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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Harry Latham-Coyle

Tottenham continue bid for top four with win over Huddersfield

Tottenham enjoyed a comfortable afternoon at the office as Lucas Moura netted a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Huddersfield.

Victor Wanyama opened the scoring before the Brazilian took over scoring three times to move Spurs into third place in the race for the Champions League places.

Here's how it all played out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Tottenham Hotspur vs Huddersfield Town.
Good day all.
 
Tottenham Hotspur's new stadium tasted its first famous victory in midweek, Mauricio Pochettino's side battling past Manchester City to take a huge step towards the Champions League semi-finals.
 
But the victory came at a cost, Spurs rocked by the rolling of Harry Kane's ankle, losing their talismanic striker for the rest of the season. In the midst of a tight top four battle, Pochettino could ill-afford an injury of such nature, and as they return to Premier League action, there are selection questions to be answered.
 
Relegated Huddersfield are the visitors to Spurs' new home, and team news is imminent...
 
​Team News - Spurs
 
With the second leg to come next week, Mauricio Pochettino rotates the Tottenham side. There are starts for Juan Foyth, Davinson Sanchez, Kyle Walker-Peters, Victor Wanyama, Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente, leading the line in Kane's lieu.
Team News - Huddersfield
 
Huddersfield manager Jan Siewert is already looking ahead to next season with little to play for with relegation confirmed. Three changes for the Terriers, Isaac Mbenza missing out through illness.
 
There is still a novel nature to Spurs' palatial new home but with Tottenham two-wins-from-two and firmly back in form, it seems both fans and players are rather enjoying the fresh furnishings.
 
 
This will be Spurs' 13th game without Harry Kane since August 2015, of which Spurs have won nine and lost just once, against Manchester United. 
 
A small sample size, and they are resting other influencers in forward areas with no Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli, but they have shown an ability to adapt in his absence before.
 
Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura are expected to form the front two today. Thunder and lightning...
 
 
While we know Harry Kane's injury is not an insignificant one, we are still speculating on the exact nature of his ankle issue with a confirmatory scan to come next week.
 
You suspect a few Premier League clubs (or soon-to-be Premier League clubs) will have half-an-eye on Huddersfield this afternoon, perhaps identifying targets to dig around for in the relegated bargain bin. 
 
Perhaps their shining light in their two years in the top division has been Aaron Mooy but the silky Australian is only on the bench today. Among the eleven this afternoon, then, potential targets could  include Dutch centre-half Terence Kongolo and left-back Erik Durm (who have both spent time at the highest level of European competition), while Karlan Grant has shown promise since arriving in January.
 
A 4-1 defeat to Leicester City last time out for Jan Siewert's side...
 
Indeed, Huddersfield's record since Siewert's arrival is rather grotesque.
 
Ten games, nine defeats, rooted to the bottom.
 
But, and whisper it very, very quietly, they can go 19th with a win today.
 
Meanwhile Spurs have rosier targets in their sights, namely Chelsea in third. A win would be enough to usurp their fellow Londoners to return to the head of the pack behind the title-battlers.
 
Kick-off is less than 25 minutes away.
 
A figure of rejuvenation in Spurs' season, Moussa Sissoko has become a key man and starts again today.
 
While the Frenchman still has some glorious moments of chaotic nonsense, these are becoming fewer and further between, and his energy and enthusiasm has carried the side at times.
 
Kyle Walker-Peters celebrates his 22nd birthday with a start at right wing-back for Spurs this afternoon.
 
Will he also be celebrating a win? The teams have disappeared back into the dressing rooms and we are almost ready to get things underway.
Right. Into the first strains of 'Duel of the Fates'. Hardly a war of the stars but an intriguing Premier League fixture nonetheless.
 
Not an empty seat in the house, it seems. The first Saturday action at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is here.
KICK OFF
The whistle of Lee Mason signals the beginning of proceedings. Tottenham kick things off.
1 minute
 
It looks like a 3-4-3 for Spurs with Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura supporting Fernando Llorente from wider rather than the latter alongside the Spaniard and the Dane behind.
2 minutes
 
Huddersfield's formation is a little harder to decipher, partly because the bus has been parked already, rather.
 
That isn't a particularly promising sign. A burst of pace from Lucas Moura forces Jonathan Hogg into a desperate lunge, conceding a free kick just outside of the Huddersfield area in a very central position.
3 minutes
 
Which Christian Eriksen duo rattles into the wall.
 
A long launch forward on the follow-up is well contested by Lucas Moura's springy leap, and Ben Hamer fumbles, but a clever pat down reaching over the Brazilian's shoulder enables him to collect the loose ball and escape danger.
5 minutes
 
The crowd chants Moussa Sissoko's name as the Frenchman produces a typical surge through midfield, though, as so often, his eventual cross is poor after an exchange with Kyle Walker-Peters.
 
Tottenham have settled into their stride rather nicely here, though they aren't facing the most rigorous of opposition.

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