Tottenham's tactical experiment to try two up top fails as Harry Kane bags himself a brace just six minutes after Fernando Llorente is subbed off

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If pairing Harry Kane and Fernando Llorente was a test of a way to exploit the deep defending of the Premier League’s lesser lights, Tottenham might now know it is not the answer.

Mauricio Pochettino put his two strikers up top together for just the second time against AFC Wimbledon, and a disjointed display followed.

Take away Llorente, substituted on 59 minutes, and six minutes later Kane had Tottenham two up. They strolled through this third-round tie from there in a game which had looked like a struggle.

Mauricio Pochettino opted to start both Harry Kane and Fernando Llorente (right) up top

The Tottenham talisman bagged a brace six minutes after Llorente was subbed off

Perhaps the midweek draw with West Ham, which saw Tottenham muster 31 shots while scoring just once, inspired Pochettino to try out this change in formation.

There has been plenty of talk of attack vs defence games in the top flight of late and against a side who were always likely to sit deep, this looked a good opportunity to experiment.

Llorente and Kane were picked together away at Real Madrid in mid-October but this is the first time they have started together since. Erik Lamela was in to play a supporting No 10 role.

Pochettino's tactical experiment didn't work out as the two failed to break down Wimbledon

Kane broke the deadlock four minutes after Son Heung-Min replaced the Spanish striker

At times, the Anglo-Spanish link up looked promising. Llorente produced some nice touches in the first half, holding the ball well and occupying the Wimbledon backline to allow Kane more space.

Most notably on 36 minutes the former Swansea City man pulled a ball down from the air before nipping it into his strike partner’s feet, but Kane’s snapshot was well-saved by George Long.

In turn though, Kane was having to drop deeper and away from the areas in which he is most-dangerous.

Tottenham failed to break through in that first half and Llorente, while creating three chances, did not have a shot on goal.

 The 24-year-old doubled his tally and Spurs' lead two minutes later in their third-round tie

In the second period, he was poor, offering very little before being hooked by Pochettino just before the hour-mark. Son Heung-min was his replacement and the Korean allowed Kane to play much closer to his natural game.

Tottenham’s captain for the day was in the right place at the right time to convert Moussa Sissoko’s low cross for the first on 63 minutes and added a second in prime-poaching style two minutes later.

So the Kane-Llorente axis doesn’t look to be the way forward for Tottenham.

This was a reminder, if one was needed, that Kane is the Spurs kingpin. Find a way to keep him firing and Tottenham are flying. A pairing with Llorente just doesn’t seem to do that. 

The Anglo-Spanish link up looked promising before Llorente offered little after half time