Harry Kane's goal in the first half was his 12th of the season in the Premier League
Tottenham got their top-four challenge back on track with a comfortable victory against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.
A disappointing run of just one win in their six previous Premier League fixtures had seen Spurs slip down the table with their inability to kill off games proving damaging.
But they were back to their ruthless best against a Blades side that gone into the game buoyed by picking up their first league win of the season against Newcastle last time out.
Serge Aurier opened the scoring early on when he headed home Son Heung-min's corner.
Harry Kane got his 12th league goal of the season just before half-time, driving a superb low strike from outside the box beyond Aaron Ramsdale in the Sheffield United goal.
David McGoldrick halved the deficit with a glancing header in the second half but Tanguy Ndombele's stunning hooked finish made sure there would be no late drama.
Victory moved Tottenham up to fourth before the late Premier League games while Sheffield United remain bottom, 11 points from safety.
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No second-half slip-up for Spurs
Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Fulham in their previous outing highlighted a frustrating issue with this current Spurs side - they often start well, get ahead but then fail to kill off an opponent, leaving them susceptible to a late blow when their opponent ups the pressure.
No side has scored more first-half goals than Tottenham in the Premier League this season (21), while their tally of just four conceded in the opening 45 minutes is also the best in the league.
Aurier's early goal was also their ninth scored inside the opening quarter of an hour - another league high.
Conceding the late leveller against Fulham highlighted their need to make the most of their first-half dominance and they did that on this occasion with Kane making it 2-0 five minutes before half-time.
McGoldrick's header to halve the deficit may have concerned Mourinho that once again his side could come unstuck in the second half but Ndombele's clever strike ensured there would be no late drama on this occasion.
Prior to Sunday, Tottenham had struggled against sides towards the bottom of the table, drawing with Fulham and claiming narrow 1-0 wins against West Brom and Burnley, so the better performance and more comfortable scoreline will have been pleasing for Mourinho.
More to follow.
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- Sheff UtdSheffield UnitedSheffield UnitedTottenhamTottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur
Sheffield UnitedStarting XIAvgSquad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
4.05
12345678910Squad number6Player nameBashamAverage rating
4.32
12345678910Squad number12Player nameEganAverage rating
4.43
12345678910Squad number22Player nameAmpaduAverage rating
4.65
12345678910Squad number20Player nameBogleAverage rating
4.24
12345678910Squad number7Player nameLundstramAverage rating
4.19
12345678910Squad number16Player nameNorwoodAverage rating
3.68
12345678910Squad number4Player nameFleckAverage rating
4.37
12345678910Squad number3Player nameStevensAverage rating
4.13
12345678910Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrickAverage rating
5.45
12345678910Squad number14Player nameBurkeAverage rating
4.57
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number10Player nameSharpAverage rating
4.45
12345678910Squad number24Player nameBrewsterAverage rating
4.12
12345678910Squad number29Player nameBryanAverage rating
4.00
12345678910Share your Sheff Utd player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share linkTottenham HotspurStarting XIAvgSquad number1Player nameLlorisAverage rating
6.65
12345678910Squad number14Player nameRodonAverage rating
6.99
12345678910Squad number15Player nameDierAverage rating
6.71
12345678910Squad number33Player nameDaviesAverage rating
6.59
12345678910Squad number24Player nameAurierAverage rating
6.94
12345678910Squad number28Player nameNdombeleAverage rating
8.02
12345678910Squad number5Player nameHøjbjergAverage rating
7.16
12345678910Squad number3Player nameReguilónAverage rating
7.05
12345678910Squad number23Player nameBergwijnAverage rating
7.23
12345678910Squad number10Player nameKaneAverage rating
7.98
12345678910Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-MinAverage rating
7.45
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number6Player nameD SánchezAverage rating
5.70
12345678910Squad number27Player nameLucas MouraAverage rating
5.89
12345678910Squad number45Player nameCarlos ViniciusAverage rating
5.75
12345678910Share your Tottenham player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share link
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
1Ramsdale6Basham12Egan22Ampadu20Bogle7Lundstram16Norwood4Fleck3Stevens17McGoldrick14Burke
- 1Ramsdale6BashamSubstituted forSharpat 74'minutes12EganBooked at 86mins22AmpaduBooked at 90mins20Bogle7LundstramBooked at 50mins16NorwoodBooked at 23minsSubstituted forBryanat 67'minutes4Fleck3Stevens17McGoldrick14BurkeSubstituted forBrewsterat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Baldock10Sharp13Lowe15Jagielka18Foderingham24Brewster29Bryan
Tottenham
Formation 3-4-3
1Lloris14Rodon15Dier33Davies24Aurier28Ndombele5Højbjerg3Reguilón23Bergwijn10Kane7Son Heung-Min
- 1Lloris14Rodon15Dier33Davies24Aurier28Ndombele5Højbjerg3ReguilónSubstituted forD Sánchezat 90+4'minutes23BergwijnSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 87'minutes10Kane7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forAlves Moraisat 90+2'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Alderweireld6D Sánchez9Bale11Lamela12Hart17Sissoko27Lucas Moura30Carvalho Fernandes45Alves Morais
Referee:Andre MarrinerMatch StatsHome TeamSheff UtdAway TeamTottenhamPossessionHome42%Away58%ShotsHome15Away14Shots on TargetHome5Away5CornersHome5Away7FoulsHome13Away4Live TextPost update
Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 3.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 3.
90'+4'Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Davinson Sánchez replaces Sergio Reguilón.
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Carlos Vinicius replaces Son Heung-Min.
90'+1'Booking
Ethan Ampadu (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt missed. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Son Heung-Min.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Lucas Moura replaces Steven Bergwijn.
86'Booking
John Egan (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86'Post update
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Foul by John Egan (Sheffield United).
84'Post update
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'Post update
Foul by Billy Sharp (Sheffield United).
83'Post update
Attempt missed. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
80'Post update
Offside, Sheffield United. John Fleck tries a through ball, but Billy Sharp is caught offside.
78'Post update
Attempt blocked. Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
77'Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by John Lundstram.
77'Post update
Attempt blocked. Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Kane.
75'Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Kean Bryan.
75'Post update
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75'Post update
Foul by David McGoldrick (Sheffield United).
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Source: bbc.com