Kane penalty keeps Spurs within nine points of leaders

Tottenham re-established a nine-point gap to Premier League leaders Chelsea with a workmanlike victory over Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane.

Chelsea had moved 12 points clear with their impressive 3-1 win over Arsenal in the lunchtime kick-off, but Harry Kane's second-half penalty ensured Spurs did not cede any ground to their London rivals.

Tottenham now have clear air in second place after defeats for nearest challengers Arsenal and Liverpool, although fifth-placed Manchester City could close back to within a point when they play on Sunday.

Tottenham's seventh successive home win was secured when Kane fired home from 12 yards after Son Heung-min was hauled down in the area by Bernardo Espinosa and referee Mark Clattenburg correctly pointed to the spot.

The hosts were without injured defenders Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen, but Middlesbrough did not do enough to put pressure on their understudies, with the visitors failing to produce a shot on target over the 90 minutes.

Boro have won just one of their past 10 matches and are being sucked ever closer to the relegation fight, with one point now separating them from third-bottom Hull City.

Spurs do just enough for victory

This will not go down as one of the great nights at White Hart Lane - far from it - but winning when playing below par is a hallmark of all great teams so there are plenty of positives to take away.

And it should not be forgotten that Middlesbrough's campaign to date has been built on frustrating the opposition, with their 12 away games so far producing just 21 goals in total.

Aitor Karanka's men have drawn six times on the road this term and very nearly succeeded in snatching a point again, and would have done so but for Bernardo's ill-judged tackle on Son, which allowed Kane to score his ninth league goal in his past eight appearances at home.

That spared Spurs the frustration of failing to score in back-to-back league games since May 2015, having been held to a 0-0 draw at Sunderland in their last outing.

The goal aside, Spurs also came close when Christian Eriksen's well-hit shot brought a good save from Victor Valdes, while Toby Alderweireld and Son both hit the frame of the goal and Kane had an effort ruled out for offside.

"We created the chances, we just weren't finishing them," said Kane. "We are delighted with the win. No game is easy in the Premier League. We'll take 1-0."

Spurs on best home run since 2006 - match stats

Tottenham have won 26 of their past 28 Premier League games against newly promoted sides (D2 L0).Tottenham have won each of their past seven home league games, last achieving a longer run in August 2009 (a run of eight).Spurs' run of home wins is their best within the same season since December 2006 (also seven in a row).Pochettino's side are still unbeaten in all 12 of their Premier League home matches this season (W10 D2 L0).Middlesbrough did not attempt a single shot on target - for the second time in a Premier League game this season (also vs Everton in September).Boro have attempted a league-low 56 shots on target in the Premier League this season; 16 fewer than any other team.