Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3.
CardiffCardiff City0TottenhamTottenham Hotspur3
Tottenham need to be consistent if they want to be Premier League title contenders, says manager Mauricio Pochettino after his side strolled to a 3-0 win at Cardiff to climb back up to second.
Spurs fell to a shock 3-1 home defeat by Wolves on Saturday but ruthlessly exposed Cardiff's flimsy defence with three goals before half-time on Tuesday.
Harry Kane bundled in a fortuitous early opener in the third minute and Christian Eriksen nestled a fine strike into the bottom corner nine minutes later.
Son Heung-min added a third in the 26th minute and, from that point, the untroubled visitors seemed to ease off a little.
Cardiff at least registered their first efforts on target in a low-key second half but the damage had already been done and they remain 16th in the table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
By contrast, a sixth victory from seven league matches narrows the gap between Spurs and leaders Liverpool to six points, with the Reds away at third-placed Manchester City on Thursday.
"We were so relaxed and kept calm, it was so important. We showed Wolves was just an accident," Pochettino said.
"It's a crazy fixture list - it's normal that in some games we can drop our mental energy.
"The most important thing is to find a way to be consistent if we want to be contenders. We need to believe more in us. We are in a process of doing fantastic things."
Spurs' title tilt back on track
Successive thrashings of Everton and Bournemouth had added weight to the notion Spurs are genuine contenders to win the Premier League, even if Mauricio Pochettino had described his side as "intruders" in the title race.
Their growing sense of optimism was punctured by that loss to Wolves - but this display suggested it was a mere aberration.
Whereas Wolves were disciplined and resolute, on this occasion Spurs were presented with a charitable Cardiff defence - which they punished clinically.
The opening goal arrived inside three minutes and in farcical fashion. Kane played the ball wide to Kieran Trippier, whose cross fell to Sean Morrison but the Cardiff defender only succeeded in playing the ball on to Kane's knee before it bobbled into the net.
It may have been a lucky strike for the England captain but it was also a significant one, as it meant he has now scored against all 28 of the Premier League teams he has faced.
Tottenham had countered swiftly and accurately to set up that opportunity, and it was a similar tale for their second goal as Son teed up Eriksen, who deftly shimmied into a shooting position before arrowing a low effort into the bottom corner.
Son, who has been in sparkling form of late, then got in on the act as he received a pass from Kane and finished neatly from a tight angle.
At this point Spurs looked set to give Cardiff a hammering, but instead Pochettino's men showed a little mercy.
After a congested festive period of fixtures, it may have been an attempt to conserve Spurs' energy, which is perhaps a wise approach with far tougher challenges to come.
"We suffered with four games in 10 days. I want to congratulate the players. I'm so pleased with the effort," Pochettino said.
"We felt disappointed [after the Wolves loss] and we wanted to show our energy from the beginning. After 20 minutes we showed how we wanted to play and were clinical.
"Today we showed great energy and maturity that we want. Now we need to keep that level and consistency throughout the season if we want to be there and fight for big things."
Cardiff's survival bid takes a hit
If Spurs travelled to south Wales still reeling from their loss against Wolves, Cardiff entered this match with morale arguably as high as it ever has been this season.
Victor Camarasa's brilliant added-time winner at Leicester had given the Bluebirds their first away victory of the campaign in dramatic fashion on Saturday, ensuring they started 2019 three points clear of the relegation zone.
However, they never looked like extending that cushion here.
Before this fixture, Cardiff had lost their previous 14 games against the Premier League's big six sides and conceded 45 goals in the process, 22 of which had come in their six defeats this season.
It was hardly a surprise, therefore, that the Bluebirds were cut to ribbons by Spurs.
But even with the visitors' might in mind, Neil Warnock was irritated by the submissive nature of the defending from his side, who had kept clean sheets in their previous matches against Leicester and Crystal Palace.
With Huddersfield the next visitors to Cardiff City Stadium on 12 January, Warnock will drum into his players the importance of that fixture to ensure there is no repeat.
"When we start off like that we shoot ourselves in the foot," he said.
"All the planning goes out of the window. The goals were disappointing but they were too good for us in the first half. But that's life and you move on.
"I was pleased we hung in there because it's easy to throw the towel in when you're 3-0 down to a team like this. Four points in three games over a difficult period is good really.
"We have had a great season so far. Players were told what they were doing and two or three let me down a little in that respect defensively today. We were playing for pride in the end."
Man of the match - Christian Eriksen
Son's impressive streak - the best stats
- Spurs have won each of their four Premier League games against Cardiff - only Manchester City (seven v Bournemouth) and Arsenal (six v Reading) have a better 100% record against an opponent in the competition.
- Spurs are still to play out a draw in the Premier League this season (W16, D0, L5); just the ninth occasion in top-flight history that a team has gone 21 or more games into a season without drawing.
- Cardiff have the same number of points this season (18) as they did after 21 games of their only previous Premier League campaign (18 in 2013-14), however they do have a worse goal difference this term (-22).
- Cardiff have conceded 25 goals across their games against the 'big six' teams in the Premier League this season; the most of any side.
- No player in Premier League history has scored more goals on New Year's Day than Tottenham's Harry Kane (five - a joint-high with Andrew Cole and Steven Gerrard).
- Son Heung-min has been directly involved in 11 goals in his last eight starts for Spurs in the Premier League, scoring eight and assisting another three.
- Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen has scored 19 goals from outside the box in the Premier League; the most of any player in the competition since his debut (September 2013).
What's next?
Both sides are in FA Cup action - Tottenham travel to Tranmere Rovers on Friday, 4 January (19:45 GMT) while Cardiff are away at Gillingham a day later (15:00).
Tottenham then play Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on 8 January. Their next league game is against Manchester United on 13 January.
Cardiff's next league match is at home against relegation rivals Huddersfield on 12 January.
Line-ups
Cardiff
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Etheridge
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 4Morrison
- 22BambaBooked at 53mins
- 18Cunningham
- 17Gunnarsson
- 13Paterson
- 21CamarasaSubstituted forRallsat 59'minutes
- 7Arter
- 11MurphySubstituted forHoilettat 45'minutes
- 14ReidSubstituted forMendez-Laingat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Peltier
- 3Bennett
- 8Ralls
- 12Smithies
- 19Mendez-Laing
- 24Madine
- 33Hoilett
Tottenham
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Lloris
- 2Trippier
- 6D Sánchez
- 4Alderweireld
- 3Rose
- 8Winks
- 17Sissoko
- 23Eriksen
- 20AlliSubstituted forLlorenteat 86'minutes
- 10Kane
- 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forSkippat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 16Walker-Peters
- 18Llorente
- 21Foyth
- 22Gazzaniga
- 27Lucas Moura
- 33Davies
- 52Skipp
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 32,485
Match Stats
Home TeamCardiffAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home27%
- Away73%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Tottenham Hotspur 3.
Post update
Offside, Cardiff City. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing tries a through ball, but David Junior Hoilett is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt missed. Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Callum Paterson (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Harry Kane.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Kieran Trippier following a corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Fernando Llorente replaces Dele Alli.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Aron Gunnarsson.
Post update
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).
Post update
Attempt missed. David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Greg Cunningham.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Eriksen.
Post update
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sol Bamba (Cardiff City).
Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Oliver Skipp replaces Son Heung-Min.
Comments
Join the conversation
...They need to reduce the number of teams in the league
__
Maybe they could just allow the best club in each city in it, like Man City, Liverpool, Spurs etc.
I’d like to point out to you that Cardross is a pleasant little town on the Firth of Clyde between Glasgow and Loch Lomond with a fine golf course, the beautiful Geilston Gardens and Ardardan Estate nearby.
Kindly refrain from using this in your rants in future.
Hmmm
It was less ‘cauldron’....more like someone filling a kettle with lukewarm water. And it doesn’t matter how big your hearts when you defend like Clowns!
Job done Spurs, against very timid opposition!
Spurs are a good side and deserve the praise esp this LFC fan who has been very impressed with Spurs! They may have lost a few games but bounces back to win shows they are challengers to us and City!
COYS
Would be good for football.
United supporter
Considering it was 90% welsh fans and a few Son / Spurs fans the players of Spurs could not have done more
Every single one of them was out taking selfies and signing /chatting with fans
Great set of young decent lads
Credit to a world famous and thoroughly decent football club
their own ground emptied on 70 minutes. legendary fans. not.