Harry Kane destroys Stoke with first-half hat-trick to send Tottenham second

The England striker notched his 100th goal for the club in the 14th minute with a snap shot that beat Lee Grant to the corner.

His second was a stunning left-foot strike from the edge of the box and his treble came just five minutes later with a fortuitous effort that deflected off Peter Crouch.

It was Kane's third hat-trick in nine games and he then set up Dele Alli to add a fourth which sent Tottenham second, a point ahead of Manchester City, but still 10 behind leaders Chelsea, in the Premier League table.

The team's display also justified manager Mauricio Pochettino's decision to field an unchanged side despite Spurs having less than 72 hours' rest after going out of the Europa League against Gent at Wembley on Thursday.

Mid-table Stoke, in contrast, derived no benefit from having had 15 days without a game and were outplayed throughout.

"We wanted to come out and get back to winning ways," Kane told Sky Sports. "It was exactly what we need. I just tried to get my shots off and if you don't shoot, you don't score."

Spurs are close to unbeatable at White Hart Lane, where the tight pitch allows their full-backs to supply as much width as they need. But in the Champions League, and also in league games at Old Trafford and the Etihad, their inability to stretch the game was palpable. Given that his team will spend next season at Wembley, Mauricio Pochettino needs to find at least one and preferably two wingers good enough to play in his first XI.

Helped himself to his third hat-trick in nine games, also making a goal for Dele All following a delicious flick on the right-wing. In particular, his first two efforts were those of an expert, difficult finishes made to look easy and which eliminated Stoke from the contest before they’d bothered to notice they were participating in one.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris 7, Walker 7, Dier 6, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 7, Davies 6, Wanyama 6, Dembele 6, Eriksen 7, Alli 7, Kane 9. Subs: Wimmer 6, Winks 6, Son 6.

Stoke City: Grant 6, Bardsley 6, Shawcross 5, Martins Indi 5, Pieters 4, Whelan 4, Adam 4, Arnautovic 5, Allen 5, Ramadan 5, Crouch 6. Subs: Affelay 6, Berahino 6, Cameron 6.

14 - GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Stoke City (Kane) Oh this is brilliantly taken! Alli bundles into the box and Eriksen tries to take over, but when the ball bounces off his heel, it falls at the feet of Kane, maybe nine yards out and well right of centre. He does not wait to be asked twice, taking a touch to move it into stride before snapping a low shot across Grant and into the far side-netting before anyone has even said nice swept-back barnet, pal.

23 - WHAT A SAVE BY LLORIS! Stoke get an overload down the left, so Adam rolls in Pieters, whose low cross is superb - all Crouch needs to do, five yards out, is connect. Which he does, only for Lloris to stick out a foot and divert the ball clear! How crucial will that be?

32 - GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Stoke City (Kane) Another expert's finish. The corner comes to the edge of the box, bouncing and skipping off the turn as Kane allows it across his body before cutting across a finish with his left foot, perpendicular to his standing leg, and it zooms into the bottom corner as Wanyama leaps out of the road.

85 - Should be five for Spurs! They narcotize Stoke with passing then spring forward, Walker motoring outside Eriksen who quickly plays him in. But, from an acute angle, he opts to hit the target and see, trying a side-footer, rather than going for it and imparting the laces; Grant saves with his legs.

37 - HAT-TRICK GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Stoke City (Kane) Kane has a third treble in nine games! Eriksen rolls him the ball to change the angle, and though his effort is no good, it cannons Crouch's ankle, wrongfoots Grant, and there you go. I think Spurs might win this one.

45+1 GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Stoke City (Alli) Oh this is lovely from Kane, wandering out to the right and flicking Eriksen's pass over his own head and that of Martins Indi. He might go alone, but instead snaps a perfect square-ball across the face for Alli, who slides in to finish emphatically into the roof of the net.

For the first time in the PL era, Stoke trailed by four goals at half-time in a top flight match.

Spurs equal the club record of remaining unbeaten in their opening 13 home matches of a PL season, set in 2000/01.

Spurs equal the club PL record of eight consecutive home victories, set from March to August 2009. It is the first time they have won eight consecutive top flight home fixtures within the same season since they were victorious in their final nine top flight home matches of the 1986/87