Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur moved back to within five points of Premier League leaders Leicester City with a simple 3-0 win over Bournemouth at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
The 22-year-old moved two goals clear of Jamie Vardy in the golden boot stakes, netting a first-half brace to reach 21 for the season and lay the foundations for an undemanding second half.
Christian Eriksen made the points safe in an utterly one-sided encounter on 52 minutes as Mauricio Pochettino's boys stay in the hunt for a first league title since 1961.
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With Leicester and Arsenal both winning this weekend, the pressure was on Spurs to see if they could follow suit and stay in contention - a question that they answered emphatically.
Within 44 seconds of kickoff, it was 1-0 when Kyle Walker's cross was expertly converted by Kane, who then doubled the advantage on 16 minutes by slotting past Artur Boruc following a slick Dele Alli pass.
Eddie Howe's side brought a three-match winning streak with them to the capital, but those early goals sapped their morale as they struggled to get the ball and then keep it.
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It might have been 3-0 on 20 minutes as Toby Alderweireld clipped a clever ball over the visitors' defence for Eriksen who, from a tight angle, volleyed over the bar.
Bournemouth could, and probably should, have minimised the deficit just before half time, but defender Steve Cook - who had two goals in his last three games prior to today - sent his header over.
After the break, Walker drilled across Boruc's goal as a sign of intent that Spurs were desperate for a third - and they found one on 52 minutes.
Boruc failed to hold on to Kane's long-range effort, and the opportunistic Eriksen was on hand to tap into an empty net as the Lilywhites effectively finished the contest.
Pochettino's attacking players took their foot off the gas considerably, but their defence and midfield remained alert as Bournemouth were not allowed a sniff at goal.
Alli should have added a fourth with 10 minutes to play, fluffing his lines from a matter of yards out following Eriksen's slick cut-back pass, but it would not overshadow an excellent day for Tottenham.
Shane Callaghan
