Harry Kane's magical season continued on Saturday as he celebrated his first senior England call-up with his first Premier League hat-trick as Tottenham Hotspur beat Leicester City 4-3 at White Hart Lane.
Premier League: Manchester City cruise past 10-man West Brom
A landmark day for Kane and Spurs, though, was marred by an injury to their captain, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had to be replaced after two minutes with a badly gashed knee and ended up being taken for treatment in hospital.
Twice, Spurs had allowed the League's bottom-placed team back in the game after going 2-0 ahead and then 4-2 up with five minutes remaining but, ultimately, Kane's latest heroics guaranteed the win that keeps alive their hopes of a Champions League place next season.
The 21-year-old has quickly become the Spurs fans' favourite this season, lauded as "one of our own" after developing through the club's youth ranks from the age of 11.
None, though, could have predicted the meteoric nature of his ascent this term.
‘It was a fantastic performance’
He now has 29 goals in all competitions this season, including 19 in the Premier League -- making him the top flight's leading marksman -- and is set to become the first Spurs player since Gary Lineker in 1991-92 to score 30 goals in one season.
His first after six minutes on Saturday was swept in from close range when the ball fell perfectly to him after goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel failed to clear properly while his second after 13 minutes deflected off a Leicester defender.
He then sent Schmeichel the wrong way from the penalty spot after 64 minutes to put Spurs back in front after Leicester had battled back to 2-2, and then he went close to a fourth minutes later only to sky a difficult volley over the bar.
"I think he had a fantastic game, it was a fantastic performance and I am very pleased for him with his first ha-trick in the Premier League. It is impossible to speak better of him," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
"But we need to improve defensively. That is part of the process because we are such a young team but for Harry, he is getting closer to the top."
Man City cruise past 10-man West Brom
Manchester City retained their slim title hopes thanks to a 3-0 win against 10-man West Bromwich Albion.
Much-maligned after their Champions League exit in Barcelona on Wednesday and a league defeat by Burnley last week, City were helped by a bizarre refereeing decision in the second minute in which West Brom's Gareth McAuley was sent off instead of Craig Dawson in a case of mistaken identity.
Wilfried Bony, who had been hauled down by Dawson only for referee Neil Swarbrick to send off McAuley, later scored his first City goal and Fernando and David Silva completed the win to mark Manuel Pellegrini's 100th game in charge of the club.
Arsenal win against Newcastle
Arsenal are hot on their heels after a 2-1 victory against Newcastle United.
Arsenal, knocked out of the Champions League by AS Monaco on Tuesday, remain one point behind City after victory against Newcastle at St James' Park means the Gunners have now won their last six league matches.
Olivier Giroud struck twice in four minutes in the first half but they had to dig deep in the second half after Moussa Sissoko pulled a goal back for Newcastle.
"The last 40 minutes were difficult because our legs had gone a little bit and Newcastle played very well in the second half," manager Arsene Wenger said.
"We know we have a fight first to be in the top four. We go step by step, game by game."
Sixth-placed Southampton stay above Spurs on goal difference after their 2-0 win at St Mary's against struggling Burnley who remain in the bottom three.
Dutchman Dick Advocaat's first game as Sunderland manager ended in defeat as his side were beaten 1-0 at West Ham United, Diafra Sakho striking late for the Hammers.
Crystal Palace came from a goal down to beat Stoke City 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium, while Aston Villa's recent resurgence came to end with a 1-0 home defeat against Swansea City.
