Harry Kane ended his Cardiff hoodoo as Tottenham stayed in the Premier League title picture with a 3-0 win in the Welsh capital.
Kane had previously scored at least once against 27 of the 28 Premier League opponents he had faced, with Cardiff the solitary team he had failed to net against in three previous encounters.
But Kane needed only two and a half minutes to put that record straight on New Year's Day, and further goals from Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min provided a swift panacea to the pain of losing 3-1 at home to Wolves on Saturday.
With the transfer window open, might Spurs take the bold step of making a signing in January?
A slew of injuries has impacted Mauricio Pochettino's squad depth, and thus reinforcements may be necessary. Looking ahead to all the potential ins and outs for Spurs, it's Jack Pitt-Brooke:
These two clubs have now met thrice in the Premier League, and each previous encounter has finished 1-0 to Spurs, including at Wembley earlier this season with a Eric Dier's eighth-minute goal securing the home side victory.
You imagine Tottenham would take that again today, but Neil Warnock will have designs on continuing his side's strong recent run. Less than 15 minutes until kick-off in Wales...
It looks as if Bobby Reid may gave begun the game as Cardiff's forward-most player centrally, with the immensely versatile Callum Paterson shifted to the right of midfield.
Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli in support of Harry Kane, with Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko alongside Harry Winks anchoring the midfield.
GOAL! Cardiff 0-1 Tottenham (Harry Kane, 3 minutes)
By pure fluke, Harry Kane has scored against every Premier League team he has faced and Spurs lead!
What a start for Spurs!
Kieran Trippier clips in a dangerous cross that is cut out by Sean Morrison and Sol Bamba, but the pair rather tangle and fail to clear the ball.
Morrison hacks at the loose ball, sending it only into Kane's knee and has to watch in horror as it rebounds off the striker and trickles over the line with Neil Etheridge unable to scramble across in time.
Harry Winks slams the ball down to take a quick free kick and spark a Spurs attack, but Dele Alli's touch is too heavy as he looks to cut inside and Cardiff are able to dispossess him and clear.
Victor Camarasa carries the ball forward but finds his options limited and has to go back to Josh Murphy.
This time Murphy is there to run beyond Kieran Trippier and move onto Aron Gunnarsson's diagonal, but Toby Alderweireld cuts his cross out before Bobby Reid can profit.
Callum Paterson is certainly coming in from the right and has the size advantage over Rose, but the left-back times his intervention perfectly to turn the ball behind ahead of the Scottish utility-man.
GOAL! Cardiff 0-2 Tottenham (Christian Eriksen, 12 minutes)
It's two!
A Cardiff giveaway allows Moussa Sissoko to move down the right, and the Frenchman passes inside for Heung-Min Son in space on the edge of the box.
Christian Eriksen is screaming for the ball unmarked on the left but Son's pass is poor, and should be cut out.
It is only deflected by Harry Arter tracking back, and thus Eriksen is able to pick up the ball, move it out of his feet and drill a perfectly-placed finish into the bottom corner to the right of Neil Etheridge.
Spurs look dangerous every time they move forward, and you sense there a number in the Tottenham team looking to respond after the Wolves disappointment.
Mauricio Pochettino's side have scored with each of their first two shots. Ominous for Cardiff.
It is hard to foresee Cardiff scoring twice and not conceding again, and there is a somewhat resigned air to both the crowd and the Cardiff players at this point.
It might be damage limitation from here, though Cardiff did trouble Spurs early on. What will concern Neil Warnock is how his side rather folded against Manchester United in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game. A repeat would not be pleasant...
The combinations are working nicely for Spurs now, with Dele Alli exchanging passes first with Heung-Min Son and then with Kieran Trippier to move into the Cardiff box.
Sol Bamba makes a timely challenge as Alli tries to cut inside the Ivorian.
Cardiff City vs Tottenham kicks off at 5:30pm (GMT).
Where can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League.
Independent Sport will also keep you up to date with all the action via our live blog.
Player to watch…
Harry Kane: After a slower start to the season, the England international is beginning to find his form and, as a result, the back of the net. He’s scored four goals in his last three matches and can be lethal if the players surrounding him can provide good service. With Kane being one of the best strikers in the world, the Cardiff defence are going to need to be on their A-game.
Form guide…
Cardiff City: WDLLWL
Tottenham: LWWWWW
Odds…
Cardiff to win: 6/1
Tottenham to win: 12/25
Draw: 17/5
Prediction…
Cardiff City 0-2 Tottenham: Similarly to Arsenal, it’s likely that Tottenham will come out quick from the blocks, looking to put right what went so badly wrong at the weekend. Both Kane and Son Heung-min are on top form and I feel Tottenham will be relatively comfortable in this one.
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
