David Awopetu
Tottenham Hotspur kept working until they found a deserved breakthrough in a 2-0 win over West Ham United on Tuesday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tomas Soucek inadvertently turned into his own net in the 64th minute to give Spurs the lead and Kane, who finally returned from a hamstring injury suffered in January in Friday’s draw with Manchester United, made sure of the result on his 200th league appearance for the club.
With seven games remaining, the loss leaves the Hammers outside the relegation zone but only on goal difference with Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich – who lie in the bottom three – all now having a game in hand over David Moyes’ side.
The hosts punished toothless West Ham, who threatened little but saw Jarrod Bowen strike the post as they pushed in vain for an equaliser before Kane struck.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho will be delighted with the victory that takes them just six points off the Champions League places and with Kane’s goal, which was taken with his usual aplomb after he was put clear. It was also a sign of his increasing assurance in only his second match since a hamstring injury on January 1st.
This was not a classic encounter but Mourinho’s 300th victory in English football will have left him satisfied as they have now picked up four points from two home games against Manchester United and West Ham United.
It was solid if not spectacular and he will have taken pleasure in Kane’s brilliantly taken second goal, after the manager had to answer suggestions from former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson that the striker would not flourish under him.
Mourinho and his boys still face an uphill struggle to reach the top four but the manager will maintain the belief that it is still within their reach.
