No let-up in Spurs’ title pursuit

STOKE-ON-TRENT. — Tottenham Hotspur stars Harry Kane and Dele Alli promised to keep pushing leaders Leicester City all the way in the race for the English Premier League soccer title after sharing the goals in a 4-0 rout of Stoke City on Monday night.

The England duo scored two apiece as Spurs recorded a hugely impressive away win that saw the north London club move to within five points of leaders Leicester with four games of the season remaining.

Performing well at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium has long been regarded as the acid test of a title-contender’s credentials, and on this evidence Spurs remain very much in the hunt to be crowned champions of England for the first time since 1961, when they did the “Double” by winning the old First Division and the FA Cup in the same season.

“What a performance!” Kane told Sky Sports after taking his tally for the season to 26 goals in all competitions.

“Stoke is a tough place to come and to win in the manner we did shows what sort of team we are. We are not going anywhere,” he added.

“We scored four but could have had six or seven. It is one of our best performances all season but that’s what we can do.”

Tottenham had been buoyed before kick-off by the fact Leicester could only manage a draw at home to West Ham on Sunday and in-form forward Kane said: “Leicester dropped points and I have been itching to play. I had to wait a whole day and a half.”

“It doesn’t get much better than that. We hardly put a foot wrong and could have scored more.

“We are ready to put the pressure on Leicester. We think we can do it.”

Tottenham’s only minor blemish on Monday came when Alli, having rounded the goalkeeper, saw his shot hit the outside of the post.

Had it gone in, the midfielder would have had a hat-trick.

“I don’t know how I missed that chance!” Alli said. “Finishing training for me, I think.

“I am just enjoying playing, there is nothing to be scared of,” he added. “Leicester know we are going to keep fighting.”

And Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino believes his side delivered the “perfect” message to Premier League leaders Leicester City after an emphatic 4-0 win at Stoke City saw them close the gap at the top of the table to five points.

Leicester’s 2-2 draw at home to West Ham on Sunday gave Spurs the opportunity to reduce the deficit with four games remaining and they seized it in commanding style with a fourth win in five matches thanks to two goals each from the England duo of Kane and Alli.

“This is our dream. We need to believe,” said Pochettino, who is attempting to lead the Londoners to their first English championship since 1961.

“It is good for the competition that we are in behind to try and put pressure on Leicester. I feel very proud.

“Our supporters were fantastic and they feel proud of us. I think it is an exciting moment for the club,” the Argentinian added.

“In football all can happen and we need to be there. If Leicester fail we need to be there. That’s what we are trying to do, put the pressure on Leicester.

“The most important thing is the performance we showed was perfect. It is a big signal we are there waiting and fighting,” the former Southampton manager explained.

Tottenham have scored 13 goals and conceded just one in racking up 13 points out of the last possible 15.

Kane, who took his season’s tally to 27 goals, posted a social media image of a pack of lions closing in on their prey after Leicester had dropped two points against West Ham.

“It is a good thing because it shows how this group is, how our squad is,” said Pochettino.

“We can win or not, but the desire and passion we show and how we enjoy the game is fantastic.”

Kane opened the scoring at the Britannia Stadium with his 23rd league goal of the season, overtaking Leicester striker Jamie Vardy’s tally in the race for the league’s golden boot, and believes the Foxes can still be caught.

The in-form striker (22) said: “We are not going anywhere. We scored four but could have had six or seven. It is one of our best performances all season but that’s what we can do.

“We are ready to put the pressure on Leicester. We think we can do it. Leicester are five points ahead but we have closed the gap, that’s all we could do.”

Stoke have now won only one of their last six games as their season runs out of momentum with their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Europa League almost gone. — AFP.