Two first-half goals from Harry Kane gave Spurs a comfortable win against an out of form Huddersfield Town. The home team started brightly but gradually Tottenham asserted themselves and made their dominance tell. Spurs again had the better of the second half but, with one eye on Wednesday's Champions League against Barcelona, understandably eased off a bit and were content to play out time.
Positives
Kane building on his second-half performance against Brighton looks back to something like his best and Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura appear to be developing a nice understanding. Wwhat will please Mauricio Pochettino the most is the first clean sheet of the season. No careless mistakes this time leading to an unnecessarily tight finish.
Negatives
The injury to Jan Vertonghen that saw the Belgian defender withdrawn at half-time. With Dele Alli out for at least a month and Christian Eriksen a doubtful starter for the next two games, Spurs can ill afford to lose another key player as they seek to build momentum to their season.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- Whether his hand was forced by injuries to Alli and Eriksen, Pochettino found the right formation to contain a Huddersfield side short of confidence by reverting to a back three of Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Vertonghen. His half-time substitutions of Harry Winks and Victor Wanyama also slotted in nicely.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Paulo Gazzaniga 7 -- Made several decent saves and will be pleased to have secured Tottenham's first clean sheet of the season. Though his handling is secure, his kicking is suspect. That being said, the third-choice goal keeper is making a claim to go above Michel Vorm in the pecking order.
DF Kieran Trippier, 7 -- Put under little pressure defensively and -- in the first half especially -- was able to take up some useful attacking positions. His inch-perfect cross was headed in by Kane for Spurs' opener.
DF Davinson Sanchez, 7 -- Has looked off the pace and out of sorts in previous outings this season, but even though this wasn't his most testing day, he still showed encouraging signs he might be playing himself back into form.
DF Toby Alderweireld, 7 -- Gave little away all afternoon and won almost every aerial battle with the Huddersfield attack. Seems to have sorted out his differences with the club over the summer transfer that never happened and looks keen to reassert himself as a first-team regular.
DF Jan Vertonghen, 7 -- Picked up what looked to be an injury to his thigh midway through the first half. After five minutes of treatment, he carried on before being substituted at the interval. Spurs will be praying it's nothing serious.
DF Danny Rose, 7 -- Another player who seems to be regaining some form now that he is getting a few first-team starts. In control defensively and linked well with the attack, drawing the foul that led to the penalty.
MF Eric Dier, 6 -- The one player who doesn't appear to have fully recovered from his World Cup exertions. Gave the ball away far too much and his decision-making was poor. Pulled back from the midfield to deputise for Vertonghen after the break.
MF Mousa Dembele, 7 -- One of his more anonymous days. Seemed to find it difficult to link play between defence and attack in the absence of Eriksen and struggled either to impose himself to adjust to the tempo of the game.
MF Lucas Moura, 7 -- Perhaps a little selfish at times, electing to shoot or go at it alone when teammates were better placed, but you have to admire both his confidence and the pace at which he runs against defenders. Whenever he has the ball at his feet, opposition players fear the worst.
MF Son Heung-min, 7 -- Combined well with Moura, especially in the second half, and played an exquisite reverse pass that led to the penalty drawn by Rose. Probably needs a goal to make himself feel really at home again in the starting lineup.
FW Harry Kane, 8 -- Had a good chance blocked early on when through one on one but took his other two goals with pleasing assurance. It looks as though the Spurs' talisman is now firing on all four cylinders again. Eased up in second half.
Substitutes
MF Victor Wanyama, 7 -- Brought on at half-time for Vertonghen and slotted in nicely. Looked good on the ball and even took up a couple of threatening attacking positions.
MF Harry Winks, 7 -- Came on for the second half for Dembele who had picked up a minor knock and showed some nice touches and good vision. Another useful 45 minutes of rehab as he comes back from injury.
MF Moussa Sissoko, N/R -- Late replacement for Son as Spurs played out time. Barely had a touch.