Tottenham vs Norwich match report: Harry Kane double inspires Spurs to keep pace with Premier League leading pack

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Norwich City 0

After their second-half collapse against Newcastle last time out, this time Tottenham went for the throat of a struggling side.

How costly those dropped points will prove remain to be seen. Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs manager, claims his side can win the title, and here they served up a reminder that they are well and truly in the mix. Harry Kane scored twice in the first-half before substitute Tom Carroll completed the win.

It could, and should, have been more, but the Spurs manager said: “Now we can say it was accident against Newcastle. It’s difficult to show consistency in the Premier League.”

There was the odd scare early on. Norwich, who won their last game at Manchester United, saw Vadis Odjida-Ofoe denied by Hugo Lloris before Cameron Jerome headed over Robbie Brady’s corner. But once Kane had opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 26th minute, there was only going to be one winner.


 Harry Kane fires in his second goal
 (Reuters)

Kane won the penalty himself, when he collected Deli Alli’s pass and waited for the on-rushing Declan Rudd to haul him down.

Toby Alderweireld should have scored Spurs’ second before Kane showed him just how to do it. Alli linked up once again, and Kane dispatched a low shot into the bottom corner from the angle in the 42nd minute.

It threatened to be a procession as the excellent Alli and Erik Lamela were thwarted by Norwich goalkeeper Declan Rudd. It was a measure how comfortable this afternoon was turning out as Carroll added the gloss with 10 minutes remaining with a fine drive from 25 yards out.


 Tom Carroll celebrates after scoring his first ever goal for Tottenham
 (Getty Images)

Alex Neil, the Norwich manager, said: “I still think that with the group we’ve got, we are capable of picking up more points than we have so far. The Villa game on Monday will be crucial.”

Tottenham: (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Alli (Son, 79), Dier, Eriksen (Carroll, 72), Dembele (Chadli, 86), Lamela; Kane.

Norwich: (4-5-1) Rudd; Martin, Bassong, Bennett, Olsson, Redmond, Mulumbu (Howson, 73), Tettey, Odjidja-Ofoe (Dorrans, 73), Brady (Mbokani, 79); Jerome.

Referee: Mike Jones.

Man of the match: Kane (Spurs)

Match Rating: 6/10