West Brom 0-1 Tottenham: 'Special' Harry Kane scores 150th goal in win
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Only Alan Shearer (212) and Sergio Aguero (217) scored their 150th Premier League goal in fewer appearances than Harry Kane (218)
Manager Jose Mourinho hailed Harry Kane's "special" qualities after the striker's 150th Premier League goal earned Tottenham victory at West Brom.
A third successive league victory temporarily lifted Spurs to the top of the table on Sunday before Leicester replaced them after their 1-0 win against Wolves.
A game of few chances seemed destined to end goalless after Hugo Lloris had kept out Darnell Furlong's second-half header and a flurry of Tottenham chances had come and gone without reward.
But, as has been the case so often in the past, Kane punished a minor lack of concentration to head home an 88th-minute winner.
Mourinho said: "This guy does much more than scoring goals. For example, last five minutes he was playing as a number six and winning balls in front of the defence. Special."
He added: "Harry Kane you have to say has this many goals, this many assists, this number of balls recovered, this number of duels won. This number of balls that he saved his team in defensive set-pieces. This is Harry Kane. It's goals plus this and this and this and that."
The England captain's latest feat comes only days after he scored his 200th goal for the club. Midfielder Eric Dier paid tribute to his team-mate's latest "fantastic record".
He said: "He broke one in midweek and now he has another one. It won't affect him too much, he will want another 150."
The decisive moment arrived when West Brom's defence failed to track Kane's run into the box, allowing him to leap unchecked to meet Matt Doherty's cross and guide the ball over goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
For West Brom, who have now scored once in their last five games, it was a result that keeps them in the relegation zone and already facing a tough battle to retain their top-flight status.
Spurs are title contenders
It is too early for Spurs fans to get carried away, but when you look at some of the players who did not even make Mourinho's matchday squad - Harry Winks, Davinson Sanchez and Steven Bergwijn - there is no reason why they should not be competing for the biggest prize.
Apart from the start of his final season at Manchester United, when they played a day before everyone else, this was the first time a Mourinho side topped the Premier League - albeit briefly - since September 2017.
West Brom 0-1 Tottenham: Jose Mourinho praises Baggies' spirit
Mourinho has infused grit and organisation into an already top side - not to mention added Gareth Bale.
The Welshman was not at his best on this occasion but, starting a Premier League game for the first time since 2013, he formed a potentially lethal attacking trio alongside Kane and Son Heung-min that will not be easily subdued.
Son could have made life a lot easier for Tottenham if he had taken an early chance that came his way, but the South Korean took far too long to set himself when in space at the far post and Kyle Bartley blocked the shot.
After that, it was a succession of long-range shots, none of which threatened Johnstone's goal.
And when Doherty had an effort saved near the end, it seemed Spurs would have to settle for a point.
But Kane had other ideas to send Tottenham into the international break in a very healthy position, with Manchester City and Chelsea their next two opponents.
Mourinho said his team would have to grind out some wins, like Sunday's, in order to attain a "good position in the table".
He told BBC's Match of the Day: "I feel satisfaction because we won and have 17 points and have 12 in 12 possible away from home. That compensates the dropped points at home, and for this reason I am happy."
The Portuguese boss added: "The Premier League is the most difficult one to be, because in the Premier League you can do a good season, can have lots of points, but in the end: Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester, Arsenal. So you can have a good season and not be champion."
Life is hard at West Brom
It has not been an easy few days for West Brom. Defeat at Fulham on Monday brought criticism from Bilic and the absence of veteran defender Branislav Ivanovic was not helpful.
Ivanovic and Matheus Pereira both tested positive for coronavirus in the week, meaning more shuffling of a West Brom squad that has looked short of the class required to drag themselves out of trouble near the foot of the table.
West Brom 0-1 Tottenham: Slaven Bilic says side can stay up with consistent performances
Bilic could not be accused of lacking desire. Quite vocal to start with, by the time the first half was over he had edged on to the pitch as he tried to give instructions, sometimes barely feet from the players.
West Brom do have some decent players - including 20-year-old midfielder Conor Gallagher, who is on loan from Chelsea - but they rarely look as though they can score.
Karlan Grant flicked a Furlong cross out for a throw-in at one point, despite being offered a free header six yards out, while the former Huddersfield forward might also have converted had Eric Dier not got his head to a Callum Robinson cross as it was dropping almost on the goalline.
As the Baggies know only too well, the Premier League is a harsh environment - and unless they start scoring, they face a hard task avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.
'I don't feel under pressure' - reaction
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "I am very pleased with the way we played against a top side. Every game is an opportunity, and we showed if we play like this, play committed like this and show awareness in every second of the game then, of course, we will have chances to win the game. Extremely positive, but at the same time gutted about the result.
"This is a kind of bonus game when you play against Spurs. It shows if you have chances in this kind of game and we continue like this then we will have a genuine chance to stay in the league.
"I don't feel under pressure. I told the guys don't think in a negative way that we did not win the game. The wins will come with performances like this."
Are West Brom set for the drop? - stats
Tottenham have won each of their opening four away games of a league season for just the fourth time in their history (also 1949-50, 1960-61 and 2017-18).
West Brom have failed to win any of their first eight games of a league season for only the second time, having last done so in 1985-86, when they would go on to be relegated from the top flight.
Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in back-to-back away league games for the first time since October 2018.
West Brom have failed to score in back-to-back home Premier League matches for the first time since doing so in four in a row from April to May 2017.
Kane has been directly involved in 27 goals in his last 14 starts for Tottenham in all competitions, scoring 17 and assisting 10.
What's next?
West Brom's next game is a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday, 21 November (15:00 GMT). On the same day, Tottenham entertain Manchester City (17:30).
Watch 13 first-round ties on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app this weekend. Find out more here.
