Cristian Romero and Harry Kane on target as Spurs ease past Brighton

For how much longer he will remain one of their own who knows. Harry Kane himself may not have the answer; much rests on the next ten games and Tottenham’s final place in the Premier League standings. But for so long as he remains in situ, the goals will come, and the fans will serenade him.

Kane’s side were already one to the good when Wayne Rooney’s away goalscoring record was broken, Cristian Romero having unwittingly grabbed his first since joining before the break. As they do, Brighton started the second half brightly. As Kane does, he made the finish look easy, having been fed Rodrigo Bentancur on the counter. He has 95th league goals on the road and the Champions League dream rolls on.

Once more Tottenham jolt forward, learner drivers yet to master the pedal. They have a fine instructor but pulling away smoothly remains a work in progress. Lose; win; repeat. That must stop. Aesthetically pleasing as their symmetrical start to 2022 has been - eight wins and eight defeats - consistent inconsistence is a trait Antonio Conte will deplore.

A dirty half dozen of consecutive defeats for Graham Potter’s Brighton means their season has petered out. Owner Tony Bloom spent the afternoon watching his horse Energumene triumph in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, before being chauffeured the near 150 miles back to the Amex. A quick return journey may have been on the cards.

There will be no amateur over-dramatics from Brighton supporters. They appreciate how far they have come in a short space of time. Yet football fans crave entertainment, and the large handful of empty blue seats around the Amex had multiplied rapidly well before the close. There are, after all, cheaper ways to be entertained than 10