Tottenham maintained their relentless pursuit of Chelsea in the title race with a 4-0 win over Bournemouth, cutting the deficit to just four points.
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Goals from Mousa Dembele, Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane – who was making his first start since returning from ankle ligament trouble – and substitute Vincent Janssen saw off a timid Bournemouth side and stretched Spurs’ winning run in the Premier League to seven games, which is their longest league run of victories for 50 years.
The victory extended their unbeaten run at home this season, which now stands at 17 games, including winning the last 11.
Man Utd vs Chelsea
Kane, who replaced Janssen up front in one of two changes from Tottenham’s victory over Watford, was seemingly in the mood to make up for lost time in his bid for goals and threatened early on.
His close-range effort was beaten away by Artur Boruc on five minutes, although the offside flag had been raised.
Bournemouth needed to defend with perfect concentration in order to keep the rampant hosts at bay, but their resistance only lasted 16 minutes as Dembele grabbed his first goal of the season.
A delivery from a left wing corner from Christian Eriksen landed at the feet of an unmarked Dembele at the back post, who made no mistake in rifling home.
Spurs only needed to wait three minutes to double their lead as the Cherries displayed more haphazard defending.
Jack Wilshere, whose every touch was roundly booed by the home fans, played a sloppy ball in midfield which was seized upon by Eriksen. The Denmark international fed Kane, who flicked a wonderful ball into Son’s path and the South Korea international motored through on goal before slipping the ball into the far corner for his fifth goal from his last six shots on target in the Premier League.
There was no response from the visitors as Boruc was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers, making smart low saves from Eriksen and Kane before the break.
Kane had scored five goals in his previous three appearances against Eddie Howe’s side and there was an inevitability when he made it 3-0 on 48 minutes.
Simon Francis’ tame challenge allowed Kane to venture into acres of space in the area, and the England striker hammered the ball home from 15 yards out.
The game maintained its one-way feel as Spurs took aim at Boruc’s goal. The goalkeeper had to deal with eight shots on target in the second-half as Kane, Eriksen and Dele Alli were handed presentable opportunities but were thwarted by the Bournemouth shot-stopper.
Bournemouth rarely emerged from their own half and their efforts were summed up by Charlie Daniels’ speculative effort on 72 minutes, which was their only shot on target.
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Tottenham even had time to give Kane and Alli a breather in the closing stages as they strolled in the sunshine. One of those replacements, Janssen, notched his first goal from open play for Spurs in stoppage time.
Player Ratings
Tottenham: Lloris (7), Walker (7), Alderweireld (7), Vertonghen (7), Davies (7), Dier (7), Dembele (8), Son (8), Eriksen (8), Alli (7), Kane (8).
Subs: Wanyama (6), Sissoko (6), Janssen (7)
Bournemouth: Boruc (7), Smith (5), Francis (4), S Cook (5), Daniels (6), Stanislas (6), Arter (6), Wilshere (5), Pugh (5), King (6), Afobe (6).
Subs: Fraser (6), Cook (6), Mousset (6)
Man of the match: Mousa Dembele
