Tottenham 1 Middlesbrough 0: Harry Kane penalty closes gap on Chelsea to nine points as Arsenal, Liverpool lose

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Alex Young @alexwsyoung4 February 2017

Tottenham cut Chelsea's lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points with a comfortable 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.

The only goal came from the penalty spot, Harry Kane converting just before the hour mark, but the hosts' dominance could have seen three or four put past Victor Valdes.

Mauricio Pochettino & Co. move three points clear of third-placed Arsenal and four clear of fourth-placed Liverpool as their faint title hopes are kept alive.

Spurs welcomed back Hugo Lloris after illness but the influential Danny Rose is out so replaced by Ben Davies.

The hosts started the game as they finished it, with the ball, but their 71 per cent possession in the first half was continually wasted by poor decision-making in the final third.

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A very positive start saw Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen with overlapping runs from Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele as Heung-min Son darted around on the left flank.

The South Korean had the best chance early on, racing into the area from an Alli pass but his shot was too weak to bother Victor Valdes.

That was as close as Spurs went before the break. Harry Kane found the back of the net, with Son again involved, but was correctly ruled offside.

Middlesbrough, though showing little-to-no invention themselves, would have been delighted at going in at the break still level after an impressive rearguard display.

It was more of the same after the break as frustrations continued to grow inside White Hart Lane but Son remained lively and, just before the hour mark, won his side a penalty.

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Showing quick feet, Son was tripped by Bernando Espinosa for a clear spotkick and Kane sent Victor Valdes the wrong way from 12 yards.

Middlesbrough quickly introduced Cristhian Stuani and Adlene Guedioura as they looked for an equaliser but that only proved to stretch the game further which Spurs relished.

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With the lead all but secure, Mauricio Pochettino's side were in no rush to add to their advantage and sat back to invite Middlesbrough onto them - a tactic that almost backfired as Marten de Roon missed a golden injury-time volley for the visitors.

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