Tottenham 1-0 Crystal Palace (Kane 45+1′)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — Supporters who got to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium early enough were able to catch the end of King Charles’ coronation on the big screens outside before filing through the turnstiles to take their seats. By 3.47pm they were on their feet again, this time to celebrate the King of White Hart Lane.
Harry Kane hasn’t got the gold trinkets that his career deserves but he is the undisputed ruler of this patch of north London. His 26th Premier League of the season was enough to see off Crystal Palace and settle a scrappy London derby that keeps Spurs’ European aspirations alive.
Considering the various issues that his club has faced since August, Kane’s consistency has been exemplary. This is already his best-scoring league season since 2017-18 and were it not for a certain record-breaking Norwegian up in Manchester, he would have to make space on his mantelpiece for a fourth Golden Boot.
It was a goal that inched Kane closer to the Premier League’s all-time record which has long been earmarked as an individual award for England’s captain to claim as his own. In scoring his 209th goal in the competition, Kane moved ahead of Wayne Rooney and into outright second place in the all-time charts, achieving his tally in 174 fewer games than the former Manchester United great. Just Alan Shearer and his elusive 260 to catch now.
Emerson Royal made a miraculous return to Tottenham’s starting line-up – on today of all days– while Ryan Mason had everybody guessing about his formation before kick-off given his selection included three full-backs with Ben Davies and Pedro Porro squeezed in alongside the fit-again Brazilian.
It still wasn’t clear five minutes into the game, with Porro alone popping up in three separate positions, not including right-back where he started at Anfield. Mason’s managerial career only spans 10 matches, but he is clearly open to experimenting tactically; Spurs moved fluidly between a back four out of possession to a back three when they had the ball, but were nominally in a 4-4-2. This certainly wasn’t in the Conte playbook.
Spurs started slowly but at least managed to break their funny habit of conceding a flurry of goals in the first 20 minutes having let in 10 times in that period in their previous three games. A calamity-free opening was welcome given recent events and reflected well on their young manager who at just 31 years of age was 43 younger than his opposing manager, Roy Hodgson, who gave him his sole England cap as a player.
But while Mason’s tactical tweaks succeeded in plugging Spurs’ leaky backline, it had a less positive impact on the attack as the front three of Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison struggled to get into the game. As has been obvious for months if not three years since Christian Eriksen’s departure, Spurs desperately need a creative midfielder capable of playing between the lines if they are going to make progress next season.
There were groans after half an hour when Cristian Romero failed to spot Son’s run in behind the defence – although he did in the second half with Sam Johnstone denying the South Korean one-on-one – and an overwhelming sense of boredom was palpable throughout the opening 45 minutes. “Is this the Emirates?” chirped the travelling Selhurst contingent as Spurs fans watched on with glazed expressions and stifled yawns.
Most goals in Premier League history
- Alan Shearer – 260
- Harry Kane – 209
- Wayne Rooney – 208
- Andy Cole – 187
- Sergio Aguero – 184
Until the goal that is, scored with virtually the last touch of the first half. Kane was involved in the build-up, arrowing a volleyed pass out to Porro on the wing before racing into the box to get his head on the Spaniard’s cross to the far post after towering above Joachim Andersen.
Tottenham’s right-back roulette on 31 January summed up the lack of joined up thinking at the club as Djed Spence, a “club signing” last summer according to Antonio Conte was loaned out and Matt Doherty released to make room for Porro, a specialist wing-back tailor-made for the Italian’s system but a potential problem for the next manager.
Porro’s defensive frailties have been exposed ruthlessly in recent weeks, but there is no doubt that in the right role he can add plenty of quality to this side. His shoot-on-sight policy can frustrate at times but Spurs have sorely missed attacking thrust from that position since the days of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.
Porro has had more shots than any other defender since making his debut against Leicester in February, and almost added to his tally of two from both open play and set-pieces to go along with his assist. Kane was the match-winner, but Porro was the big positive for Mason and could be a key player for whichever manager comes in next season.
Son Heung-min could have made the final 15 minutes more comfortable, failing to squeeze the ball past Johnstone after appearing to go around him, but Spurs held firm as Palace sought to claim a point to earn their first clean sheet since February.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/ajKnR4S
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