Published: 20 March, 2016
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 3, BOURNEMOUTH 0

TOTTENHAM fired a message to league leaders Leicester this afternoon that this title race is far from over – and two-goal hero Harry Kane said after leading a demolition of Bournemouth at White Hart Lane that the dressing room believes there is everything still to play for.

Kane's double in the 3-0 win takes him on to a running total this term of 21 league goals and makes him only the fifth English player in Premiership history to hit more than 20 goals in back-to-back seasons, joining the ranks of Andy Cole, Robbie Fowler, Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand.

With Leicester still five points clear of Spurs in second, Kane said after the match he and his teammates were determined to take the battle all the way to the final games.

He said: “Leicester are dong well – but so are we.

“Hopefully they will drop points, and we'll just keep doing what we are doing and see what happens. We are playing well, we are putting in good performances and we are very confident. We just have to keep going.”

Spurs were so quick out the blocks this afternoon that the home bench had hardly sat down before they were on their feet celebrating the opener. From the kick-off, full-back Kyle Walker attacked the right flank and spun a tempting ball in. Kane, who had already hit a hat-trick against Bournemouth this term, was first to react to the cross and nudged home.

There were 44 seconds on the clock.

After such a perfect start, Spurs played with a smile on their faces. On 17, an intricate passing move saw the ball go from defence into Dele Alli's feet in an attacking position. His weighted ball found Kane racing clear, and he made no mistake.

Mauricio Pochettino's charges toyed with a shellshocked Bournemouth, with the excellent Danny Rose also going close in the first half, and Alli finishing on 38 but Kane judged to be offside when he teed him up.

The game became a training session on 51, when Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc could only parry a stinging drive from Kane into the path of Christian Eriksen. He smashed home.

After the international break, Spurs face Liverpool followed by Manchester United – but neither of these title also-rans will worry Spurs when they are on this type of form.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Kane, Lamela (Carroll, 66), Dier (Chadli, 89), Dembele, Alli (Mason, 81), Eriksen, Wimmer
Subs: Vorm, Son, Mason, Trippier, Chadli, Carroll, Walker-Peters.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

IT is a measure of how good the performance was today that it is impossible to pick a man of the match. Every player put in a shift, and each excelled at their jobs. Kane's goals may have caught the eye, but from front to back, every player looked like the Premier League trophy was in grabbing reach.

Sure, the title is Leicester's to lose, but the leaders have been grinding out one-nils, while Spurs seem to have collected themselves after the stumbles against West Ham and Arsenal. With all great long-distance runners, they are sitting on the leader's shoulder as the bell for the final lap is rung. There is a sense with seven games to go, Spurs really are capable of winning the lot, and claiming an unlikely crown.