Tottenham have equaled a club record by going 12 Premier League games unbeaten after Harry Kane’s two goals helped them comfortably beat West Ham. Kane scored for the fifth club game in a row to put Spurs ahead before Toby Alderweireld headed in from a corner.

The England striker fired in his second after the break before Kyle Walker added a fourth for the home side, who also struck the woodwork twice. Manuel Lanzini’s late goal was merely a consolation for the lacklustre Hammers.

They had earlier hit the crossbar through Cheikhou Kouyate’s acrobatic volley. The two sides began the day level on 21 points from 12 games – a tally that represents the Hammers’ best start to a Premier League season – but it is Tottenham who now find themselves two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal.

A month ago, Kane had one Spurs goal to his name from 13 matches in all competitions, following the 22-year-old’s haul of 31 in 2014-15. He has dispelled any doubts by scoring in his past five matches for his club, accumulating eight goals in the process.

His opening goal against West Ham was a typically ruthless close-range finish, following a sharp turn after the ball had fallen at his feet from Dele Alli’s deflected long-range shot.

His second came soon after the break from a well-struck shot from the edge of the box, although West Ham were also culpable courtesy of James Tomkins gifting the ball to Christian Eriksen in the build-up and Adrian allowing the shot to creep under his body.

Kane could have been celebrating a hat-trick but for an awful miss near the end of the first half when he dragged a mis-hit shot well wide after being put through on goal by Alli.