Tottenham Hotspur recorded a routine 2-0 home win over Huddersfield Town courtesy of a Son Heung-min double at Wembley this afternoon.
The South Korean got his first on 27 minutes when he ran onto a through ball from Dele Alli and rounded Jonas Lossl, before calmly finishing with his left foot.
Moments after Hugo Lloris had denied Tom Ince from Huddersfield's best chance, Son made it two with a skilful header from Harry Kane's outstanding cross.
While Jan Vertonghen was denied a first Premier League goal in five years by the offside flag, Spurs were content to sit on their two-goal cushion and cruise to victory.
Relive how the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.
Wembley was the scene of Huddersfield Town's greatest modern triumph in May when they secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time. Can the Terriers have another famous day out this afternoon when they take on in-form Tottenham Hotspur? Team news on the way shortly...
TOTTENHAM: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Lamela, Lucas
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Lamela, Lucas
HUDDERSFIELD: Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Zanka, Schindler, Kongolo; Hogg, Williams; Quaner, Pritchard, Van La Parra, Mounie
Subs: Green, Smith, Malone, Billing, Lowe, Depoitre, Ince
Subs: Green, Smith, Malone, Billing, Lowe, Depoitre, Ince
Jan Vertonghen is back for Tottenham after missing their last two matches with a minor muscle strain. Eric Dier moves up into midfield with Victor Wanyama dropping to the bench.
In the only other Spurs change from the late 1-0 win at Crystal Palace last weekend, Son Heung-min is recalled at the expense of Erik Lamela, who is left in reserve along with exciting new signing Lucas Moura. The South Korean scored twice in the 6-1 FA Cup replay rout of Rochdale on Wednesday.
Fernando Llorente registered a hat-trick against the League One strugglers at a snowy Wembley, more than doubling his Spurs goal tally in the process, but that has not been enough to even earn the veteran striker a spot as a substitute today.
Harry Kane returns to lead the Spurs line after a rare game off. Christian Eriksen, who have been in sparkling form in recent weeks, is another of seven players recalled after a midweek rest.
With Serge Aurier suspended for the Champions League last-16 second leg against Juventus on Wednesday, Kieran Trippier is held back for the visit of the Italian champions. So is Danny Rose, and it will be interesting to see whether he gets the nod over Ben Davies, the new first-choice left back.
While Spurs will be thrilled to have Vertonghen back, his Belgian defensive partner Toby Alderweireld is still suffering with his hamstring strain and has been ruled out of the Huddersfield-Juventus double header. Davinson Sanchez provides much better cover than Kevin Wimmer did last season.
As with Llorente, there is no space in the Spurs squad for Harry Winks, whose early-season form forced him into England contention. A bad run with injuries and a dip in form means that he has a battle on his hands to make it into Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad for Russia.
Onto Huddersfield now, and there is a start for former Spurs midfielder Alex Pritchard, who came through the ranks alongside Kane but only ever played twice for Tottenham's first team.
With influential midfielder Aaron Mooy still missing with a knee injury, David Wagner names an unchanged XI from the team which edged out West Bromwich Albion 2-1 last Saturday. Elias Kachunga, Ryan Schofield and Sean Scannel are in the treatment room alongside Mooy.
Colin Quaner makes successive league starts for the first time in 2018 as Tom Ince has to continue to settle for a place on the bench, where he is joined by fit-again die Philip Billing and Chris Lowe.
Paul Merson's favourite footballer - Florent Hadergjonaj - has established himself as first-choice right-back by displacing captain Tommy Smith with a run of fine performances. The centre-back partnership is very settled, with Zanka and Christopher Schindler having missed only one game between them.
Up front, Steve Mounie has the power and presence, as well as the goalscoring touch, to cause problems for Spurs today. The Frenchman has three goals in his last four starts in all competitions.
Mounie's return to form has helped Huddersfield to successive Premier League wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season. A third victory in a row would be the first time in the top flight since April 1956, when Spurs were one of the victims with a 2-1 win for the Terriers.
Hudderfield are also on a decent unbeaten run at Wembley, having avoided defeat on their last four trips to the Home of Football. Spurs, though, have finally found their feet at their temporary home and are 13 league home games without defeat since losing to Chelsea way back in August.
In all competitions, Tottenham are unbeaten in 16 games which is their best run since a similar streak between December 1998 to March 1999 under George Graham. That run did include a League Cup triumph and Spurs will be desperate to make sure this team clinches the silverware they deserve too.
Until they win a trophy, the Harry Kane transfer speculation will continue. The striker has a massive 35 goals in all competitions this season, equalling his tally from the 2016-17 campaign.
STAT: Kane's 24 league goals this season, which keep him above Liverpool's Mohamed Salah at the top of the scoring charts, have been worth 14 points - the most of any player in the competition.
The future of the Englishman may be tied to that of manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has taken Kane's game to another level, by his own admission. Today the Argentine could become the first non-European manager to win 100 Premier League matches.
Pochettino's Spurs have been absolutely ruthless against promoted sides. Tottenham have not lost in their previous 33 encounters with Premier League newboys, winning the last 15 in a row.
Huddersfield's chances of ending that streak appear slim today considering that they haven't kept a clean sheet in seven league outings, and not away from home since a stalemate with Burnley in September.
RESULT: Speaking of Burnley, a second-half comeback against Everton ended their 11-game winless run in today's early Premier League kickoff. Chris Wood scored the winner in a 2-1 victory which has reestablished the Clarets as the best of the rest in seventh in the standings.
That table is looking a lot rosier for Huddersfield than it was a couple of weeks ago. The Terriers have climbed to 14th but remain firmly in the relegation dogfight, only three points from safety.
Victory for Spurs would give them a five-point cushion on fifth-place Chelsea ahead of the Blues' trip to would-be champions Manchester City tomorrow. It would also put Tottenham 10 points clear of fierce rivals Arsenal who are also in action on Sunday, away to Brighton & Hove Albion.
HEAD TO HEAD: Tottenham are hosting Huddersfield in the league for the first time since August 1971, when they won 4-1 thanks to braces from legendary strikers Martin Chivers and Alan Gilzean.
Spurs are unbeaten in six games against Huddersfield in all competitions, since a 2-1 home defeat in April 1956. They thrashed the Terriers 4-0 in September with two goals from Kane.
PREDICTION: Tottenham are in great form at Wembley in the league, and have knocked off promoted sides for fun in recent seasons. They should get all three points this afternoon although Huddersfield may work them hard for it in the first half. I'll plump for a 2-0 home win.
The snow has caused havoc to today's football programme but all of the Premier League games will go ahead, even if the weather has deterred a few from making the trip to Wembley where kickoff is imminent.
KICKOFF: Tottenham get the action underway, with Huddersfield in their changed black strip and pushing forward early on with a cross from Quaner nearly breaking to Mounie in the box.
Spurs show their counter-attacking threat but springing forward at pace. Kane has plenty of space down the left and bodies up in support, but the pass to Eriksen is cut out by Kongolo.
Son has just brought Wembley to its feet with a mesmerising dribble which saw him get away from four Huddersfield defenders. Rather than take a shot from the edge of the box as he loves to do, he shifts the ball right to Aurier whose low cross towards Kane is turned away by Schindler.
This is shaping up to be a more open game than we may have expected and Spurs are benefitting from that early on. Kane and Alli have come very close to getting on the end of each other's crosses.
Pritchard's reunion with his former club might not last long, with the creative midfielder having limped away from a strong challenge from Eric Dier. Wagner will hope that he can run it off.
Spurs switch the ball quickly to Aurier, who feigns to cross and instead slips the ball down the line to Alli, who nearly gets a shot away but is squeezed out of it by Schindler.
Kane engineers himself his first shooting opportunity cutting in from the left, but surprisingly opts to try to find the overlapping run of Davies with a backheel which he overcooks.
Zanka gets a good block in to divert a Son shot behind for a corner, from which the ball falls to the feet of Kane but more good Huddersfield defending prevents him spinning and shooting.
SAVE! Son has been the livliest player on the pitch in the opening salvos and he brilliantly turns away from Hadergjonaj and whips in a low cross which Kane meets at the near post, only for Lossl to make a brave block from point-blank range.
WOODWORK! Eriksen, without a free-kick goal in the Premier League for over two years now, nearly sees that drought ended as his 30-yard hit is deflected onto the post. Lossl was completely wrong-footed by the richochet, and Spurs inches away from taking the lead.
YELLOW! Alli is the first player to be booked this afternoon for a cynical tug on Quaner on the halfway line. Huddersfield may play the wind-up game with the tempestuous midfielder now.
Huddersfield are enjoying a better spell in the last few minutes but have yet to fashion any sort of chances. Midway through the second half and Hugo Lloris hasn't had a shot to save.
However, that is still an improvement on the reverse fixture for Huddersfield. Twenty three minutes into the game at the John Smith's Stadium and they were already three goals down.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 HUDDERSFIELD (SON HEUNG-MIN)
Tottenham take the lead and Son is the player who has his deserved goal. Hadergjonaj plays a suicidal offside, stepping up to allow Son to latch onto Alli's through-ball, and the South Korean rounds Lossl and finishes calmly with his left foot.
That is Son's first goal in six league games, and his 14th of the season in all competitions. Pochettino had a tricky call between him and Lamela today but has definitely got it right!
SHOT! Huddersfield get their first shot away as Van La Parra, who runs at Aurier, cuts inside and shoots weakly towards the bottom corner, with Lloris falling on the ball very comfortably.
SUBSTITUTION: Wagner has made an early change, but it is Quaner rather than Pritchard, who continues to look worse for wear, who makes way for Tom Ince in an apparently tactical switch.
Aurier stands a cross up to the far post which Kane heads back towards the danger area, but holding midfielder Hogg retained his discipline to follow the run of Alli and intercept.
SAVE! Kane works half a yard in the box to unleash a powerful low shot which was made a difficult save by virtue of how close it was to Lossl, who adjusts his body well to keep it out.
Mounie can't be having much fun chasing the ball on his own while Tottenham's defenders pass it around him with ease. The Frenchman is running a lone race with the rest of his teammates having been pushed back by what has been consistent Spurs pressure.
Van La Parra has been Huddersfield's one bright spark, relatively speaking, and runs at Aurier again down the left. The cross is partially blocked and Lloris comes off his line to claim the ball, with only the dimunitive duo of Pritchard and Ince in the box for the Terriers.
While Spurs will be pretty pleased with how things have gone and are comfortable at 1-0, they will want to wrap this game up quickly to give Pochettino the option of resting a couple of key players ahead of the big European clash with Juventus on Wednesday.
SUBSTITUTION: Pritchard has played through the pain barrier right up until the stroke of half time, when he has been replaced by Philip Billing. Wagner didn't want to wait, and winds the clock down with Spurs threatening a second had it not been for a couple of poor Alli crosses.
HALF TIME: TOTTENHAM 1-0 HUDDERSFIELD
Spurs are on their way to a third victory in the space of a week thanks to a strike from Son Heung-min, who has been the best player on the pitch during a first half absolutely bossed by Spurs.
It was a difficult first half for Huddersfield, who were not only chasing shadows for much of the opening 45 minutes but were also forced into two early substitutions, with Colin Quaner the victim of a tactical change and Alex Pritchard the victim of a heavy Eric Dier challenge.
STATS: The half-time numbers are reflective of Tottenham's dominance, with the hosts enjoying 75% possession and five shots on target compared to Huddersfield's one. Jonas Lossl has saved twice from Harry Kane, much to the frustration of Fantasy Football managers everywhere!
LATEST: Elsewhere in the Premier League's 3.00pm kickoffs, Swansea lead West Ham 2-0 and Bournemouth are 1-0 up at Leicester. Watford vs. West Brom and Stoke vs. Southampton remain goalless. Stay up to date with all of the latest scores in our live commentaries section.
Huddersfield really have their work cut out in the second half, as they have only gained one point from losing positions this season. Also, Spurs are unbeaten in the last 36 leaue games in which they have been leading at the break.
KICKOFF: The whistle is blown by Kevin Friend to get the second half underway. Friend was not the designated referee for this game, but had to step in as fourth official after Mike Jones suffered an injury in the warm up. A qualified referee from the stands has deputised for him!
Dier, a very accomplished crosser of the ball, takes up an advanced position in the right channel and delivers into Kane's, whose run had been followed all the way by Schindler at the expense of a corner.
The travelling Huddersfield fans are trying to get behind their side after some good high pressing prompts mistakes from Vertonghen and Dembele, who escape with a corner which comes to nothing.
Spurs are adamant that they should have had a penalty when Son is felled in the box. A grounded Kongolo does drag him down with his arm but the South Korean took far too long to get a shot away from eight yards out. He was offside when he received the ball anyway so justice is done.
SAVE! Finally Lloris has something substantial to do as Ince is set free one-on-one with Davies. He takes the shot on early from 25 yards and Lloris makes a strong diving save.
GOAL! TOTTENHAM 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD (SON HEUNG-MIN)
Son has a second but he owes a huge thanks to Kane for this assist of the season. There does not seem to be anything on for the striker as he is ushered down the right wing, but he delivers an outstanding deep cross for the run of Son, who superbly steers a header back across Lossl and inside the post.
DISALLOWED Vertonghen thinks that he has scored his first Premier League goal in five years when he heads Eriksen's set piece past a stranded Lossl, only for the assistant's flag to cut short of celebrations. Huddersfield played the trap well, playing four Spurs players offside.
That second goal now gives Pochettino the luxury of possibly making some substitutions with Juventus in mind. Dembele doesn't often play 90 minutes twice in a row so may be the first to be saved.
YELLOW! Frustrations boil over from Huddersfield after a difficult hour as Hogg charges in on Aurier and gets a yellow card, which may have been red with a less lenient referee.
The Terriers try going direct to Mounie whose pace causes momentary panic in Sanchez before Dembele comes across to sweep up the danger. The striker has had no service to work with today.
Dier lifts a ball over the top of Kongolo for Son, but Lossl is alert to the danger and is off his line quickly. The South Korean might be dropped if he scores a hat-trick anyway, just ask Llorente!
Mounie gets in between two Spurs defenders and Van La Parra picks out his run, but Davies is on hand to make an excellent covering tackle and preserve Tottenham's clean sheet.
Kane flicks a ball around the corner for Aurier who had made a very good run into the box, but Schindler makes an important interception. Huddersfield will be determined to keep the score down as goal difference could be vital in the relegation scrap.
SUBSTITUTION: No hat-trick today for Son as he is taken off with 20 minutes to go, but he may have earned his starting spot for the Juventus game ahead of his replacement - Erik Lamela.
Billing delivers a great cross which Sanchez has to glance away off the head of Mounie.
As it stands, Tottenham will climb above Liverpool into third in the table. However, the Reds could soon reverse that as they are in action against Newcastle United in today's 5.30pm kickoff.
SUBSTITUTION: It is little surprise to see Dembele spared the final quarter of this match as Moussa Sissoko replaces him. The Frenchman's only league goal for Spurs was in the 4-0 win over Huddersfield earlier this season.
CHANCE! Kane peels off his marker to meet an Eriksen corner with a first-time shot from 15 yards out, but he does not get the accuracy right and it ends up a couple of yards wide.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Both managers make their final change as Lucas Moura comes on for Alli and Laurent Depoitre replaces Hogg to join Mounie in a two-man Huddersfield attack.
It looks as though it will be a rare goalless day for Kane, whose latest shot is blocked by Hadergjonaj.
Huddersfield have not gone into their shell in this second half and accepted their beating. Even now they are taking the game to Spurs and that spirit could be what keeps them in the top flight.
SHOT! Moura travels with the ball with speed and grace and feeds Kane down Tottenham's left but the shot from the striker lacks conviction, and it isn't often that you can say that.
There will be three minutes of added time for the visitors to endure. It has not been as memorable a trip to Wembley for the Huddersfield supporters as that they enjoyed last May, that's for sure.
FULL TIME: TOTTENHAM 2-0 HUDDERSFIELD
A routine 2-0 home win for Spurs, with Son Heung-min bagging both the goals, and another correct prediction to add to my tally for the season - I think that's two in total. Tottenham are, temporarily at least, up to third, while Huddersfield drop to 15th after their winning run is ended at Wembley.
You can read a match report on Tottenham's fourth successive home win here, and that's it from me. But do stay with Sports Mole for coverage of this evening's encounter between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield, which always throws up something special. Thanks for joining me today!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
