Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record as a narrow win at Luton saw them go top of the Premier League.
After going down to 10 men when Yves Bissouma was sent off just before half-time, Micky van de Ven poked in his first goal for the club on 52 minutes when James Maddison cut the ball back from a short corner.
Luton, who had made it through a difficult opening period, saw captain Tom Lockyer’s low header chalked off when Elijah Adebayo was deemed to have fouled Cristian Romero as he headed Mads Andersen’s free-kick across goal.
A more positive approach in the second half saw them create plenty of opportunities but Tottenham held on to leave Rob Edwards’ side without a win at home this season.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs are now unbeaten in eight Premier League games and sit two points ahead of Manchester City, who face Arsenal on Sunday.
Spurs continue unbeaten run
Remarkably, the home side made it through the opening 20 minutes without conceding after Spurs had peppered the Luton goal.
Richarlison twice had opportunities in the opening five minutes, but poked his first effort from Maddison’s whipped cross over the bar before seeing a low drive saved by the boot of Thomas Kaminski in the Luton goal.
Pedro Porro then struck a shot wide and a poor Tom Lockyer clearance was snatched at by Son Heung-min.
Bissouma had already ensured he would miss Spurs’ next game by picking up a fifth booking of the season for dragging down Chiedozie Ogbene.
But the midfielder, who has had an impressive start to the campaign, then picked up a second yellow for diving on the edge of the Luton area.
After taking the lead in the second half, Postecogolou’s side barely created any further chances, and took off the attacking threat of Son Heung-min and Maddison in favour of the more defensive options Oliver Skipp and Emerson Royal.
But under the Australian manager Spurs have shown resolve and belief, and more of that was on display on Saturday as they got the job done against 17th-placed Luton.
Should the match between Manchester City and Arsenal result in a draw or a City defeat on Sunday, Spurs will go into the international break top of the league.
Luton remain winless at Kenilworth Road
Edwards’ Luton have managed just four points in eight games so far this season.
After a dominant opening period from the visitors, which saw Luton make just 11 passes, the home side began to make the one-sided affair more of a contest but could not manage a shot on target until their 40th-minute disallowed goal.
With a one-man advantage after the break they missed a glorious opportunity when Ogbene’s measured pass seemed to have teed up Adebayo, who only had to slide in and connect for a tap-in, but could not sort his feet out and muddled it past the post.
Alfie Doughty also scuffed a good opportunity wide and Carlton Morris was denied by the arm of Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario as Luton probed for an equaliser.
The Hatters had scored a late goal before eventually losing to Burnley last time out but could not make any of their chances count and looked sapped of energy by the final stages.
Player of the match
RomeroCristian Romero
Luton Town
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Squad number24Player nameKaminski
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Squad number4Player nameLockyer
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Squad number45Player nameDoughty
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Squad number5Player nameAndersen
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Squad number9Player nameMorris
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Squad number16Player nameBurke
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Squad number19Player nameBrown
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Squad number14Player nameChong
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Squad number7Player nameOgbene
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Squad number13Player nameNakamba
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Squad number17Player nameMpanzu
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Squad number10Player nameWoodrow
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Squad number15Player nameMengi
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Squad number8Player nameBerry
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Squad number11Player nameAdebayo
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Squad number6Player nameBarkley
Line-ups
Luton
Formation 4-4-2
- 24Kaminski
- 16Burke
- 4LockyerBooked at 19minsSubstituted forBarkleyat 81′minutes
- 5AndersenSubstituted forMengiat 59′minutes
- 45Doughty
- 19BrownSubstituted forBerryat 66′minutes
- 17MpanzuSubstituted forChongat 67′minutes
- 13Nakamba
- 7Ogbene
- 9MorrisBooked at 34mins
- 11AdebayoSubstituted forWoodrowat 67′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Barkley
- 8Berry
- 10Woodrow
- 12Kaboré
- 14Chong
- 15Mengi
- 23Krul
- 26Giles
- 38Johnson
Tottenham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Vicario
- 23Porro
- 17Romero
- 37van de Ven
- 38UdogieSubstituted forDaviesat 82′minutes
- 29Sarr
- 8BissoumaBooked at 45mins
- 21KulusevskiSubstituted forVélizat 90+2′minutes
- 10MaddisonSubstituted forSkippat 76′minutes
- 9RicharlisonSubstituted forHøjbjergat 45′minutesBooked at 68mins
- 7Son Heung-minSubstituted forEmerson Royalat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Skipp
- 5Højbjerg
- 11Gil
- 12Emerson Royal
- 15Dier
- 18Lo Celso
- 20Forster
- 33Davies
- 36Véliz
- Referee:
- John Brooks
- Attendance:
- 10,290
Live Text
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Match ends, Luton Town 0, Tottenham Hotspur 1.
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Second Half ends, Luton Town 0, Tottenham Hotspur 1.
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Attempt missed. Teden Mengi (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Tahith Chong.
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Guglielmo Vicario tries a through ball, but Alejo Véliz is caught offside.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Pape Matar Sarr tries a through ball, but Alejo Véliz is caught offside.
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Oliver Skipp (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ross Barkley (Luton Town).
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Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Alejo Véliz replaces Dejan Kulusevski.
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Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tahith Chong (Luton Town).
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Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Ross Barkley.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Foul by Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur).
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Tahith Chong (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Tottenham Hotspur. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg tries a through ball, but Dejan Kulusevski is caught offside.
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Substitution, Tottenham Hotspur. Ben Davies replaces Destiny Udogie.
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Substitution, Luton Town. Ross Barkley replaces Tom Lockyer.