Hull City exit with a whimper as Harry Kane leads Spurs rout

It began in August with issues regarding the Tigers’ pitiful number of senior professionals which stood at 13 following a disastrous and disorientated summer which drew mirth and no little amusement from the club’s Premier League rivals

It ended in May with more embarrassment, the Tigers’ supporters forgiven for struggling to keep count as rampant Spurs heaped more numerical humiliation upon their side – on a barmy afternoon when the difference in class between both sides represented a chasm.

On an occasion which Hull had much cause to lament – with sections of home supporters in the North Stand making their feelings known towards the Allam family at the final whistle – their fanbase still managed to stand four-square behind Marco Silva.

It was wholly admirable in the circumstances – more especially after the club’s heaviest home defeat in history – and said everything about the impact and hope provided by the Portuguese when once there was none.

Chants of ‘Marco Silva, we want you to stay’ were aired at the start and they did not relent at the game’s conclusion, despite the hosts shipping seven goals on an afternoon when they could have easily conceded 10.

But the smart money is increasingly on Silva’s spell in East Yorkshire being a fleeting one, with Sunday likely to have been a swansong. Some send-off.

The likes of Watford and Southampton are being strongly linked and while Silva admitted to feeling touched by the unstinting support shown in his direction, emotion will not cloud his judgement when he makes a decision on his future.

Silva, who is due to speak with Hull’s owners on Wednesday, with his contractual commitments having now ended, said: “It is not the moment (to decide). I need to analyse and see what is not just the best way for the club, but me as well.

“You cannot decide everything with your heart. Of course, it (support) is important. It is fantastic to me, but I need to think and decide what is the best way for my career.

“If I only look for the connection between us and the fans, it is important to say no. But I need to look for other things as well.”

David Soul was at No 1 with Silver Lady on the previous occasion that Hull beat Spurs in East Yorkshire – way back in October 1977.

A silver lining by way of their popular manager remaining is the only thing that would lift the dark clouds almost four decades later, but there was no sunshine yesterday.

Spurs may have lost 5-1 to a relegated club in Newcastle United on the final day of last season, but they ruthlessly turned the tables on a Hull side who had the misfortune to bump into them in ravenous goalscoring mood.

Pitted in a three-way joust for the Golden Boot with Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, Harry Kane secured his prize in scintillating fashion, with his second hat-trick in the space of four days following his four-goal haul in Thursday’s 6-1 blitzing of Leicester City – to take his league goals tally to 29.

It proved a bewildering afternoon for Hull, right from the moment that Kane scored two early goals in the space of two minutes with the Londoners swiftly moving through the gears in devastating spells early on in the piece and late on.

It took Spurs’ points haul to an impressive 86 points, a total which would have been good enough to secure the title in nine previous top-flight seasons.

Hull had their own 80-something statistic to reflect upon. Namely, the concession of 80 league goals in what has been a brutal campaign.

The spree began on 11 minutes when Kane’s unerring low shot flew past the recalled David Marshall and Spurs’ golden boy soon added a second from close in after smart play by Eric Dier and Kieran Trippier.

The two moments ended the game as a serious contest with Spurs fans in party mood and soon indulging in chants of support for Hull’s ex-White Hart Lane contingent of Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Ryan Mason.

A fine save from Marshall denied Heung-Min Son another before the break, but it was a temporary reprieve with Delle Ali effortlessly steering home Son’s pull-back moments before the interval, with Omar Niasse having been dispossessed.

Hull, pepped up by the introduction of Kamil Grosicki, did have a mini-spell on the restart and after Hugo Lloris splendidly turned away Niasse’s effort, Sam Clucas did manage to pull one back following Niasse’s backheel.

But Spurs moved up the gears remorselessly in the final quarter to leave Hull floundering on the canvas. First, Victor Wanyama nodded in Christian Eriksen’s free-kick before Kane became just the sixth Premier League player to record back-to-back trebles after coolly firing home following Ali’s pass.

An exocet from Ben Davies heaped further ignominy upon Hull before Toby Alderweireld turned in Trippier’s cross, the torture ending a dishevelled finish for the hosts.

Hull City: Marshall; Ranocchia, Dawson, Davies (Grosicki 45); Elabdellaoui, Huddlestone, N’Diaye, Clucas, Tymon (Robertson 73), Bowen (Elmohamady 72); Niasse. Substitutes unused: Jakupovic, Mbokani, Batty, Olley.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier (Dembele 73), Wanyama; Eriksen, Alli (Sissoko 73), Son; Kane (Janssen 79). Substitutes unused: Vorm, Wimmer, Lesniak, Nkoudou.

Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).