To anyone who thought Harry Kane was just a flash in the pan, the Tottenham Hotspur striker would like to respectfully disagree. His hat-trick saw Spurs thrash AFC Bournemouth 5-1 this afternoon.
It took only 49 seconds for Bournemouth to open the scoring – but Harry Kane needed just 54 minutes to get his three. Kane dominated the Cherries in every phase of the game and his incredible performance helped Spurs run away with the game in the second half en route to an impressive victory on the road.
Here, CaughtOffside rates how Mauricio Pochettino’s side performed at the Vitality Stadium…
SEE MORE: Hat-trick hero Kane back on track with help from delightful Eriksen assist
GK: Hugo Lloris – 6/10
Lloris loses points for being caught unawares for the first goal, but from then on he could do no wrong – or rather was not needed to do that much right due to Tottenham’s domination of the game.
DF: Danny Rose – 6/10
Rose had a hot-and-cold game, clearing the ball four times but also conceding several fouls and drawing a yellow card.
DF: Jan Vertonghen – 6/10
After the first goal, the Spurs defence really settled down and started playing more compact. Vertonghen would not let the Cherries anywhere near the goal for most of the match.
DF: Toby Alderweireld – 7/10
Not sure whether to credit Alderweireld for getting open so easily from corners or to criticise him for not capitalising on it enough. With eight clearances, he was sound defensively too.
DF: Kyle Walker – 7/10
Good defensive effort by Walker who had the Bournemouth left on lockdown for most of the match.
SEE MORE:
Arsenal player ratings: Giroud nets again as Cech makes crucial intervention
Liverpool could welcome Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino back to action vs Southampton
(Video) Carroll goal sinks Chelsea as miserable Mourinho is sent off
MF: Erik Lamela – 7/10
His goal in the first half essentially ended the game, but other than that Lamela was quiet and far too rash in the tackle, conceding numerous fouls.
MF: Mousa Dembele – 7.5/10
Got his first Premier League goal since February to put Spurs into the lead in the first half. Seemed to pick up a knock in scoring and was replaced by Mason after the break.
MF: Eric Dier – 7/10
Dier distributed the ball extremely well and was very efficient in his work in the middle of the park.
MF: Dele Alli – 6/10
Got to the ball a lot, but made a few too many silly errors in trying to impress that likely would have cost Tottenham against a better team.
MF: Christian Eriksen – 8/10
A delightful assist for Kane’s second goal. Could have got on the scoresheet himself with a brilliant shot which smashed the crossbar and whipped in some dangerous corners. Great outing for Eriksen.
FW: Harry Kane – 10/10
What more is there to say about Kane? His finishing was clinical and precise and this treble should give him a great deal of confidence going forward. Made mincemeat out of Bournemouth’s defence.
Substitutes:
Ryan Mason – 5/10
Tottenham were no worse for wear after deciding to give Dembele a breather. Mason didn’t see the ball much though and took things easy.
Clinton N’Jie – 6/10
Had just a few moments on the field in relief of Harry Kane, but Clinton made the most of it and came painstakingly close to scoring within moments of getting onto the pitch.
Kierran Trippier – 5/10
Trippier’s presence wasn’t really needed in the final few minutes of the match, but the Cherries still never came close to scoring a goal with him on the pitch.