Tottenham 4-0 Bournemouth: Harry Kane strikes on return to starting XI as hosts record resounding win.

It is fifty years since Tottenham last won seven league matches in a row. That means half a century, a significant chunk of a lifetime, has passed since Tottenham were quite so buoyant. Seventeen points separate them from Arsenal and the 22-year burden of not finishing above their north London rivals will finally be lifted. Manchester United are trailing in their wake, meaning a top-four finish is all but assured.

No-one, Southampton apart, matches their production line of young talent. An impressive stadium is rising next to White Hart Lane. They have one of the best young managers in the game. On Saturday there was even a goal from Vincent Janssen, his first in the Premier League from open play. So when they play as well as they did on Saturday, you can imagine the club being on the cusp of something really special.

One thing is missing, however: significant trophies. Next weekend they have a hugely-significant FA Cup semi-final, ironically against Chelsea. But nor have they quite yet given up on Chelsea's prospective Premier League title. Their display on Saturday indicated that they won't do so until their rivals are finally over the line. Bournemouth were simply swept away. Mousa Dembele, with help from Eric Dier, ran the game. Christian Eriksen, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli provided artistic touches. Harry Kane, starting again, weighed in with a clinical finish.

They are in scintillating form and much of this winning run was achieved without their supposedly irreplaceable centre forward. In fact Tottenham were so far superior in every regard that when Bournemouth finally did register a shot on goal - from Charlie Daniels, in the 74th minutes, which Hugo Lloris easily saved - their own fans cheered ironically and started to sing: 'We've had a shot!' On the touchline, Pochettino literally bounced up and down in delight at times but there were also outbursts of Spanish cursing, stomping, runs down the touchline and all-round agitation. He clearly felt they could be better.

'It was game we must win because you want to pressue on your opponents,' he said. 

'The idea was to translate to the players that nothing is enough; always try to play better and concentrate. Now, if they fail, we will be there. The pressure in on Chelsea to try to win at Old Trafford. It will be a tough game for them. It would be fantastic if tomorrow [Sunday] night we keep the gap to four points. Still, four points is a lot. They are the favourites. But, yes, we are fighting.'

Bournemouth though are in danger of making the end of season unnecessarily uncomfortable. 'Destiny is in our hands,' warned Eddie Howe. 

'The danger is that everyone says your safe. We have to focus the players' minds that we're not. I think they know that. They know what they have to do.' 

Amidst an excellent Tottenham performance, Jack Wilshere couldn't help but be centre of attention at White Hart Lane. Arguing the toss over a 15th-minute free kick conceded incurred further wrath from an already hostile Tottenham crowd, and precipitated a five-minute spell where his errors contributed to Bournemouth's downfall.

First his attempted chest down close to his own area on 17 minutes put his side under pressure, though he could not be blamed for the basic error Simon Francis made. As the ball broke and ran towards the goal-line, Francis shepherded it safely out for a goal kick only for the referee to award a corner. And from Eriksen's corner kick and Toby Alderweireld's flick, Bournemouth defended abysmally, Steve Cook allowing Dembele to steal in at the far post to strike home. 

Just two minutes later, Wilshere made a rash pass which was blocked by Dier and back healed by Kane into the path of Son. His touch allowed him to sprint past Cook all to easily to score from a sharp angle through Artur Boruc's legs, his eighth goal in six games.

There could have been many more. There was Boruc's sharp save from Dembele's strike on 12 minutes, Boruc saving again this time from Eriksen on 37 minutes and a delightful move on 40 minutes which culminated on Son teeing up Eriksen, whose strike just cleared the bar. On 47 minutes, a chipped ball into the box from Dele Alli found Kane and though the England striker demonstrated quick and nimble feet to extract a yard of space, Francis was woefully inadequate in keeping him tight. Given his opportunity, Kane struck and the game, at 3-0, was gone.

So too was Wilshere shortly afterwards. A clash with Kane saw the striker inadvertently clatter Wilshere's left ankle. Unforgivably he was taunted by the Tottenham fans even as he lay on the ground, that his injury had 'happened again.' Thousands joined in the chant. They must all struggle with the line between rivalry and basic decency. Wilshere looked desperate as he tried to run it off. But he had to concede his unhappy afternoon was over and he left the ground on crutches.

Tottenham's afternoon was made just about perfect with the last kick of the game. On as a late sub, Janssen, a rare blot in this season's landscape, connected with a Son cross and fired at Boruc's feet. He re-gathered himself for the rebound to shoot home from close range to obvious delight all round. If Janssen is scoring, all things are possible for Spurs.