Postpublished at 72 mins

72 mins

Tottenham 1-0 Middlesbrough

Tottenham now much more patient. They have no problem in going backwards where as earlier there was an obvious desire to play forward and stretch the visitors across the pitch. They look like they've dropped to second gear for a spell.

Ben Davies brings down Adama Traore on halfway and that's a foul. He's a tad lucky not to go in the book there.

Image source, Reuters

Harry Kane is captain of my fantasy football team today purely because I forgot to change my XI from midweek. He's one of few performers in the side and ultimately has just safeguarded his place for next week. The rest of them are vulnerable.

Image source, Getty Images

Jim Jiber: Boring celebrations are the best, just like wearing black boots. Better than a rarely used learned dance a la Pogba/Lingard.

You are all ganging up on poor old Harry Kane's celebration. I'm with Jim. Rehearsing a dance which probably belonged to some long-lost tribe is not cool.

Calum Chambers joins Bernardo in the club of those players utterly done up by Son Heung-Min. This time the South Korean times his run perfectly to steal in behind the Boro full-back. He's left one against one with the last man and opts to shift the ball onto his left peg and strike. It cannons off the outside of the near post.

A key moment then as Son Heung-Min went down. It looked cut and dry, though as Matthew Upson said, there was only light contact. Ultimately, his trickery did for Bernardo.

Middlesbrough now have a real uphill task on their hands and Spurs can attack the inevitable spaces the away adventure will present.

David Randall: Harry Kane's goal celebration is almost as boring as Alan Shearer's (sorry Alan)

"He's one of our own, he's one of our own..."

The Spurs faithful praise Harry Kane after his 14th league goal of the campaign.

Spurs now riding high and Christian Eriksen forces a parry.

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

There's not a massive amount of contact, I don't know if there's even enough to make Son hit the floor.

But I could never see any other outcome than a goal once the penalty was given. Harry Kane has such belief, and his ball-striking is phenomenal. His penalty-taking is of real high quality.

I'm really interested to see how Middlesbrough react, they're going to have to come out and try and get something from this game now.

Image source, Reuters

Son Heung-Min goes down in the area under the challenge of Bernardo and Mark Clattenburg stands still and points to the spot.

Son was crafty, he sold Bernardo and dragged the ball back onto his left peg, going down over the defender's trailing foot. There was contact.

Image source, Reuters

Toby Alderweireld beats the ground in anger after lampooning a cross-field ball out of play. Signs of frustration at the Lane.

A rare attacking area for Middlesbrough but Alvaro Negredo is in a wide area, they need him in the box. He cuts in to cross but can't been the first man. The ultimate crossing sin.

Still though the away side are brighter in this second period. It's finely poised isn't it? Too much enthusiasm could be their undoing.

They win a corner right in front of their own fans but Spurs clear.

Victor Valdes is down smartly to turn Christian Eriksen's powerful hit from 18 yards around the upright.

That all came about as Fabio showed a heavy touch, allowing Harry Kane to spring an attack.

Image source, AP

The touchmap of Mousa Dembele is interesting. With 58 touches he has seen more ball than any player but he barely enters the final third. He's the epitome of discipline it seems.

One wonders if Spurs need both him and Victor Wanyama out there?

One of them could bomb on? Surely they will at some point.

Image source, .

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

Tottenham will be hoping for a little more quality in the final third this half, they need to do a little bit more to push a result over the line and earn those three points that will keep them in the title race.

This image pretty much sums up Middlesbrough so far. Dogged.

Bodies around the ball in danger areas, plenty of conviction in the tackle. Once more, Harry Kane breaks into the area but before he can work shooting space Adam Clayton is there to nip the ball off his toes.

Image source, Getty Images

Just the two Middlesbrough touches in the Tottenham area in that first half. But they begin with some early zip in the second period as Stewart Downing gets into the area to see a cross blocked.

Image source, .

Tom McQuillin: Middlesborough playing with the classic formation of a back 8.

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

I've been really impressed with Middlesbrough's back four, I think Gibson has had an outstanding game so far and he's really marshaling that defence well.

They need to make sure they don't drop too deep though, because Tottenham will continue to up the pressure in the second half.