Tottenham Hotspur sit on top of the table after a day in which a narrow 1-0 win at 17th-placed Luton Town might not have looked that impressive for those who simply saw the scoreline.
Yet for those at Kenilworth Road would have seen some of Spurs’ best attacking play of the season in the first half. They simply missed the finishing to rack up what could have been a ridiculous scoreline early on.
Then in the second half with only 10 men, the north London outfit put in one of their most controlled, impressive performances in a different respect which showcased their collective spirit and the fitness levels of Ange Postecoglou’s side.
To put the start to the match into context, Tottenham had 97% of possession in the first five minutes of the game away from home in front of a noisy crowd and within 10 minutes had taken five shots at Luton’s goal and passed the ball more than 100 times.
Some of those were big chances as well for Richarlison and Pedro Porro and within 25 minutes Tottenham had had eight shots at goal and by half-time that figure was 12. At the break, Spurs had had 81% of the possession with 314 passes to Luton’s 47.
Then came Yves Bissouma’s daft double of yellow cards. With a 38th minute clumsy, clambering challenge, he had already picked up the booking that was his fifth in eight Premier League matches and that meant a suspension for the home game against Fulham after the international break
Then four minutes into added time at the end of the first half the Mali international went on a mazy dribble before throwing himself to the floor, anticipating some kind of contact that never came. He offered no real complaints when referee John Brooks reached for his pocket again for first the yellow card and then the red.
What made the moment all the more ridiculous for the coming weeks is that with that red card so Bissouma will go back to being on four yellow cards this season as the sending off superseded the bookings.
So that means that if, or when, the 27-year-old receives another yellow card when he returns to action that would trigger another one-match ban if it arrives before the cut-off, which does not come until after Tottenham’s 19th Premier League of the season
“The referee said he had simulated and Biss made a mistake,” Postecoglou told football.london. “He has been brilliant for us this year. He made a mistake and the good thing is how he reacts to these things. His team-mates 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.”
In his club interview, Postecoglou – back in more casual attire after recent suited appearances – added on Bissouma: “He’s disappointed. He’s made a mistake but he’s been brilliant for us so far. Today he lost his discipline and the good thing is that his team-mates, those around him, didn’t allow that to cost us.
“That’s the main thing and the next time I’m sure Biss will do the same for us when he’s required. It’s part of his journey, it’s part of our journey as a team. We’re going to have to face these things and people are going to make mistakes. The important thing is how we react and I thought it was an outstanding reaction.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg impressed again with an experienced performance from the bench alongside the Duracell Bunny that is Pape Matar Sarr and this was another important match in the growth of this young team. Their reaction at the final whistle, able to celebrate once again in front of their noisy travelling fans, showed the ever-growing bond among the group.
Postecoglou’s role has been a watching one in helping that group flourish as a unit. He’s essentially left them to it, with only the odd prod and suggestion to the collective if he feels they need it.
The Spurs players have been able to build their own environment within the dressing room at Hotspur Way with new leaders and it’s no coincidence that all three of Son, Maddison and Romero are known as smiling, laughing jokers at times but also deadly serious when it comes to wanting to win.
It’s that dual nature of leadership that has produced a group that is tight-knit and enjoying each others’ company and their football without being wound up too tight, but also with the spirit and unflappable nature of battling together as a unit when required.
This match gave a glimpse of both sides to this squad and even if the finishing was lacking in that first half, they had learned the lesson so often unheeded by previous Tottenham sides that hard work and concentration as a bare minimum will get you through most matches.
“As you said two different halves, I thought we played some great football in the first half. I thought it was as good as we’ve played and we probably should have been two or three up,” Postecoglou told football.london.
“We controlled the game and had some great passages of play, some great opportunities and minimised their threat.
Obviously the red card changes the game but again I thought the lads handled it really well. They stayed calm and composed. They gave up a couple of chances but for the most part kept them away from our goal. We were always a threat going the other way.
“As you said, in the end just the sheer will and effort of them to make sure we won, not just the starters but the guys coming on, it was a great collective effort.”
Despite playing for around 50 minutes with 10 men, Spurs still ended the game with 67% of the possession, 473 passes to Luton’s 170 and had 15 shots at goal to the hosts’ 12.
Spurs are only eight games into their Premier League era under Ange Postecoglou but so far they’ve risen to every test thrown at them
