Published: 3 February, 2016
by DAN CARRIER

Premier League
NORWICH CITY 0, SPURS 3

MAURICIO Pochettino was full of praise for his young side last night (Tuesday) after watching them canter to a 3-0 away victory at Norwich – pushing Spurs up to third in the table.

The Spurs boss said: “It was an excellent performance, I’m very pleased. The effort was fantastic.”

Pochettino made seven changes from his starting XI in the 4-1 FA Cup win at Colchester at the weekend. But it was business as usual as Spurs cruised to another three points in the race for the title. 

They went ahead in the opening two minutes through Dele Alli. Pochettino said: “The early goal helped us and, in the end, we deserved the result and we need to feel proud of the players for the job they did.”

After Alli’s opener – a neat close-range finish after Canaries keeper Declan Rudd had stopped a shot from Christian Eriksen on two minutes – Tottenham’s dominance meant there was only going to be one winner.

Pochettino’s charges peppered Norwich’s goal – they struck the woodwork three times and racked up 17 efforts on goal – but it took a Harry Kane penalty midway through the first half to double the lead.

Pochettino was forced to make a half-time switch when Alli complained of feeling dizzy, but bringing on Nacer Chadli caused the team no ill-effects.

In the second half, Norwich perked up a little but Spurs still controlled things. Kane had numerous chances to increase his side’s already impressive goal difference and send Spurs above their north London rivals Arsenal – and in the dying moments, he raced clear and fired home impressively.

Spurs next face Watford at home on Saturday, hoping to narrow the gap on leaders Leicester, who are five points ahead with 14 games left to play.

SPURS: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Bentaleb, Carroll, Lamela, Chadli

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

THE loss of Jan Vertonghen for a few weeks was seen as the usual harbinger of doom that strikes Spurs in the spring – the lack of depth in a squad that managers seem to flog to death and then wonder why they fall short come May.

But these Pochettino boys are made of sterner stuff. Kevin Wimmer, bought in the summer as defensive back-up, made his full Premier League debut and played like he’d been at it for years. He has already shown a steady head in FA Cup and Europa League matches. It looks like Jan’s injury is a minor irritant, not the disaster many feared.

Dare we dream? Spurs fans will be looking at the league table today and curse the fact Leicester couldn’t be beaten at the Lane in January. Spurs were all over leaders City but lost to a single goal. If Pochettino’s boys had managed to sneak a victory, they’d be top, not third. But this slim margin show that, yes, Spurs are genuinely, actually, really in the title race. Let’s try and enjoy this while we can.