Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 5, Stoke City 1.
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur5StokeStoke City1
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino challenged his players to consistently show their "true quality" after an emphatic win over Stoke City at Wembley.
Harry Kane scored twice as Spurs scored four second-half goals to climb above Arsenal into fifth in the Premier League table.
It ended a four-game run without a league win, and Pochettino is demanding his side show the same consistency between now and the end of the season.
"That is how we need to play from now," said the Argentine, after Spurs scored five for the first time this season.
"Consistency between now and the end of the season is so important if we want to finish in the top four. The team showed their true quality."
Spurs went ahead when Potters skipper Ryan Shawcross inadvertently diverted the ball past his own keeper - before three goals in the space of 12 minutes put the game out of sight.
Son Heung-min doubled the lead and Kane's header made it 3-0.
Kane drilled home the fourth, and Son set up Christian Eriksen for the fifth goal before Shawcross headed a late consolation.
Pochettino admitted Tottenham's Champions League campaign had been a distraction.
But with Spurs, who finished above Real Madrid in the group stage, not due to play in Europe again until February, he is hoping his side can concentrate on their domestic form.
"Last season we were frustrated because we were very good in the Premier League but we were a disaster in the Champions League," he added.
"This season the team was so determined to show they can compete in the Champions League and when you mix with the Premier League, that maybe was a bit of a distraction.
"But now we can only be focused on the Premier League and winning games."
Stoke, meanwhile, have won only once in seven league games and drop to 15th, three points above the relegation zone.
They are the first club in Premier League history to lose to the same opponent by four goals or more in four consecutive meetings.
Spurs warming to Wembley
Since demolishing Liverpool 4-1 in October, Spurs had won just once in six Premier League games.
Their Wembley troubles have been well documented, but this was a match during which it all came together.
Son has been the one shining light during a poor run in the league, and the South Korean was once again a driving force as Spurs scored more than once in a Premier League match at Wembley for only the second time this season.
It was his low cross which led to Shawcross putting into his own net, and he scored the second goal and set up the fifth.
After throwing away points against Burnley, Swansea and West Brom at Wembley, Tottenham were at their ruthless best.
And they could have scored more but for Stoke keeper Jack Butland.
The England international produced two fine stops in the dying minutes to keep out Eriksen, who was making his 200th appearance for the club, and Kane as the Potters were completely overrun.
More capital punishment for Stoke
This was an embarrassing defeat at the national stadium for Stoke, who have now lost three of their past four league games.
These are worrying times for Potters boss Mark Hughes, whose side started well but capitulated after half-time.
Kane missed a glorious chance at 1-0 and Butland almost gifted the England striker a goal after losing control of the ball inside his own penalty area.
Having let in four at home to Chelsea and another seven at Manchester City, Stoke are conceding at a rate of more than two goals a game.
They have failed to win on their past 16 league trips to London, conceding 37 goals and taking six points from a possible 48 since beating Spurs at White Hart Lane in November 2014.
"It's not good enough doing OK just for 45 minutes," said Hughes. "We couldn't deal with Tottenham's power and pace. We struggled in one-on-one situations, we needed to get tighter.
"Today will damage our confidence. That is the worry for us."
Man of the match - Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Six own goals for Shawcross - the stats
- Shawcross scored the sixth own goal of his Premier League career - only Richard Dunne (10), Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher (seven each) have scored more in the competition.
- This was the first time a Stoke player had ever scored at both ends in a Premier League game.
- Kane has scored eight Premier League goals against Stoke, only against Leicester City has he scored more in the competition (nine).
- Kane scored his 90th Premier League goal in just his 131st game - only Alan Shearer (113 games) did so quicker.
- This was Stoke's 1000th top-flight defeat, making them the 15th side to reach that figure since its inception in 1888-89.
What's next?
Spurs return to Wembley on Wednesday when Brighton are the visitors for a league game (kick-off 20:00 GMT), before Mauricio Pochettino's side visit leaders Manchester City next Saturday (17:30).
Stoke are back on the road on Tuesday when they travel to Burnley in the Premier League (19:45).
Line-ups
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Lloris
- 2Trippier
- 15Dier
- 5Vertonghen
- 33Davies
- 19DembéléBooked at 66mins
- 29WinksSubstituted forSissokoat 78'minutes
- 23Eriksen
- 20AlliSubstituted forLamelaat 67'minutes
- 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forLlorenteat 86'minutes
- 10Kane
Substitutes
- 3Rose
- 11Lamela
- 13Vorm
- 17Sissoko
- 18Llorente
- 21Foyth
- 24Aurier
Stoke
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Butland
- 6Zouma
- 17Shawcross
- 5Wimmer
- 42EdwardsSubstituted forCrouchat 70'minutes
- 4AllenSubstituted forAfellayat 80'minutes
- 24Fletcher
- 3Pieters
- 22ShaqiriSubstituted forCameronat 75'minutes
- 18Diouf
- 10Choupo-Moting
Substitutes
- 9Berahino
- 14Afellay
- 16Adam
- 20Cameron
- 25Crouch
- 32Sobhi
- 33Grant
- Referee:
- Roger East
- Attendance:
- 62,202
Match Stats
Home TeamTottenhamAway TeamStoke
- Possession
- Home71%
- Away29%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home11
- Away3
- Corners
- Home12
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away9
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Tottenham Hotspur 5, Stoke City 1.
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Attempt blocked. Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Davies.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Kevin Wimmer.
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Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Geoff Cameron (Stoke City).
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Attempt missed. Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Christian Eriksen following a corner.
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Attempt saved. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Erik Lamela with a through ball.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Jack Butland.
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Foul by Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Hand ball by Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City).
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Attempt missed. Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kieran Trippier with a cross.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Geoff Cameron.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Fernando Llorente replaces Son Heung-Min.
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Christian Eriksen tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.
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Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Peter Crouch (Stoke City).
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Christian Eriksen tries a through ball, but Harry Kane is caught offside.
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Jack Butland.
Comments
Join the conversation
Eden Hazard: 16 goals and 5 assists in 3005 minutes played.
Son Heung Min; 14 goals and 9 assists in 2066 minutes played.
So to summarize Son Heung Min had a higher number of combined goals/assists than Hazard having played 1000 less minutes than Hazard yet Chelsea fans still try to claim Hazard is the superior player.
He came on today and game was done. Stoke were beaten and Spurs were taking foot off pedal, despite creating chances. He's looked good when things still matter.
In Poch we trust
As for Stoke, sad to see a decent club falling apart, decent fans as well, deserve better
There’ll almost certainly be an HYS about the Arsenal game tomorrow and I’d suggest that you check that out for yourself, because I can guarantee that whatever the result, there’ll be a lot of Spuds fans posting their ‘pearls of wit and wisdom’ on there.
Meanwhile may I please ask posters on both sides to ditch the Spuds/Arsenil (etc) terms. The banter is ok. Those words are tedious
How do you decide which name you are going to use from one day to the next?
At least you are consistent with the level of drivel that you spout so that must take a bit of the pressure off and what you never do is answer any questions over who has been more successful, The Arsenal or Spuds. When it comes to facts you've got nothing to say?
Here's hoping.