Premier League
HULL CITY 1, SPURS 7

IT has been a fantastic season for Spurs – and they repaid the travelling fans for making a long Sunday afternoon journey to Hull when the league table was already decided with a magnificent seven performance that saw Golden Boot winner Harry Kane smash home another hat-trick.

Kane’s trio of finishes – adding to the four he scored on Thursday against Leicester – confirmed he would be the Premiership’s top scorer for the second season on the bounce. It prompted his manager Mauricio Pochettino to drool over having such a talent in a lilywhite shirt.

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“It is fantastic for him – and his teammates,” said the manager of his number 10, who scored 29 goals despite missing a chunk of the season in the autumn.

“The club and the fans are so happy for him. He deserves their congratulations. He is one of the best in the world.”

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Kane was removed from the action with 15 minutes remaining as he hobbled on the same ankle that robbed Spurs of their talisman earlier in the season – and Pochettino said he was thinking ahead as he withdrew Kane to thunderous applause from both sets of fans.

“It was a moment to take responsibility,” he said.

“Next season the challenge is to score 30 goals, and he needs to keep safe and healthy. He can still improve – he is young and has a will to learn – that is the most important thing about a player.”

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And what a player. Kane went for Hull from the off and fired his side into a two-goal lead within the opening 13 minutes.

Dele Alli made it three before half-time and, while Hull used the break to re-organise and manage a brief rally, striking back through Sam Clucas, it was merely like the Tigers were tweaking another big cat’s tail.

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Victor Wanyama made it four through a header from a Christian Eriksen free-kick before Kane hit his third with a left-footer. The sixth came via a Ben Davies long-ranger, the Welsh full-back’s second of the season and one his compatriot Gareth Bale would have been pleased with. Then, as the Spurs fans chanted they fancied another, defender Toby Alderweireld popped up to finish off Kieran Trippier’s cross.

It was a gung-ho performance full of power, confidence and wit, as if Tottenham were sending out a message that this team are sticking together for the long term.

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With Spurs losing just four times this season, Pochettino also praised his players for taking on board the need to stiffen their resolve.

He said: “It was important from last season to learn. We were trying to put more effort into that mental area. I think we set our level a little higher.”

And he offered a cautiously optimistic message for the future.

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“This is a good platform for us,” he added.

And what a difference to last year’s finale, which saw Spurs spanked 5-1 by relegated Newcastle. Instead, they have shown a ruthlessness in dead-rubber games when they knew the title was already in a west London trophy room and no one below could get near them.

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That Pochettino could motivate when the Pina Coladas are chilling and beach towels laid on sun loungers is a sign of the hunger this young team possess. Third last year, second this – even the most pessimistic of fans will be dreaming of going one better and making it to the top of the tree in 2018/19.

SPURS: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier (Dembele) Eriksen, Wanyama, Alli (Sissoko), Kane (Janssen), Son.
Subs: Vorm, Janssen, N’Koudou, Sissoko, Dembele, Wimmer, Lesniak.

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