Ten-man Tottenham Hotspur maintained their unbeaten record as a narrow win at Luton took them top of the Premier League.
After going down to 10 men when Yves Bissouma was sent off just before half-time, Spurs’ winner came from Micky van de Ven, who poked home his first goal for the club on 52 minutes after James Maddison cut the ball back from a short corner.
Dutch defender Van de Ven said it was an “amazing feeling” to score the match-winning goal.
“On the way to the stadium on the bus Sonny [Son Heung-min] told me: ‘You’re going to score your first goal today’,” he said on TNT Sports.
“I didn’t think so. I said: ‘Maybe, who knows.’ But it is perfect because now I have scored my first goal.
“I think we showed a great mentality as a team.”
Luton had 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 led to them creating 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 having 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.
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.
