Published: 19 April, 2015
by DAN CARRIER

Premier League
NEWCASTLE UTD 1, SPURS 3

HARRY Kane became the first Spurs player since Gary Lineker to hit 30 goals in a season today (Sunday) after his last-minute finish helped Spurs gain three points over struggling Newcastle at St James' Park.

The forward also became the first homegrown player since Mark Falco in the early 1980s to register 20 league goals, and with five games remaining is level with Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero in the race for the Premier League top scorer's Golden Boot.

His strike in a comprehensive 3-1 win helped Spurs put behind them disappointing results against lowly Burnley, which saw them gain just a 0-0 draw, and last week's 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa.

Boss Mauricio Pochettino praised his striker. He said: “I want to congratulate Harry. He deserves this moment. He has big potential, he is young, and this is his first full season in the first team.”

Pochettino added there was more to come from his forward.

He said: “We need to push him to improve his level, but we don't want to put too much pressure on him. We need to be calm, and let him improve.”

Pochettino will feel vindicated by the result, after making changes from two poor displays that mean Spurs are marooned in Europa League positions. In came Paulinho and Erik Lamela, for Andros Townsend and Ryan Mason, and both put in good shifts. 

Nacer Chadli opened the scoring on 29 minutes with a fine, long-range effort. A measured build-up saw Spurs surge forward after both sides had spent the opening half-hour shadow boxing. Some trickery by Christian Eriksen created space for the Belgian, and he made no mistake with a guided shot that Toon keeper Tim Krul got nowhere near. 

But the lead was only to last the time it took for the players to enjoy a half-time cup of tea. Within 20 seconds of the restart, Newcastle pulled level as Jack Colback pounced on a loose ball and finished past Michael Vorm. However, rather than signal a charge from a Newcastle team who had suffered five straight defeats, the equaliser galvanised Spurs. On 52, Eriksen won a free-kick out on the left. His cross evaded his on-rushing teammates but Krul, anticipating a touch from a Spurs head, failed to get near it and the Dane's inswinger found the far corner.

With increasing home-fan dissension pouring off the terraces, Spurs held on to possession and created openings at will. Kane forced Krul into a goalline save after he volleyed powerfully at the back post on 66, and then was blocked again by Krul when the excellent Nabil Bentaleb chipped a cute ball forward for the striker to run on to. Spurs have made the last-minute away goal a speciality this season, and with 90 minutes on the clock, and Newcastle committing men forward, Kane broke clear. His run from the centre circle was just too powerful for the Newcastle defence and as Krul came out to narrow the angle, Kane stroked the ball home. It was a special finish and a fine way to hit the 30-goal mark. 

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

THERE was a moment in the second half when the ball came flying towards Tottenham's 21-year-old forward Harry Kane at an awkward angle. He was being carefully marshalled by two Newcastle defenders. In one brilliant movement, the striker cushioned the ball on his chest, rode a hefty challenge, shaped to go one way and then stepped the other. It has been known that Kane has a good eye for goal, can head the ball, and has a great work rate. But other qualitites, not so obvious, have come to the fore in this wonderful season for the boy from Walthamstow. Like Teddy Sheringham, his remarkable speed of thought buys him time. He may cover ground as quickly as others, but Kane's footballing intelligence means he may yet win the 2015 Golden Boot. 

SPURS: Vorm, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose (Davies, 75), Bentaleb, Paulinho (Mason 86), Eriksen, Lamela, Kane, Chadli (Dembele, 63).
Subs: Friedel, Davies, Yedlin, Dembele, Mason, Townsend, Soldado.