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Luton: <\/b>Tottenham Hotspur supporters were worried about this game \u2013 and not because Kenilworth Road would take them slightly out of their comfort zone. Through the new Domino\u2019s-sponsored Oak 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\u2019s players, let alone his coaching staff. Proper football<\/i>, this.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ange Postecoglou after Spurs went top of the table at Luton.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n No, they were worried because this was the sort of game they\u2019d typically lose. Beat Liverpool one week, then lose to newly promoted Luton Town the next. That is essentially the definition of \u2018Spursiness\u2019 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n This was Tottenham\u2019s first trip to Luton since 1992, back when Postecoglou was still playing left-back for South Melbourne. Kenilworth Road doesn\u2019t appear to have changed much since, which is part of its charm, and makes it possibly this team\u2019s biggest weapon this season. It is intimidating, especially when 10,921 people are somehow jammed inside and baying for blood.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s \u2018big six\u2019 teams since their long-awaited return.<\/p>\n But Postecoglou\u2019s 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 it is as promising a sign as anyone could have hoped for at this point of the season, and this 1-0 victory was more proof of this team\u2019s building character.<\/p>\n Micky van de Ven after scoring what turned out to be the winner for Spurs.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Two of Postecoglou\u2019s 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\u2019s clash between the Socceroos and England at Wembley. Gulp<\/i>.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s their job. \u201cHarry Kane, he left \u2019cos you\u2019re shit,\u201d they later sang, along with a few other ditties that were, let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s outstretched glove pushed it away. As the minutes ticked by, and Tottenham\u2019s shot count kept going up without reward, it all felt a bit … what\u2019s the word … Spursy.<\/p>\n In the 39th minute, Luton had the ball in the back of the net \u2013 obviously against the run of play \u2013 only for Tom Lockyer\u2019s strike to be rightly ruled out due to a push spotted by referee John Brooks by Elijah Adebayo on Cristian Romero.<\/p>\n And then, just before half-time, Bissouma\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Luton had enjoyed just 19 per cent of possession in the first half to that point. 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.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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