Harry Kane’s strike sinks Newcastle as Tottenham secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Newcastle United: Kane's second-half strike sees Spurs moved into third with just one game remaining, four points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea

Who else but Harry Kane? (Getty)

Just where would Tottenham Hotspur be without Harry Kane? The heartbeat of Mauricio Pochettino’s side came to their rescue when they needed him most to score a Champions League sealing goal.

Kane’s 50th-minute goal, his 28th in the Premier League this season, came after a truly awful first half display where Tottenham had been outplayed by Newcastle United.

But in the end thanks to the winner and Chelsea’s failure to beat Huddersfield Town, the North Londoners could celebrate securing their top four spot prior to the final day, although this kind of performance would certainly be out of place in the Champions League itself.

Tottenham were without the ill Eric Dier so Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko both played in central roles, the latter against his former club.

The hosts started on the front foot and it took a fine, left handed save by Martin Dubravka to prevent Christian Eriksen’s free kick from finding the top corner.

Tottenham’s defending has not been quite as Mauricio Pochettino may want it lately and it was Ayoze Perez who gave them a nervy moment as he is physically got the better of Jan Vertonghen but his tame shot was held by Hugo Lloris.

Jan Vertonghen made a shaky start (Reuters) (Getty)

The visitors went even closer as Jonjo Shelvey’s free kick from the edge of the D flicked the post before going wide after Sissoko had tripped Dwight Gayle.

The moans and groans at Wembley were starting to get louder as Tottenham fans got more restless with their Champions League status seemingly on the line.

Newcastle grew in confidence as the half wore on and it appeared as if they were the more likely. It took a fine Lloris save to push away Jamaal Lascelles’ header from Shelvey’s cross while Gaye soon headed over from a Perez delivery.

Dwight Gayle had several good chances (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino’s men were struggling although a wayward Harry Kane effort from Eriksen’s cross and a long-range effort from Vertonghen straight at Dubravka offered them some respite.

The game started opening up with Gayle too casual with an effort straight at Lloris from Mohamed Diame’s pass while on the break Kane found space but miskicked as he put himself into a goalscoring position.

Such was the disappointment at their first half showing, there were even a few boos from Tottenham supporters at half-time.

It was a nervy Tottenham who trudged off at half-time (Getty)

Fortunately for Tottenham their nerves were eased five minutes after the restart as Kane showed more like the form we have come to expect from him.

It was a classy goal, collecting Heung-Min Son’s pass just inside the area, he produced very little back-lift as he fired home first time past Dubravka.

Newcastle though continued to threaten and could have had a penalty when Matt Ritchie went down under a Lloris challenge after Gayle had failed to get proper connection on his shot.

Harry Kane celebrates his goal (Getty)

Rafael Benitez’s side went close again as Kenedy’s low effort from the edge of the penalty area went just wide of the post before Dele Alli’s sidefooted shot from Sissoko’s cut back just missed the target at the other end. There were still warning signs for Tottenham though and after a quick turn of pace substitute Jacob Murphy’s effort agonisingly went just past Lloris’ crossbar.

The loudest cheer of the night came when confirmation of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Huddersfield was received. It meant a final seven minutes needed just to hold on to what they had.

Tottenham could have sealed victory in the last minute but substitute Danny Rose’s tame right footed shot when through on Dubravka’s goal was comfortably saved from Erik Lamela’s pass but it mattered little as Pochettino’s men produced a professional finish to complete the job.