Harry Kane scored two of Tottenham’s four second-half goals as they finally secured a Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
Kane’s superb close-range header from Ivan Perisic’s cross was the first time Spurs had taken a 1-0 lead in a game since October 15. They had conceded the first goal in all 10 games in between.
He then drilled a low second past Brian Gill into the bottom corner.
The England captain has now scored 264 goals for Spurs, just two behind Jimmy Graves’ club record.
Kane, making his 300th Premier League appearance, had a hand in his next two goals as well. First he got Son Heung-min, who picked Matt Doherty for the home slot.
And then he teed up Son with a long ball which the South Korean smashed home, via a deflection, to end a 12-game scoreless run for club and country.
A satisfying score at the end after a very sloppy first half.
Had Palace taken one of their chances before the break, with Hugo Lloris well denying Jordan Ayew, it could have been very different.
Constant Kane gives Spurs what they need.
In a crazy world, it’s nice to have something or someone to trust. For the Spurs, that steady source of comfort is Kane.
The headlines before the game were once again around manager Antonio Conte and his latest references to wanting more investment in his squad and doubts over his long-term future.
Kane, like the entire Spurs team, was below his best in the first half. But it came to life in the second half.
As he leapt above two defenders to curl in a header at the far post, it was the 11th consecutive calendar year that Kane had scored for Spurs.
His second was his 198th Premier League goal in 300 games.
Then it was others’ turn to score, with Doherty scoring his first goal of the season.
With Dejan Klosewski still injured – and Conte not knowing when he will return – Son’s return to the scoresheet is timely.
It was only the second Premier League game in which the South Korean, who shared the Golden Boot last season, has scored all season.
Coincidentally, the goal made him the fourth player to score on his 200th Premier League start for Spurs, after Teddy Sheringham, Kane and Aaron Lennon.
Game of two halves for Palace
Palace, whose boss Patrick Vieira had insisted on more consistency before the game, should have led at the break.
Lloris denied Ayew, Joachim Andersson shot just wide from long range and Michael Oleis fired wide.
They scored seven tries in a row between Kane’s tries in the 24th and 44th minutes.
Palace, who moved up to 12th, actually had more chances in the second half than in the first but many of them were squandered for long stretches of the game.
