Match Report: Spurs 4-0 Bournemouth

Tottenham made it seven top-flight wins in succession for the first time since 1967 and continued their pursuit of leaders Chelsea with a dominant victory over Bournemouth.

The game was essentially won in a three-minute period in the first half in which Mousa Dembele fired Spurs ahead from close range following a corner before Son Heung-min doubled the lead with a darting run and neat finish.

Harry Kane, making his first start in a month, made sure of the three points with a low finish just minutes into the second half.

The strike makes the 23-year-old just the fourth player to score 20 Premier League goals in three consecutive seasons after Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry.

Vincent Janssen capped off Spurs’ afternoon by scoring just his second Premier League goal of the season in injury time, just minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are now four points behind Chelsea, who face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Bournemouth, who managed one shot on target, are now without a win in four matches and remain seven points above the bottom three with six games left to play.

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With this win Tottenham surpassed the 70 points that gave them third place in 2015-16, during which they challenged for the Premier League trophy until their 36th fixture – a 2-2 draw at Chelsea.

The smart money remains on the Blues playing a more central role in extending Spurs’ wait for a first title since 1961, especially if they win at United, but Pochettino’s side are doing everything to capitalise on any potential slip-up.

This is a more mature, clinical and refined Tottenham side than 12 months ago, and this performance illustrated that perfectly.

From the start they pressed their opponents relentlessly and dominated possession before the goals came.

Dembele’s was a simple but emphatic finish following Christian Eriksen’s corner. Son showed speed and guile to score after receiving a pass from Kane, whose goal was the result of great tenacity in winning the ball from Simon Francis in the box.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon, though, was reserved for the contribution of Janssen, who followed up his own blocked shot to score his sixth goal in his 35th appearance of what has been a tough first season in English football.

Spurs have now scored the joint-most goals in the division, conceded the fewest and are hitting peak form at potentially just the right time.

They have also made White Hart Lane a fortress. This was their 12th victory in succession, making it their longest-ever winning streak on home soil in a single top-flight season.

(BBC Sport)

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