Published: 24 October, 2014
By PAUL COWLING at White Hart Lane

Europa League: Group C
TOTTENHAM 5, ASTERAS TRIPOLIS 1

SPURS fans are being urged to “wear something white” in honour of Bill Nicholson when they turn up at the Lane for their Premier League game against Newcastle on Sunday.

Dubbed Tottenham's greatest ever manager, 'Bill Nick' died 10 years ago. He was adorned on the cover of the match programme for the Europa League tie against Greek minnows, Asteras Tripolis, on Thursday, with current boss Mauricio Pochettino, saying, “Bill was such an important part of this football club, and we look forward to celebrating his life on Sunday.”

The Yorkshireman presided over the double-winning side of 1961, as well as leading Spurs to their first European trophy two years later. More continental success followed in the early 70s, but since then, subsequent Spurs sides have struggled to live up to his legacy.

It's now been 30 years since they lifted the Uefa Cup – their last European trophy.

But now Spurs are one of the favourites to lift the Europa League, and they finally managed to look the part on Thursday when they recorded their first group-stage victory thanks to a hat trick from Harry Kane and a spectacular brace from Erik Lamela.

Harry Kane scored the opening goal but ended up between the sticks after Hugo Lloris's red card

Spurs took the lead on 12 minutes. Kane had time to pick his spot, before thumping in a low drive that went in off the left-hand post. Then Lamela produced a touch of magic to put Spurs 2-0 up.

The ball rolled out to the Argentine, who wrapped his left foot round his right to curl an audacious shot into the top right hand corner from 20 yards.

Lamela served up a second special goal on 65 minutes, when he rifled in a sweet left footed volley to make it 3-0. Kane got his second, and Spurs' fourth, on 74 minutes when he tapped in from close range before completing his first hat trick by heading into an empty net.

In a somewhat comical ending the England Under-21s striker then took over the goalkeeping jersey after Hugo Lloris was sent off in the 87th minute following a foul on Anastasios Tsokanis. The referee gave a free kick outside the penalty area, which Kane couldn't keep hold of as Jeronimo Barrales's tame shot trickled into the net to make the final score 5-1.

But, despite this emphatic win, Pochettino was not pleased that Spurs conceded late on. “I was happy with the result, but we need to manage our game better,” said the Argentine.

“Now we need to be ready for Newcastle,” Pochettino added. “They have very good players, and it will be a tough game.”

Spurs fans will be hoping to honour the memory of Bill Nicholson with three more points, as they look to get their Premier League campaign back on track.

'Bill Nick' would expect nothing less.

SPURS: Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies, Capoue, Dembele, Lamela (Eriksen, 75), Kane, Townsend (Lennon, 82), Adebayor (Chadli, 75)

Subs not used: Vorm, Chiriches, Soldado, Stambouli

Attendance: 21, 428