LEEDS: Tottenham hammered Leeds 4-0 on Saturday to put a smile back on the face of Antonio Conte and plunge Marcelo Bielsa’s team deeper into Premier League relegation trouble.

The visitors, who had lost four of their previous five league matches, were 3-0 up at half-time after goals from Matt Doherty, new recruit Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane.

A late strike from Son Heung-min following a pinpoint pass from Kane completed the rout at Elland Road.

The win lifted Tottenham to seventh in the Premier League, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand as they bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

It also brightened the mood of Spurs boss Conte, who insisted on Friday he was committed to his job after comments following their midweek loss at Burnley had cast doubt on his future at the club.

“I’m pleased for my players,” Conte told Spurs in-house media. “Today I asked for answers, not only about footballing aspects, but especially in the character, in the spirit, in the desire, the will to fight, the will to win duels.

“Today, in a difficult game — don’t forget to play against Leeds away, in this stadium, is not easy — to have these types of answers is good for me.” Leeds enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first half and had an early chance to take the lead but Pascal Struijk’s header flew just wide.

Spurs took the lead in the 10th minute with a breakaway goal.

Harry Winks set Ryan Sessegnon free on the left and his centre was perfect for Doherty to arrive at the far post and slam home.

Five minutes later it was 2-0. Kulusevski did not appear to pose a danger when he had a ball by the corner flag but he wriggled free, exchanged passes with Doherty and beat Illan Meslier at his near post.

The home side went agonisingly close when defender Robin Koch hit the post but Spurs, looking sharp on the break, were 3-0 up within half an hour when Kane produced a clinical finish from a tight angle following a delightful ball over the top from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Tottenham posed a constant threat after the break and went close to extending their lead on multiple occasions, with Meslier keeping out efforts from Doherty and Sweden international Kulusevski.

THIRD-STRAIGHT LOSS FOR NORWICH

On Friday, Che Adams and Oriol Romeu both got on the scoresheet as Southampton beat basement club Norwich City 2-0, condemning the Canaries to a third straight loss.

Norwich were punished for sitting back in the 36th minute as Scottish international Adams came out on top in a goalmouth scramble, scooping the ball home at the second attempt for his seventh Premier League goal of the season.

Having dominated possession, Southampton should have been out of sight by the break, but Mohamed Elyounoussi wasted two great chances, first sending a volley into the ground that bounced up straight at the keeper and then dragging a shot wide just before halftime.The visitors did not manage to register their first shot on target until deep into the second half and when Kyle Waker-Peters volleyed straight at the keeper, a second goal for Southampton seemed almost inevitable.

Elyounoussi wasted another great opportunity in the 87th minute but the second goal finally came a minute later as Romeu connected perfectly with a loose ball to fire home and inflict another dismal defeat on the visitors.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2022