Tottenham trounce Stoke at Wembley

Harry Kane scored a brace as Tottenham returned to winning ways with a 5-1 thrashing of Stoke City.

Spurs made a below-par start to the game in search of their first league victory since November 5th but were handed an early Christmas present when Heung-min Son’s cross came off Ryan Shawcross for an own goal.

The hosts were more clinical in the second half with Son making it 2-0 with a cool finish before Kane made up for his first-half misses with a header a minute later for their third goal.

Kane then notched up his 50th goal of 2017, and his 18th in his past 17 games, with a well taken strike and Christian Eriksen sealed the rout to punish some non-existent Potters defending.

Shawcross scored a consolation for the visitors but the result sees Mark Hughes’ side slip to 15th while Spurs are fifth, one place ahead of Arsenal.

With many of the sides in the relegation places having changed their managers, Hughes must be looking over his shoulder after a toothless display. His team defended well for around 50 minutes before capitulating and their work rate dropped after it was 2-0. With crucial games to come against Burnley and West Ham next week, the Stoke boss is among the bookies favourites to be handed his P45.

Harry Kane (Tottenham): After having a first half to forget, the England striker showed his mental strength by responding with two well taken goals to continue his impressive season. His header was a trademark finish but was bettered with his second goal from the edge of the box.

TOTTENHAM: Lloris 6, Trippier 7, Dier 6, Vertonghen 6, Davies 7, Dembele 5, Winks 7, Son 8, Eriksen 5, Dele 6, Kane 9. Subs: Lamela 5, Sissoko n/a, Llorente n/a.

STOKE CITY: Butland 4, Zouma 4, Shawcross 6, Wimmer 5, Edwards 6, Fletcher 4, Allen 6, Pieters 5, Choupo-Moting 4, Shaqiri 5, Diouf 6. Subs: Crouch 5, Cameron n/a, Afellay n/a

21’ - GOAL FOR SPURS! Tottenham 1-0 Stoke: Son's cross hits Zouma and goes in off Shawcross' chest for an own goal.

24’ - CLOSE! Diouf wins a corner off Vertonghen. Shaqiri's corner is poor though and Son breaks, he runs nearly 80 yards and fires a low shot which is comfortably saved by Lloris using his legs.

36’ - KANE MISS! Son threads the ball through to the England striker, he takes it late and rolls it narrowly wide.

53’ - GOAL FOR SPURS! Tottenham 2-0 Stoke: Spurs counter, Alli threads the ball through to Son who lashes the ball into the centre of the goal. Stoke are furious as Diouf had gone down 30 seconds earlier.

54’ - GOAL FOR SPURS! Tottenham 3-0 Stoke: Kane is on the scoresheet with a header which goes through Butland's legs from Davies' pinpoint cross.

61’ - GOOD SAVE! Diouf threads it through to Shaqiri who is through on goal but his low effort is brilliantly palmed away by Lloris.

65’ - GOAL FOR SPURS! Tottenham 4-0 Stoke: Kane grabs his second with a well-taken first time effort from the edge of the box after Stoke fail to deal with Eriksen's cross.

74’ - GOAL FOR SPURS! Tottenham 5-0 Stoke: From a Shaqiri corner, Son bursts forward and is in acres of space before finding Eriksen with a through ball and the Dane lofts the ball over Butland from close range.

80’ - GOAL FOR STOKE! Tottenham 5-1 Stoke: The visitors have a corner down the left. The ball is swung in, Lloris comes for the cross but flaps at it and Shawcross heads it in.

Spurs have scored at least four goals in each of their last four Premier League matches against Stoke.

The Potters have one victory from their past six games.