Kane bags hat-trick as Tottenham sinks West Brom
Harry Kane hit a hat-trick as Tottenham thumped West Brom 4-0 to move up to second in the Premier League table.
Ahead of the game against Tony Pulis' men, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino cautioned his players against dropping off after a major win over a title rival – noting their seven-match winless run in all competitions that came on the back of a rampant victory against Manchester City in October.
That slump began with a 1-1 draw at West Brom, but the same opponent was ill-equipped to offer similar difficulties to a Spurs side whose speed of thought and foot put them a cut above on this occasion.
Kane scored his 11th Premier League goal of the season in the 12th minute and Gareth McAuley diverted a shot from Christian Eriksen beyond his goalkeeper Ben Foster before the half hour in what was a torrid opening half for Albion.
Foster's excellence, particularly at Kane's expense, was responsible for preventing considerably heavier damage before Spurs' top scorer struck twice in quick succession to claim the matchball after becoming a father for the first time last weekend.
Meanwhile, Abel Hernandez's superb double helped Hull City beat Bournemouth 3-1 in Marco Silva's first Premier League game.
Abel Hernandez's double and a Tyrone Mings own goal lifted the Tigers to 18th as the three teams who were immediately above them, Sunderland, Swansea City and Crystal Palace, all lost.
Silva had led Hull to victory in the FA Cup in his first game in charge but this was their first win in 10 Premier League games - a run that led to Mike Phelan's sacking.
Robert Snodgrass' form has been the key factor in City clinging on at the bottom, but the burden was lifted off the Scotland international by Hernandez this time, as he headed home to cancel out Junior Stanislas' early penalty before scoring a brilliant solo effort after the break.
Hernandez had not played in the league for two months and his return to the team could prove pivotal for a side that has struggled for goals this term.
Eddie Howe's team had dealt out a chastening 6-1 thrashing in the reverse fixture back in October, but Silva's influence over Hull was apparent as they delivered a performance full of life and spirit.
Its next four league opponents are Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal but a rarely found feel-good factor was back at the KCOM Stadium, as the Tigers allowed their supporters to put aside their recent ire towards the club's owners.
