Home might be where the heart is, but it is seemingly not where Harry Kane does his best work. Ninety-five goals and counting on the road in the Premier League, a second half-strike securing a crucial Tottenham victory at Brighton.
His side were already one to the good when Kane broke Wayne Rooney’s away goals record, Cristian Romero having unwittingly grabbed his first since arriving in the summer before the break. Up to fifth on the overall list for Kane, one more than Frank Lampard, and just two behind Sergio Agüero’s 180.
For how much longer he remains one of their own who knows. Kane might not himself have the answer, with much resting on Tottenham’s final Premier League standing. But while he remains in situ, the goals will flow and the fans will serenade him.
“You know very well that he started this season struggling a bit because he didn’t score a lot,” said Antonio Conte. “Now we are very happy because as a manager I know I have a world-class striker who can score in every game.
“Every single player knows having Harry in your team makes you stronger. But at the same time, Harry is starting to understand that with this team, the way we are playing, he has many chances in every game to improve this record. I am seeing him enjoying playing his football with us.”
And so, once more Tottenham jolt forward, learner drivers yet to master the pedal. In Conte they have a fine instructor but pulling away smoothly remains a work in progress. Lose; win; repeat. That must stop.
Aesthetically pleasing as their symmetrical start to 2022 has been – eight wins and eight defeats – consistent inconsistence is a trait Conte will deplore. “It’s right to have ambition and I put ambition to my players,” he said. “Because it’s important to have a target – a difficult target for sure: fourth place is not simple. But at the same time, I know we are ready to fight in every game.”
Tottenham, unchanged from the weekend’s ultimately pointless trip to Old Trafford, lacked a little zip initially. Unsurprising, given double-game weeks are not Conte’s “thing”. They were though almost given a gift-wrapped perfect start, Lewis Dunk’s innocuous back pass was dealt with too causally by Robert Sánchez. Kane successfully charged down the clearance before rolling wide.
From there they met stoic resistance from a compact Brighton before gaining a fortunate opener. Dejan Kulusevski – quietly excellent since arriving in January – shot from the edge of the area, the ball spinning away from Sánchez courtesy of a deflection off the loitering Romero. Conte swivelled and punched the air.
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The second was a classic counter, the host’s attack becoming porous defence when Rodrigo Bentancur sent Kane racing away. The goal a formality, the celebrations delayed by a VAR check, a fizzy pop bottle volleyed in joy. Kane would twice later almost turn provider but both times Sánchez denied Sergio Reguilón.
A dirty half dozen of consecutive defeats for Brighton means their season has petered out. Their owner, Tony Bloom, spent the afternoon watching his horse Energumene triumph in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, before being chauffeured the near 150 miles back to the Amex. A hasty return journey cannot be ruled out.
Their problem is that bubble-wrapped safety-scissors have more cutting edge than their frontline recently. Neil Maupay is on a cold streak, only able to draw blood literally by leaving Eric Dier to play 85 minutes a la Terry Butcher. It was nothing vicious.The closest man to beating Hugo Lloris was one of his teammates, Bentancur with an odd attempted first-half clearance from 30-yards that floated just over. Plenty of huff and puff, but no shots on target and just one goal in six.
There will be no amateur over-dramatics from Brighton supporters. They appreciate how far they have come in a short space of time. Yet football fans crave entertainment, and the large handful of empty blue seats around the Amex had multiplied rapidly well before the close. There are, after all, cheaper ways to be entertained than 10 goals in 15 home league games. “We need to use the pain we’re suffering at the moment to try and get that next win,” said Graham Potter.
Spurs fans returned to London with their faint top-four hopes flickering. Their issue has been that against the five sides immediately above them, their haul is a pitiful three from a possible 24 points.
Starting with West Ham’s visit on Sunday, that needs addressing.
