header from an Allen corner was stopped by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The visitors began to stem the tide, however, and with 25 minut 3es played Shay Given in the Stoke goal was forced to push a snap-shot by Dele Alli over his crossbar.
And Spurs ought to have claimed the lead on the half-hour when a raking pass from centre-back Toby Alderweireld caused confusion in the Stoke defence.
The ball ricocheted off Arnautovic and into the feet of an unmarked Alli, who dragged a shot wide of Given’s goal with only the veteran goalkeeper to beat.
Hughes’ tempers boiled over in the 34th minute when Arnautovic was booked for diving, seconds after challenge on Jon Walters that the hosts believed should have given them a free-kick.
The Stoke boss’s protests caught the attentions of fourth official Jon Moss and referee Anthony Taylor ordered him to the stands.
He left the scene gesturing to home fans to increase the volume, and his wish was delivered when they complained that Alli escaped punishment for what they saw as a dive.
However, the atmosphere became subdued four minutes before half-time when Son gave the visitors the lead.
He produced a classy side-footed finish from a clever pull-back from the previously quiet Christian Eriksen.
Early in the second half, Erik Pieters made an important, sliding block from a shot by Alli before Shawcross sent a shot fractionally wide from an Allen corner.
But on 56 minutes Tottenham doubled their lead as Eriksen and Son combined again, with some superb control and footwork from the Dane followed by a well-weighted pass and a fabulous curling finish from the Korean.
The goals continued to flow and Alli got in on the act on 59 minutes, finishing confidently from a cross by Kyle Walker to complete an incisive counter-attack.
Kane then took advantage of a shell-shocked Stoke to end his wait for a goal with 20 minutes to go.
He failed to connect with his first attempt at the near post, but he had time to compose himself and beat Given after Son had kept the ball alive and produced a good cross.
Stoke (4-3-3): Given; Cameron, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Allen, Whelan (Bojan 67), Imbula (Adam 71); Walters, Bony, Arnautovic. Subs: Grant, Bardsley, Muniesa, Crouch, Ramadan.
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Wanyama (Lamela 55); Son, Alli, Eriksen (Sissoko 77); Kane (Janssen 73). Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Winks, Carter-Vickers.
Referee: Anthony Taylor
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