Stoked up Spurs keep up the hunt

What a performance! It is easy to forget just how young this Spurs side is when you think about last night's crushing win over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The amount of pressure on Spurs was immense after we had to wait a day to close the gap on leaders Leicester City. Leicester had dropped 2 points the previous day meaning Spurs could now close the gap to 5 points with 4 games remaining with a win here.

There was to be no slow start from Spurs as they rattled into action playing some lovely tiki taka football as well as pressing high and getting right in their opponents faces. Rose and Walker help to make the pitch seem so big with their width and marauding runs down each wing. Walker kept getting down the right but his finally delivery was off.
Rose was again exceptional and the boo boys of Stoke merely served to motivate him as he attacked down the left superbly. He kept his head as well which shows a maturity he has developed under Pochettino.

Spurs fired the first warning shots when the ball came through to Kane who uncharacteristically got the ball stuck under his boot before Given blocked his left footed shot. No need to worry though because on 9 minutes Kane fired Spurs into a glorious lead. Dembele fed him on the left, he stepped to the side and created echoes of his goal against Arsenal at the Lane with a lovely curling right foot shot which had Given beaten all ends up.
Kane again broke through but was wide on the right and his effort was neither a shot nor cross in the end. Alli and Kane continued to link up almost telepathically and the Stoke defence was struggling to cope.

Stoke tried to exert some pressure on the Spurs defence with Arnautovich making a nuisance of himself, but the back line stood strong as Toby and Jan kept full control.

Spurs should have finished the first half 2 up but Eriksen managed to hit the bar after going clean through when really it was easier to score.
Spurs went in deservedly in front, but there was a slight thought that we needed to take our chances. This was not a game we could afford to lose or draw. 3 points were required.

Spurs again started the stronger and although Stoke had periods of possession, Lloris was mainly left to rolling the ball out to his defenders to start yet more attacks on the Stoke City goal.

Eriksen took a ball down for Alli but the shot went over and Pochettino was getting increasingly frustrated on the touch lines, slamming his hands against the dug out. The passion from the manager was great to see.

It was only a matter of time before the second goal came and what a goal it was. Eriksen shaped to play the ball down the right flank but played an exquisite ball into Alli whose first touch was sublime before he finished with a glorious dink over the in rushing Given.
You could have expected Spurs to shut up shop but not this Spurs side. Not a chance of it. Danny Rose burst through only to stumble at the last moment and then Spurs literally carved Stoke open. Lamela stayed composed, slid the ball to Kane who had the easiest of finishes to make it 3 and wrap up all 3 points.

There was still time through for another Spurs goal and some comedy gold. Alli brilliantly rounded the Keeper and had the goal at his mercy only to hit the post instead. Pochettino hit the ground, head butted the floor and afterward said he was embarrassed by his reaction but he has no need to be. That kind of passion is what we want to see. You carry on Mr Pochettino!!

So, Alli should have had a hat trick but he did still get 2 anyway when Eriksen just wandered through the Stoke City defence, lifted a lovely ball to Alli who volleyed home and the travelling Spurs fans went wild. Stoke are considered noisy fans but the Spurs fans were superb and they sang their warning to Leicester City with gusto: " Leicester City, we're coming for you!!!"

With Leicester playing first in the next 2 games, the pressure will again be on Spurs to keep the title race alive and if the last 2 games are anything to go by, this title race will go to the very last day and defibrillators may be needed in every Spurs household throughout the land.

This was a fine performance full of skill, pluck, effort, desire and sheer domination.

Every player to a man was immense and we cannot ask any more of our team right now. As I have said previously, whatever happens, this is a squad and manager destined for Tottenham glory.

As for the current title challenge- pressure? What pressure.

As ever, Come on You Spurs!!!!!

 

Stoke had nothing to fight for, but they weren't as poor as final score would suggest. They were pressing hard and competed evenly up until Spurs second goal. After that Potters went to the beach having created no serious chances that would bother Lloris.
Bring on the Baggies now!! COYS!!

 

It was a systematic destruction of Stoke one that showed guile belief and most of all Bottle.
Alli, Eriksen and Kane were all great shouts for MOTM and the rest of the Team were all very good.
We deserve this League Title we are an all round better outfit than Leicester all the stats we beat them on except Points (ffs)
Never mind we live in hope that Leicester slip up all we can do is apply the pressure when we get the chance and a performance like that and v Utd is exactly what we're doing.
This season has got me believing in my Beloved Spurs again!!!!

COYS!

 

We were magnificent. Just one slight quibble..."and defibrillators may be needed in every Spurs household (throughout) around the (land) World.
COYS!!!

 

For me there can be few games, if any, in recent times, where I've seen such quality from a Spurs team.

Everything seemed to come off and whilst it took a while for that second goal to go in, there was such pace, pressure, cover and all around quality about our play, that it should have been many more.

The other big, big plus is the way the lads work for each other, developing some exceptional awareness of each other's position and role, covering where needed, pushing on where the opportunity arises.

Don't you just love them. .......COYS

 

Harry's work before the first goal was superb - the pass to Dembele sublime, and his finish, a work of art. He started the move for his second goal with a header in our own penalty box. Still, he was not MOM which has to go to Toby - the guy brings the stability at the back which allows our midfielders/forward to express themselves.
Great comment by the Serbian commentator when Charlie Adam got booked - 'it appears he is the hero of the stadium' - the chant relating to Mr Adam regularly pulling his hood.

 

This Everton game is big worry lads ... Look like a complete mess at the moment ... C.O.Y.S ...

 

Everton are sh;te they're all on holiday and Martinez is heading out the Door.

I did say after the Palace game 4 more wins would be enough for them factoring we still had Liverpool Utd and Chavs still to play.

Since then they have won 2 drawn 1. We need 3 of their last 4 to get a result v them imo. Tough but stranger things have happened

 

We've just got to believe......
Win tonight and next Monday against Chelski and Manure do us a favour, we are two points behind, with two to play....
We've just got to believe......COYS

 

And that fans is it, the dream is over