Published: 22 November, 2015
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League
SPURS 4, WEST HAM 1

STRIKER Harry Kane hit a derby double today in a 4-1 thumping for Spurs against West Ham – and said afterwards that it was always extra special to score goals against London rivals.

He now has 12 goals in 14 capital showdowns, and could have put in an even more dominant performance.

He said: “I enjoy the atmospheres in derbies, especially at home. The crowd were fantastic.”

Kane has shaken off a slow start to the season and is now on nine goals.

“I felt today I could have had more,” he said. “I will be punching myself that I didn't get a hat-trick.”

With Spurs four points off the top, Kane's teammate Eric Dier said the players were enjoying their football.

“We are taking it game by game,” he said.

“We won't get excited about league positions. We will just carry on trying to perform. We know if we play like we did today, we will get wins.”

With West Ham even on points as the referee blew for kick-off, it looked on paper that it would be a contest. But Spurs began in control and never let up. On 23, a Dele Alli shot struck West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell and the ball dropped for Kane. The forward swivelled, held off his marker and smashed home from eight yards.

Spurs doubled their lead on 33. Eriksen chipped a corner into the near post and Toby Alderweireld nodded home.

Kane also hit the bar with a header and miskicked when clean through before half-time.

After the restart, any hope West Ham had of getting a toehold quickly disappeared. Eriksen, imperious in his creation, picked up a loose clearence on 49, found Kane centrally and the forward drilled home. It was four with 12 minutes left via Kyle Walker, who angled an outside-of-the-boot shot into the top corner.

The visitors' frustrations led to niggles. Alli got a silly yellow after a nose-to-nose conversation with Mark Noble and will sit out next week versus Chelsea. Late on, Manuel Lanzini got a consolation on the break but it did not affect a very happy atmosphere. Mauricio Pochettino, usually guarded in his praise, could not hide his delight.

“The performance was fantastic,” he said. “I am proud of my players.”

Pochettino would not be drawn, in a topsy-turvy season with Leicester leading the table, whether there is a sense of a title challenge.

“It is too far to go to say this,” he said. “We are a young squad. We have shown from the beginning that we have consistency but to win the title you need more. It is a question of taking it step by step and seeing where we are in five months.”

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Rose, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Son (Onomah, 76), Kane (Carroll, 90), Dier, Dembele, Alli (Mason, 70), Eriksen.
Subs: Vorm, Mason, Trippier, Townsend, Onomah, Carroll, Davies.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

THIS was a team full of confidence. Right through the side the movement, effort and solidity was impressive. There is a Band of Brothers mentality – they all bust a gut for each other.

Mousa Dembele, all feints and quick feet, looks a player reborn. To think his Spurs career seemed to be drawing to a close just a few months ago. He was unplayable today.

It isn't just his all-action attitude that makes Eric Dier such an influence, as the base upon which Pochettino's team's super-structure is built. Throughout he's issuing instructions to teammates and reading things in a manner that belies his youth.

Spurs and West Ham started even on points today, but there was a huge gulf between these two sides. Spurs have shaken off a tendency earlier in the season to draw games they should have won – in large part to Harry Kane getting his scoring boots laced up again.