Lucas hat-trick sinks Huddersfield

Lucas Moura hit a superb hat-trick as we registered our third straight win at our new stadium to overcome bottom club Huddersfield Town with an assured performance on Saturday lunchtime.

And, having kept clean sheets in previous wins here against Crystal Palace and Manchester City, we did so again in what was a comfortable 4-0 victory, the visitors having just one shot on target all game.

It was Victor Wanyama who got the ball rolling with an excellent opening goal in the 24th-minute, his first since scoring against Liverpool in February last year, before our Brazilian forward took over with his treble. His first came just three minutes later to double our lead and we completely dominated the contest without adding to our tally until Lucas scored twice in the final few minutes to wrap up a fine win and take us back to third in the Premier League table.

After a relatively quiet start to the game, we went ahead when Ben Davies played a pass infield to Fernando Llorente - in for the injured Harry Kane as one of seven changes from the midweek Champions League win over City - on the edge of the area and although the ball missed him it fell to Wanyama, who skipped past Terence Kongolo, dummied goalkeeper Ben Hamer and rolled it into an empty net. And, with our tails up, we added a second three minutes later, the outstanding Moussa Sissoko leading the charge forward before sliding the ball in to Lucas in the inside right channel and he simply smashed the ball past Hamer from 10 yards out.

The Terriers had their first sight of goal moments later, Jon Gorenc Stankovic prodding Juninho Bacuna’s corner wide at the far post, but we were back on the offensive soon after and went close six minutes before the interval when Llorente glanced Christian Eriksen’s free-kick just past the upright.

There was no further addition to the scoreline in the first period, but there so nearly was two minutes after the break when Juan Foyth clipped a ball in to Llorente in the area, who superbly controlled and shot on the turn but his effort smacked against the crossbar. Davies fired wide, Lucas weaved his way past three defenders before firing straight at Hamer from 20 yards and Llorente glanced another header just wide – this time from a Davies cross – as we continued to dominate the game.

But the visitors hit us on the counter in the 70th minute, Karlan Grant racing down the left flank and into the area but his shot was blocked by a combination of Sissoko and Wanyama. And we went straight up the other end with a break of our own, only for Kongolo to deflect Llorente’s effort wide. Huddersfield were coming more into the game in the final quarter and went close again when substitute Steve Mounie headed wide from Jonathan Hogg’s neat pass – and he really should have done better - while Grant blazed wide after another burst down their left. Hugo Lloris then had to make a fine save, pushing Bacuna’s 25-yard free-kick onto the crossbar, which was their first shot on target.

However, it was almost 3-0 moments later as we hit the Terriers on the counter, Kyle Walker-Peters sliding in Eriksen whose first shot was deflected onto the post by Stankovic while his effort from the rebound was blocked by Elias Kachunga. Then with three minutes left, that was indeed the score as Walker-Peters, back in the side on what was his 22nd birthday, showed great skill to keep possession and release Eriksen down the right, he found Lucas with a fine cross to the edge of the area and the Brazilian took one touch before driving low into the corner of Hamer’s net. His hat-trick was complete deep into stoppage time, substitute Heung-Min Son’s pass inside the defender finding Lucas who once again dispatched an excellent finish, the perfect end to a perfect afternoon.

Key moment

The visitors were sitting back and playing deep in the early stages and it could have become a difficult game for us had it gone on too long without scoring, so Wanyama’s opening goal was a big moment in the match.

He showed exquisite control to go past Kongolo and Hamer and it set us on the way to an important three points.

Mauricio's view

Manager Mauricio Pochettino said: "It was a very professional performance, I’m so pleased.

"It was a difficult game beforehand but the players were very good, very focussed. There are a lot of positive things.

"The stadium is fantastic and our fans are amazing. It’s a very good afternoon for everyone."

On opening goalscorer Wanyama, Mauricio added: "It’s always amazing for a player who has been injured for a while to feel the net, to feel the grass, to play 90 minutes and, for Victor, it’s fantastic news that he can be fit again and he can play and help the team like he did."

Meanwhile, hat-trick hero Lucas was lost for words after bagging his first hat-trick as a Spurs player and then enjoying a wonderful moment on the pitch with his young son Miguel afterwards - a real sight for sore eyes.

"What a day, what a game! I am so happy, I have no words to explain this moment," smiled the forward. "I am happy first about my team-mates and the team, we did very well today with a good performance and of course to score my first hat-trick here in the new stadium with my family and my son here... I am so happy."

Reaction on Spurs TV

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Wanyama 24, Lucas 27, 87, 90+3.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Foyth, Vertonghen; Huddersfield – Lowe, Bacuna.

Referee: Lee Mason.

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Weather: Sunny but chilly, gentle breeze, nine degrees.

Attendance: 58,308.