10-man Tottenham beat Luton 1-0 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday as Spurs momentarily went top of the Premier League table as they’ve recorded their best-ever start to a Premier League season.
[ MORE: Ange Postecoglou on Spurs going top - ‘It’s going alright’ ]
After Yves Bissouma picked up two yellow cards (the second for simulation) in the space of a few minutes just before half time, Tottenham were under pressure after failing to take so many of their huge chances early on.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
But James Maddison did superbly to set up Micky van de Ven to score the winner and Spurs held on for their sixth win in eight games to start the season, as Ange Postecoglou’s side are already on 20 points. Luton remain on four points as they’ve lost six of their first eight games in the Premier League.
Maddison’s magic the key to Tottenham’s superb start
Down to 10 men and under pressure early in the second half, Tottenham needed someone to stand tall. Ever since he arrived this summer, James Maddison has been the player that has stood tall. Spurs have a new talisman. After whipping in a couple of dangerous corners, he then went to collect a short corner from Kulusevski and his magic won the game for 10-man Spurs. A swivel of his snake hips and a duck of his languid shoulder opened up a gap and with everything swirling around him, Maddison still had the composure to pick out Micky van de Ven in a crowded penalty box to slot home the only goal of the game. It was pure brilliance and with that assist Maddison led the Premier League in assists. For many years now his talent has been clear for all to see and with Harry Kane leaving this summer, Tottenham needed a new talisman and a new hero. Maddison will never reach Kane’s levels of incredible output for Spurs but he is proving to be the difference maker right now. Whenever this new-look, dogged Tottenham find themselves in a tight spot, they now turn to Maddison for inspiration.
What’s next?
Luton travel Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Oct. 21. Tottenham host Fulham on Monday, Oct. 23.
Luton vs Tottenham player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com, the player ratings show that Spurs’ entire defensive unit shone and they certainly blocked plenty of efforts and were pushed to the limit in the second half as Luton tried to make their one-man advantage count. Maddison was also key in the attacking midfield area, while Sarr also put in an excellent display to break things up.
How to watch Luton Town vs Tottenham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET (Saturday, Oct. 7)
TV channel: USA Network
Online: Watch on NBCSports.com
GOALLL! Luton 0-1 Tottenham - Micky van de Ven, 52nd minute
Micky van de Ven puts 10-man Tottenham 1-0 up at Luton. Brilliant play from James Maddison as he gets the ball from a short corner, picks out Van de Ven and the Dutch defender does really well to sort his feet out and squeeze it home. The Spurs players celebrate wildly as VDV scored right in front of the away section. Moments later Alfie Doughty drags a good chance wide and Morris is denied by Vicario as Luton push for an immediate equalizer.
Luton should be 1-0 up
The Hatters launch a counter after Spurs created an opening through Son and Maddison, and Adebayo looked certain to score at the back post but he got his feet all wrong and misses a tap in at the back post. Huge let off for Tottenham.
Red card for Tottenham right on half time
Two yellow cards in less than 10 minutes for Yves Bissouma and he is sent off. After being booked for dragging back Ogbene to start a Luton attack, right on half time he goes down with a dive and is given a second yellow for simulation. Crazy for Bissouma and now Spurs are down a man for the second half. Ange Postecoglou can’t believe it. Somehow it is Luton 0-0 Tottenham at half time as Spurs didn’t take all of the big chances they had and now they’re down a man. Is this Luton Town’s big chance? It sure feels like it.
No goal but Luton are making this tough for Spurs
Chaos from a free kick. Luton have the ball in the back of the net but the ref blew for a foul on Romero. Adebayo pushed Romero to the ground quite clearly, then his looping shot hit the post and Lockyer nodded home. No goal, but Luton are making this very difficult for Tottenham.
Luton have improved massively
After that early Spurs onslaught, Luton have recovered and are creating chances with the Hatters having plenty of joy down their left. That said, Kaminski is forced into a good stop to deny Kulusevski. Lovely driving run from Sarr in midfield to set up the chance. Tottenham still pushing hard for the opener but Luton have improved.
Tottenham should be 1-0 up early on
Inside the first two minutes, a great ball from the right from Dejan Kulusevski finds Richarlison at the back post but he somehow flicks the ball wide. He looked like he didn’t expect the ball to get all the way to him. Bright start from Spurs and moments later Richarlison is played clean through but Kaminski does well to save his shot down low. Still inside the first 10 minutes and Pedro Porro is now clean through but he slots wide. How are Tottenham not at least two goals ahead!?
Luton lineup
Burke, Andersen and Adebayo are in for Luton, while Ross Barkley is fit enough for a spot on the bench.
Your lunchtime Hatters. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/CgIFtcVzXr
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) October 7, 2023
Tottenham lineup
Spurs are unchanged with Bryan Gil and Gio Lo Celso returning to fitness and on the bench.
Unchanged 👊 pic.twitter.com/watcEGMUEI
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 7, 2023
Focus on Luton Town
Luton were undone by a moment of magic from Burnley’s Jacob Brunn Larsen on Tuesday but they dominated the second half and showed all of the grit which got them their big win away at Everton. Their squad is small but the Hatters are making a real fight of this and they are starting to believe they belong in the big time. Watch out for some inventive set-piece routines as Carlton Morris and Tom Lockyer were on target from those situations last week at Goodison, while Luton are not scared to throw in plenty of crosses to the box and will put Spurs’ center backs under immense pressure. In injury news Amari’i Bell is out with a hamstring issue, while Albert Sambi Lokonga remains out, as does Gabriel Osho, Dan Potts and Jordan Clark. Ross Barkley is back fit.
Focus on Tottenham
They are a swashbuckling side to watch and right now there always seems to be drama surrounding this Spurs team. And usually they come out on top, late on. Postecoglou has a young, spirited side totally committed to his tactics and there’s a real belief in what they’re doing on the ball and the risks they’re taking. Son has stepped in admirably as the skipper, while Maddison is creating so many chances ahead of the solid midfield duo of Bissouma and Sarr. This will be a totally different test to their recent big games against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, so let’s see if Spurs can take their chances early and save themselves any late drama. Spurs are without Manor Solomon (knee) as he joins Ivan Perisic, Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Bentancur on the sidelines. Brennan Johnson is still battling back from a thigh injury and won’t be ready.
