Luton Town 0-1 Tottenham: Micky van de Ven scores as 10-man Spurs beat Hatters to move top of Premier League
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Updated 07/10/2023 at 16:49 GMT
Micky van de Ven scored his first goal for the club as Tottenham Hotspur beat Luton 1-0 at Kenilworth Road to move top of the Premier League. Ange Postecoglou’s side had to play the entirety of the second half with 10 men after Yves Bissouma collected two first-half yellow cards. The win moves Tottenham on to six wins and two draws from their opening eight games.
Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur at Kenilworth Road on October 07, 2023 in Luton, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Micky van de Ven struck his first goal for the club as 10-man Tottenham won 1-0 at Luton Town to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
The Lilywhites flew out of the traps and could have been three up inside seven minutes, but Richarlison (twice) and Pedro Porro failed to make the most of big openings.
Luton slowly weathered the ferocious storm and after Tom Lockyer had a goal chalked off for a foul in the build-up, the home team’s hopes were boosted on the stroke of half time when Yves Bissouma was shown a second yellow card for simulation.
Elijah Adebayo contrived to fluff his lines from close-range following the restart and it would prove significant as the 10-man visitors stole in front when Van de Ven stroked home James Maddison’s cut back on 52 minutes.
Luton threatened throughout the second half but Jacob Brown and Alfie Doughty couldn’t find the finish as Ange Postecoglou’s men hung on.
The result means Spurs sit on 20 points at the summit ahead of the rest of the weekend’s action with second-placed Man City visiting third-placed Arsenal on Sunday. Luton stay 17th.
Following the international break, Luton will return to Premier League action at Nottingham Forest. Spurs host Fulham.
Talking Point
The two sides of Tottenham. Much has been made of the free-flowing joys of watching Ange-ball and in the opening quarter of this contest it looked like Luton would be blown away by their attacking verve. However, the hosts improved and then had an entire half to make a one-man advantage count.
Spurs needed to be solid and show real resilience, and this is where they demonstrated another side to their personality as a squad. The defence stood tall under relentless aerial bombardment with Cristian Romero and Van de Ven once again highlighting how they are developing an excellent understanding at the back.
Player of the match
Micky van de Ven (Tottenham). The Dutch centre back may not have earned the headlines the likes of Maddison have basked in since joining in the summer, but the 22-year-old has excelled at the other end of the pitch for the Lilywhites. He was a rock at the heart of the side throughout this match and chipped in with an all-important winning goal too.
Player Ratings
LUTON: Kaminski 8, Andersen 7, Lockyer 8, Burke 7, Doughty 7, Mpanzu 7, Nakamba 7, Brown 7, Ogbene 7, Adebayo 6, Morris 7. Subs: Mengi 6, Berry 6, Chong 6, Woodrow 6, Barkley n/a.
TOTTENHAM: Vicario 8, Udogie 8, Porro 8, Van de Ven 8*, Romero 8, Bissouma 4, Sarr 7, Maddison 7, Kulusevski 7, Richarlison 5, Son 6. Subs: Hojbjerg 6, Emerson 6, Skipp 6, Davies n/a, Veliz n/a.
Match Highlights
04’ – TOTTENHAM CHANCE! Kulusevski whips a quite sublime cross to the far post for Richarlison who somehow fails to find the target from inside the six-yard box.
05’ – TOTTENHAM CHANCE! It's Richarlison again. He could have a brace already. The Brazilian collects Maddison's pass and does hit the target with a low effort on the stretch this time, but his attempt is well saved by Thomas Kaminski.
07’ – TOTTENHAM CHANCE! Another slick move sends Porro clear but he fires wide of the near post. There was a bit of pressure on him at the end but he still has to hit the target, surely!
45+3’ – TOTTENHAM RED CARD! Bissouma drives at the heart of the Luton defence and falls to the floor just outside the box. The referee deems it as simulation and the midfielder picks up a second yellow. He's off! Spurs are down to 10 men.
47’ – LUTON TOWN CHANCE! Adebayo tries to tuck home at the far from a lovely ball from the right, but he goes with his favoured right foot and gets it horribly wrong. That's a big, big miss for the hosts.
52’ – GOAL! – Luton Town 0-1 Tottenham. Micky van de Ven manages to flash a low shot beyond the keeper after Maddison collected a short corner on the right and cut it back in the centre back's path.
64’ – LUTON TOWN CHANCE! Brown has an age to leap into the air unmarked and meet a left-wing cross, but he balloons his header over the bar.
Key Stats
Following Micky van de Ven's opener, Tottenham have now had 167 different players score for them in the Premier League (excluding own goals), more than any other side in the competition's history (Newcastle & West Ham 166).
Spurs have won 13 of their past 15 league fixtures against promoted sides (D1, L1).
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