By Vince Rugari
Luton: Tottenham Hotspur supporters were worried about this game – and not because Kenilworth Road would take them slightly out of their comfort zone. Through the new Domino’s-sponsored Oak Road End gate the away fans entered, over that infamous staircase that gave them unrivalled views of several backyards, and into a stadium widely embraced as beautiful in all of its proud ugliness. In the dressing room, there were not even enough seats for all Ange Postecoglou’s players, let alone his coaching staff. Proper football, this.
Ange Postecoglou after Spurs went top of the table at Luton.Credit: Getty Images
No, they were worried because this was the sort of game they’d typically lose. Beat Liverpool one week, then lose to newly promoted Luton Town the next. That is essentially the definition of ‘Spursiness’ – the self-characterisation of a mentally brittle team that, despite enviable human and financial resources, has a tendency to capitulate at vital moments. The idea that Postecoglou is here to destroy.
This was Tottenham’s first trip to Luton since 1992, back when Postecoglou was still playing left-back for South Melbourne. Kenilworth Road doesn’t appear to have changed much since, which is part of its charm, and makes it possibly this team’s biggest weapon this season. It is intimidating, especially when 10,921 people are somehow jammed inside and baying for blood.
Here, it threatened to swallow Spurs whole. A brainless second yellow card to Yves Bissouma for simulation just before half-time reduced them to 10 men, and after 45 minutes of utter domination without end product, the locals had their eyes on a big scalp in their first home match against one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ teams since their long-awaited return.
But Postecoglou’s men were not to be denied, and now they sit top of the table. At least for the time being. It really means nothing in October, but this is Tottenham’s best start to a season since they won the double in 1960-61, and this 1-0 victory was more proof of this team’s building character.
“We haven’t achieved anything,” he said. “All we’ve done is lay some really good foundations. Our goals and ambitions lay in improvement. Can we play better, can we become a better team? If we do that then we’ll see where that takes us.”
Micky van de Ven after scoring what turned out to be the winner for Spurs.Credit: Getty Images
Two of Postecoglou’s signings combined for the goal. It was scored by defender Micky van de Ven, but crafted by a bit of brilliance by James Maddison, who made space out of absolutely nowhere from a short corner to set him up. Maddison, arguably one of the most in-form players on the planet currently, will now turn his attention to next week’s clash between the Socceroos and England at Wembley. Gulp.
Best on ground for the Hatters was their 12th man. They were in fine voice. Pre-match, they booed Postecoglou as he walked to his bench because that’s their job. “Harry Kane, he left ’cos you’re shit,” they later sang, along with a few other ditties that were, let’s say, slightly less than complimentary of various English football administrative bodies for historical and clearly unresolved grievances. They tried to will their team back into the contest, but at no point after the goal did they really test Tottenham.
The visitors could have been 3-0 ahead inside the first eight minutes, but for two point-blank misses by Richarlison and another by Pedro Porro. On the half-hour mark, after Pape Sarr won the ball back in midfield, Dejan Kulusevski curled in a terrific, left-footed shot that looked bound for the bottom corner until Thomas Kaminski’s outstretched glove pushed it away. As the minutes ticked by, and Tottenham’s shot count kept going up without reward, it all felt a bit ... what’s the word ... Spursy.
In the 39th minute, Luton had the ball in the back of the net – obviously against the run of play – only for Tom Lockyer’s strike to be rightly ruled out due to a push spotted by referee John Brooks by Elijah Adebayo on Cristian Romero.
And then, just before half-time, Bissouma’s moment of madness changed everything. Earlier (and maybe harshly) booked for a professional foul, he was trying desperately to make something happen for Tottenham, but tried too hard and, in the process, stopped using his brain. Galloping forward with the ball, he took a dive on the edge of the penalty area, and not a particularly elegant one. The referee had no choice but to show him a second yellow card for simulation. The home fans let him know all about it.
To that point, Postecoglou said it was as well as Spurs have played under him.
“Biss (Bissouma) made a mistake,” he said. “His teammates made sure that mistake didn’t cost us and I’m sure when Biss gets back in the team he will reciprocate and make sure that whatever else happens he can get us over the line.
“These things happen in football. It’s disappointing. With all these things I always look at reactions. What are we doing about it? I thought the reaction was outstanding.”
Luton had enjoyed just 19 per cent of possession in the first half. To be not only 0-0 at the break, but to have an extra man for the remainder, was a minor miracle. They could not conjure another.
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