Gallery: Player Ratings – Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Huddersfield Town

Lucas – 9

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Yeah, it’s easy to give a ‘nine’ to a player who scores a hat trick, but he deserved it over and above that. He offered himself more than any other player in Spurs’s more ponderous build-ups. Like the threat of Eriksen’s passing, there’s always the threat of his running with the ball. But above all he showed devastating finishing. The first shot was about power, the second touch, improvisation and an eye for the goal. And the last – goodness me! He did something similar against Man U. Lucas, come on, consistency. Can you carry on delivering? It would sure help right now! (Dele a withdrawn striker with Sonny and Moura breaking either side?)

Match Summary

Sometimes it’s a matter of a player just needing the chances to prove himself and a coach who recognises he will reward the time he’s given. Look at the faith Pochettino showed in Sissoko and the rewards he continues to bring as he grows in confidence and stature with every game.

Today it was about Lucas Moura. Kane and Dele injured and Son rested; his moment had come and boy! did he take it. And it wasn’t necessarily the running and speed and dribbling – it was a striker’s instinct and power. A hat trick! And that a performance that bodes well for us in the coming weeks.

Your heart goes out to those Huddersfield supporters still travelling with fourteen points total for the season. To be honest, it was pretty good of the players themselves to come all this way after the season they’ve had!

Predictably enough they shuffled from side to side like two banks of table football defenders and for twenty minutes Spurs operated conservatively. Then Wanyama scored a goal of practice ground ease and the stage was set for Lucas Moura.