Moura treble seals comfortable Spurs victory over Terriers

A hat-trick from Lucas Moura as well as a classy opener from Victor Wanyama gave Tottenham a routine 4-0 win over Huddersfield Town at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The win puts Mauricio Pochettino’s team up to third in the table as they put pressure back on their competitors in the race for the Champions League places.

An early Moura burst saw the Brazilian hacked down by Jonathan Hogg around 20 yards from goal to give Christian Eriksen a chance for the perfect start. The Dane’s effort cannoned back off the Huddersfield wall as Tottenham started the aggressors.

Determined work from Jan Vertonghen almost gave Fernando Llorente the chance to head home but the Belgian’s cross was just about dealt with by Hamer, who looked nervous in the Town net.

A Wanyama effort on the counter of the first Huddersfield attack of the game flashed just wide before combination play from Kyle Walker-Peters and Llorente created further chances for the hosts.

Huddersfield were by no means negative in their approach as Jan Siewart’s team exploited the flanks as they attempted to become the first away side to score at Tottenham’s new home.

The goal came instead for the home team on 24 minutes and it was an unlikely scorer. A ball from Davies on the left-hand side was shielded by Llorente for the on-rushing Victor Wanyama to latch onto, round Hamer and coolly slide the ball into an empty net.

It was two soon after. A swift break away initiated by Juan Foyth saw Sissoko drive away. The Frenchman slid Moura in, who from a narrow angle blasted the ball across the goal and into the far corner.

Jon Gorenc Stankovic had a chance to halve the deficit from a Juninho Bacuna corner before the half-hour mark but his volley flew just wide of the so far untested Hugo Lloris’ goal.

Llorente’s continued efforts were blocked by the Terriers defence as the home side looked to add to their tally as half-time approached.

The whistle did come with Spurs two to the good at the break as Mauricio Pochettino’s men gave their manager an easy half-time team talk.

A chest and volley from Llorente crashed off the bar to start the second period as the third and potentially more seemed inevitable.

The game’s tempo had reduced considerably after the restart with the home side perhaps having one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City.

A weaving run from Moura ended in a shot straight at Hamer, the former Paris Saint-Germain player and Eriksen behind much of Tottenham’s positive attacking play.

Former World Cup winner Llorente continued to squander opportunities with his head with Moussa Sissoko imperiously dominating the midfield as Spurs fans have become accustomed to this season.

Fernando Llorente experienced a frustrating day in front of goals despite numerous chances (Photo: Eddie Keogh/Reuters)

Karlan Grant had Huddersfield’s chance of the game when put supposedly clean through on goal but Sissoko sprinted back to block before Spurs broke instantly at the other end with Llorente again failing to convert.

Superb skill from Juan Foyth drove Tottenham into the Huddersfield box moments later before a Walker-Peters cross was fired over by Ben Davies.

Steve Mounie’s header looked destined for the net with fifteen minutes to play but the chance went agonisingly wide for the Town fans ready to celebrate behind the goal.

The chance signalled Huddersfield’s best spell of the match as Siewart’s change of shape resulted in an increase of possession and chances.

Juninho Bacuna’s free-kick was tipped onto the bar by Hugo Lloris before a Tottenham break saw Eriksen’s deflected shot strike the post.

An Eriksen ball in for Moura gave Spurs their third. After Walker-Peters failed to crumble under Huddersfield pressure, the youngster released Eriksen who with substitute Heung-Min Son and Moura arriving pulled the ball back to the Brazilian, who expertly touched and volleyed home for his second of the game.

The fourth came in injury time for Moura to complete his hat-trick. After being rolled into the penalty area by Son, Moura found the top corner to leave Hamer no chance and leave north London with the match ball.

The result will come as a relief to Pochettino who has successfully navigated the fixture without any further injury problems as Spurs rise to third and Huddersfield stay bottom.

Attendance: 58,308

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris (GK) (C), Vertonghen (Rose, 84), Sanchez, Walker-Peters, Foyth, Davies, Wanyama, Sissoko (Skipp, 74), Eriksen, Moura, Llorente (Son, 87)

Tottenham Hotspur unused substitutes: Gazzaniga (GK), Trippier, Alderweireld, Marsh

Huddersfield Town XI: Hamer (GK), Kongolo, Schindler (C), Löwe, Durm (Mounie, 69), Hadergjonaj, Hogg, Bacuna (Williams, 90+3), Stankovic (Mooy, 82), Kachunga, Grant

Huddersfield Town substitutes: Coleman (GK), Smith, Zanka, Williams, Pritchard