Spurs climb above City

Son Heung-min struck late to fire Tottenham into second place in the Premier League yesterday as Gonzalo Higuain opened his account for Chelsea in a five-goal rout at Stamford Bridge. Spurs looked to be heading for their first league draw of the season at Wembley but Son’s 83rd-minute goal earned Mauricio Pochettino’s men a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle and enabled them to leapfrog Manchester City, who play on Sunday. Chelsea beat bottom side Huddersfield 5-0 thanks to two goals apiece from Higuain and Eden Hazard and a late header from David Luiz as they returned emphatically to goalscoring form.

Tottenham are now just four points behind leaders Liverpool, who are in action at West Ham on Monday, but just as significantly they consolidated their position in the top four after their 19th win in 25 matches. Spurs enjoyed more than 70 percent possession but faced a dogged Newcastle, buoyed by a stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City in midweek that carried the Magpies five points clear of the relegation zone.

An incredible clearance off the line from Fabian Schar denied what seemed a certain goal for Christian Eriksen and Fernando Llorente then looped a golden-headed chance high and wide. But Son again stepped up to the mark, just as he did with an equaliser against Watford in midweek, to compensate for the injured Harry Kane’s absence with his 14th goal of the season. The South Korean had a helping hand from Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who let Son’s powerful effort slip beneath his grasp to undo all his side’s good work.

“It is a massive result to be in a very good position in the table,” said Pochettino. “We don’t need to be in some position like today to convince ourselves about our capacity or potential. We believe in ourselves.” And the Argentine lauded Son’s stamina since he returned from the Asian Cup. “Sonny is like a battery that you have that you work, work, work, work but when the battery is gone, it’s gone,” he said.