Fortune Smiles on Tottenham in Rampant Premier League Victory over Bournemouth

Tottenham have played well enough to put five goals past plenty of sides this season. 

Their consistently good play was always going to bite sooner or later. Unfortunately for the Cherries, it bit on the south coast. 

Spurs' form has run parallel to that of Harry Kane. Both the club and their star striker have been putting in solid performances without getting their just returns. 

The 22-year-old has been a consistently important part of Spurs' attack despite failing to score regularly. 

His self-belief had appeared to be waning in previous weeks, but he still had the confidence to take a fine penalty and level the match at the Vitality Stadium. 

A 5-1 win over Bournemouth, with Kane scoring a hat-trick, could be described as reversion to the mean.  

Any prognosticator worth the name could have seen a result like this one coming. 

However predictable this result was, Bournemouth's first-minute goal threatened to derail it at the outset.

Mauricio Pochettino had restored the solid central-midfield pairing of Eric Dier and Dele Alli against Eddie Howe's side but they could do little to stem the tide in the early minutes. 

Even with Mousa Dembele, himself an effective holding player, deployed ahead of Alli and Dier, the Cherries were unbowed.

The home side found it easy going as they tortured Tottenham's full-backs, both of whom were at fault in the Cherries' early opening goal. 

Three of the back four were playing their second match in four days, and they appeared sluggish in the early exchanges. 

Kane and Christian Eriksen set to work eradicating the deficit and lifting Spurs into the lead, but the defence continued to squirm under intense examination. 

Eddie Howe's side possess attacking players of real quality, but their defence and midfield are so porous that, for now, relegation seems inevitable.

They have been decimated by injury. Five of their most important players are unlikely to play a meaningful role in this campaign. 

This was a match that Spurs needed to win, having failed to get a victory since September 26, while Kane also needed the goals.

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Per Dominic Fifield of the Guardian, Pochettino said, "I never had any doubts about Harry, but it was a very important hat-trick."

That is as near as a manager will come to acknowledging that his striker's goal-drought was a nagging concern and that its resolution is a considerable relief. 

In addition to boosting Kane, the magnitude of the victory has raised Spurs' goal difference to plus eight, which is better than they managed at the end of their last two entire league campaigns.  

While the backline seemed to struggle, they did restrict their opposition to one goal, happily retaining their title of the best defensive record in the division. 

They share that mark of honour with three Champions League clubs; Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City, all of whom are on track to concede 22.4 goals for the season. 

This marks a huge improvement on Tottenham's traditional weakness. Even in 2009-10, when they finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League, Spurs conceded 41 goals. 

This is a strange new era. 

The improved defence has contributed to Spurs' excellent nine-match unbeaten streak. 

If Tottenham can consistently combine the devastating movement of Kane, Eriksen and Erik Lamela with the brutal efficiency of Dier and the dependable back four, only injuries will be able to derail their charge up the table. 

The profligacy of Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc certainly played a significant role in the goals at the Vitality Stadium, but it was no more than Spurs' play deserved.

The fourth goal, featuring Eriksen's wicked assist to Kane, was excellent. 

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Kane's third was little more than a tap-in, but it will buoy his confidence. 

When the transfer window closed with Kane as Spurs' only senior striker, the club was placing its future in his hands. They need their golden boy to perform regularly if they are to flourish this season.

Both will be hoping that this performance really sets their season alight.