Crystal Palace 0 – 4 Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane scored two of Tottenham’s four second-half goals after they eventually cruised to a Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
Kane’s towering close-range header from Ivan Perisic’s cross was the first time Spurs had led 1-0 in a game since 15 October. They had conceded the first goal in all 10 games in between.
He then drilled a low second into the bottom corner from Bryan Gil’s pass.
The England captain has now scored 264 goals for Spurs, only two behind Jimmy Greaves’ club record.
Kane, making his 300th Premier League appearance, had a hand in their next two goals too. First he found Son Heung-min, who picked out Matt Doherty to slot home.
And then he set Son away with a long ball forward with the South Korean smashing home, via a deflection, to end a 12-game scoreless run for club and country.
A satisfying score in the end after a very sloppy first half.
Constant Kane gives Spurs what they need
In a crazy world, it is nice to have something or someone to rely on. For Spurs, that steady source of comfort is Kane.
Kane, like the entire Spurs team, were below their best in the first half. But in the second half he came to life.
As he leapt above two defenders to power in a header at the far post, it marked the 11th consecutive calendar year in which Kane has scored for Spurs.
His second was his 198th Premier League goal in 300 games.
Then it was the turn of others to score, with Doherty netting his first goal of the season.
With Dejan Kulusevski still injured – and Conte does not know when he will return – Son’s return to the scoresheet is timely.
This was only the second Premier League game that the South Korean, who shared the Golden Boot last season, has scored in all season.
Incidentally that goal made him the fourth player to score on their 200th Premier League start for Spurs after Teddy Sheringham, Kane and Aaron Lennon.
Game of two halves for Palace
Palace, whose boss Patrick Vieira called for more consistency before the game, should have led at the break.
Lloris denied Ayew, Joachim Andersen smashed a shot just wide from long range and Michael Olise had a shot deflected wide.
They had seven efforts in a row in between Kane efforts in the 24th and 44th minutes.
Palace, who drop to 12th, actually had more chances in the second half than the first but many of those came with the game long lost.