Huddersfield 0-4 Tottenham: Harry Kane puts David Wagner's side to the sword with stunning first-half brace as Ben Davies also nets in comfortable victory
- Harry Kane took advantage of a weak Huddersfield clearance by keeping his cool to slot home the opener
- With 16 minutes on the clock, Spurs produced a rapid counter-attack and Ben Davies added fine second goal
- Kane further silenced the home crowd in the first half with a stunning left-footed strike to make it 3-0
- The striker thought he clinched first-half hat-trick but his acrobatic effort was correctly ruled out for offside
- Second-half substitute Moussa Sissoko added gloss to the scoreline by scoring a fourth in injury time
- AS IT HAPPENED: Recap all the action and goals from the Premier League clash at the John Smith's Stadium
It was part reality-check, part initiation ceremony and it taught the team on the receiving end about the infinitesimally small margins of error when Harry Kane is staring into the whites of your eyes.
Kane's two goals in a searing opening half hour from Tottenham took his goals tally for September to 13 and made it seven in seven days for a 24-year-old who has now equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's Premier League goals tally of 84. Some perspective: Ronaldo took six seasons and 196 to reach that tally with Manchester United. Kane is barely into his fourth full season with Spurs and has needed just 123 games.
He rolls off full backs, threads chances for others, forages for possession and finishes with ice-cold calculation. Huddersfield know that now.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane watches on as his wonderful left-footed strike heads towards the back of the net on Saturday
The in-form England forward jumps for joy and is soon congratulated by his team-mates after his stunner made it 3-0
Dele Alli (left) was among the Tottenham players to congratulate Kane as the visitors took control of the fixture
Wales full back Ben Davies finishes off a fine Tottenham counter-attack to give visitors' a two-goal lead over Huddersfield
Davies's delight is for all to see after he latched on to the loose ball to score Spurs' second goal with just 16 minutes played
Kane needed just nine minutes to open the scoring for Tottenham, keeping his cool to slot home beyond Jonas Lossl
The 24-year-old striker is congratulated by Kieran Trippier, Harry Winks and Christian Eriksen following his opening strike
Tottenham's second-half substitute Moussa Sissoko wheels away to celebrate after playing a key role in his side's late fourth
Huddersfield players were shell-shocked in the first half at the John Smith's Stadium after seeing their side stunned by Spurs
'It is so difficult to speak every day about Harry Kane, finding a different word to describe him,' his manager Mauricio Pochettino said after the victory. 'He is great in front of the goal but when we don't have the ball he is ready to run and fight. It makes him one of the best strikers in the world.'
It was nearly an hour after the final whistle before David Wagner appeared to discuss a desperately ragged defensive display. 'If you give them a chance they will use it, if you give them a present they will certainly use,' he said.
The match programme had eulogised about the frugality of the side who had hitherto conceded three goals in six games - their fewest in the top flight since Herbert Chapman's side of 1924-25. Pochettino's side put that many past them in a mere 23 minutes, with Kane the fulcrum.
He was looking for the net within two minutes of the start: spinning off Chris Lowe – who will be remembering this occasion with a shiver for weeks – to open up a shot that Mathias Zanka deflected wide. But Huddersfield were bearing such gifts that the forward did not need to wait much longer.
Lowe's abject failure to deal with a clearing header by Kieran Tripper allowed him to race clear and bury the ninth minute opening goal at goalkeeper Jonas Lossl's near post. Wagner did not spare the defender some public criticism afterwards.
Huddersfield manager David Wagner was in buoyant mood prior to kick-off as he greets Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino
The Terriers supporters turned up in numbers on Saturday to cheer their team on against the Premier League giants
Kane, the in-form Tottenham striker, had an early chance to open the scoring but he saw his effort deflected out for a corner
Kane latched on to Trippier's headed pass, after a weak clearance from Lossl, and confidently fired home the opening goal
The forward, who has been in sublime form for Tottenham this season, celebrates in front of disappointed Terriers supporters
There was a more tangential contribution by Kane to the second: a No 10's lay off to Dele Alli in the early stages of a five-pass, one-touch move down the right which sent Christian Eriksen motoring clear. Lowe got a toe on the ball this time but managed only to send it squirting out to Ben Davies, entirely unmarked, who clipped it first time over Lossl and into the bottom corner.
The third – Kane's second - was the game's stand-out moment and evidence of the complete range he brings. Spinning off Jonathan Hogg, back to goal, he eased across the face of goal, with Zanka and Hogg in vain pursuit, before despatching, left footed, beyond the goalkeeper.
Huddersfield were not without their moments. They did show ambition. Captain Tommy Smith dug out a powerful left-footed effort from 20 yards early on, sending Hugo Lloris into a diving, two-handed save. At the other end of the first half, Laurent Depoitre crashed against the upright.
But Tottenham were a class apart, attacking at a pace the home defence could not cope with. They seemed capable of scoring at will for 45 minutes. Alli flicked a tee-up that Kane lifted onto the roof of the net, then hit the post after leaving Zanka behind.
Danish playmaker Eriksen looks to play a right-footed pass to a team-mate as Elias Kachunga puts the pressure on
Spurs manager Pochettino looks to get his team to play the throw-in quickly as he passes the ball to defender Davies
After Spurs attacked Huddersfield's goal with a fine counter-move, Davies showed his ability by slotting home a second goal
A look from behind the goal as former Swansea defender Davies slots home his goal after being left clear down the left flank
The Huddersfield players cut dejected figures after conceding a second as Davies wheels away to celebrate a rare strike
That was certainly the best of Alli. The worst was the simulated dive after he pushed a ball beyond Lossl in the second half, which saw him booked. It was an erratic performance and Pochettino pulled no punches about his diving not helping 'the player, or the team.'
Huddersfield were more resilient in the second half but Tottenham's intensity had dropped by then. The scrappy a fourth, in added time, encapsulated their poor display. Elias Kachunga ceded loose possession to Alli and Spurs raced up the pitch, with substitute Moussa Sissoko's strike deflected in off Christopher Schindler.
Kane left to an ovation from both home and visiting supporters. 'It's probably the best month I have had,' he reflected after the win. 'Especially after August [in which he scored no goals]. I feel good, I feel confident when these boys are putting in crosses and through balls. I'm just there to put them away, It's been a great week for us.'
His stated aim of reaching 100 in a division this season looks a comfortable aim. Meanwhile Huddersfield, who face Manchester United here in three weeks, are beginning to discover what they're really up against. The stadium announcer put it best.
'Premier League stuff from Kane; clinical,' he said at half time. 'We'll face a few moments like this.'
Australia international Aaron Mooy (left) and Christopher Schindler look stunned as Huddersfield prepare to restart the tie
Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen in action with Huddersfield Town's Mathias Jorgensen during the entertaining first half
Kane was involved in a lot of the action in the opening period - and is pictured here battling for the ball with Jorgensen
The striker prepares to let fly with this left-footed pile-driver - and he was soon jumping for joy for a second time on Saturday
Kane is congratulated by Belgium international Vertonghen after showing his class to score Tottenham's third in fine fashion
Tottenham captain Huge Lloris, who had a quiet match, pumps his fist in celebration after seeing Spurs take control of game
Huddersfield Town's Laurent Depoitre and Davinson Sanchez battle for the ball during the Premier League match
Kane thought this acrobatic effort clinched his hat-trick but his first-half effort was correctly ruled out for offside
Spurs playmaker Alli moves his right leg towards Huddersfield goalkeeper Lossl in a bid to win a second-half penalty
Alli takes a tumble after playing for the contact and was deservedly booked by Premier League referee Neil Swarbrick
Huddersfield boss Wagner cuts a concerned figure on the touchline as he watches his team struggle to deal with Spurs' attack
Despite seeing his Tottenham side hold a comfortable three-goal lead, Pochettino was as animated as ever on the touchline
It proved to be a disappointing afternoon for Huddersfield, who rarely tested Lloris and conceded three first-half goals
Spurs talisman is congratulated by his captain, Lloris, after playing a starring role in a crucial Premier League victory
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