Harry Kane slams Portsmouth and moves closer to Tottenham’s record | FA cup

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When Harry Kane positioned himself on the edge of the area, left of centre, and promptly did the math, slowing his pulse, there was a sense that everyone within the pitch knew what was going to happen. All eyes were on the far corner of Portsmouth’s net. Duly followed the ball.

On this day in 1970, Jimmy Greaves scored his 265th goal for Tottenham – in the FA Cup victory over Bradford. It was Keane’s 265th, and more importantly, moved him one goal short of Greaves’ all-time record.

Kane’s 50th-minute finish came after a one-two with Ryan Sessegnon and his arrow away from Joe Morrell. This was the highlight of the tie in the third round as Spurs eased off the lead in the second half, having been bluffing until halftime.

Portsmouth are in crisis after sacking manager Danny Cowley on Monday after winning 14 League One matches. The decision was made in a desperate attempt to revive the dream of promotion. Under a sponsor, Simon Bassey, they did what they could reasonably have expected but the gap in the class was just too wide.

Kane now has 17 goals for the season. Tottenham’s next game is the derby here against Arsenal next Sunday, which will be some time for them to equalize or even surpass Greaves. They had not lost at home to lower league opposition in the FA Cup since 1975, when they were upset by Nottingham Forest – managed by B Clough. Thanks to Ken, the sequence won’t be in danger.

“I try not to think about it – sometimes you can think too much,” Keane said of Greaves’ record, but he will certainly think about his tally against Arsenal over the coming days. Kane has 14 in the match. No player has scored more in a North London derby.

Portsmouth were determined to seize the day, to mitigate the turmoil that surrounded them, and the 9,000 spectators were in full gear. They were encouraged by what they saw in the first half, including an early shot from Rico Hackett-Fairchild that forced Fraser-Forster back.

Harry Kane is congratulated by his Tottenham team mates after scoring his 265th goal for the club. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters

Tottenham were paced and predictable before half-time, and Antonio Conte’s much-changed side struggled to dismantle the visiting five-man backline, which was protected by a disciplined midfield trio. Bassi had certainly highlighted the threat of Tottenham on the counter. The key for his team will be to maintain a compact form without the ball, to be quick and sharp when playing. Which they pretty much did.

Tottenham evade the traditional booing in times of conflict but only then. The onus was always on them to make things happen and they failed to do so in the first 45 minutes.

Their best moment came after Kane’s free kick hit the wall. On the rebound, he fed Sessegnon, who crossed for Davinson Sánchez. His header, at length, was just wide of the goal. Kane also fumbled a loose ball after a layup, Denver Hume blocked it, and Son Heung-min spun a volley wide.

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Tottenham had to wake up in the second half. They did. Immediately, there were more urgent and sharper intersections. Emerson Royal flew at the far post to head home a Son cross towards the far corner. Rejected from within the post. Then Kane took over.

According to Conte’s assistant Christian Stellini, the selection of Keane was “mandatory”, despite the striker having started in each of the club’s 26 previous matches this season. Plus all seven England national team. Injury problems elsewhere in the front line played a part. But so did Kane’s desire, his callousness. He simply never wants to step aside.

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“You fell behind us by a world-class player with a world-class finish,” said Bassey. “If he plays with us today, we might go through with him, although I’m not sure that will happen.”

Portsmouth barely managed to get off in the second half as Tottenham surged higher and Brian Gill fired to good effect. It should have been more for Conte’s side, but Oliver Skipp – late replacement for the injured Yves Bisoma – sprinted after Gilles put Kane’s pass onto his plate.

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