October 07, (THEWILL) – Tottenham Hotspur moved to the top of the English Premier League table with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Luton Town on Saturday. Despite dominating the chances in the first half, Spurs were frustrated by some stoic Luton defending and profligate finishing, with the scores goalless at the interval.
However, the complexion of the game changed just before half-time, when Yves Bissouma received a second yellow card to leave Tottenham with 10 men. The numerical disadvantage seemed to spur Spurs into action after the break. Just 7 minutes into the second half, James Maddison’s clever run and cutback was turned in by Micky van de Ven for his first goal in a Spurs shirt.
Luton tried valiantly to get back on level terms, but some wayward finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Guglielmo Vicario kept them at bay. Manager Ange Postecoglou was forced into a defensive setup for the closing stages, as Luton piled on the pressure. Yet, the visitors held firm to claim the three points, moving them to the EPL summit ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
While Postecoglou will be delighted with the win, he will know his side rode their luck at times against a Luton team who deserved more for their efforts. Tottenham must improve their ruthlessness in front of goal if they are to mount a sustained title challenge this season.
For now, Spurs fans can enjoy seeing their team top of the table, even if only temporarily.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
