Tottenham 2-1 Luton: Player ratings as Spurs complete yet another late comeback

FROM TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM - Tottenham climbed back into the Premier League's top four with a late 2-1 win at home to Luton.

Spurs were booed off at half-time after a flat opening 45 minutes but responded excellently after the break to secure another late victory.

The Hatters put up a decent fight but drop back into the relegation zone after Nottingham Forest earned a draw elsewhere on Saturday.

How the game unfolded

Inside the opening three minutes, Luton took a shock lead. A poor cutback from Dejan Kulusevski was lost by Son Heung-min, allowing former Tottenham winger Andros Townsend to easily ghost past Yves Bissouma and run the length of the pitch before cutting back for Ross Barkley. He in turn pulled the ball back for Tahith Chong, who made no mistake with his shot just inside the box, slotting into the bottom corner.

Spurs should have been level after a quarter of an hour when Kulusevski picked out Timo Werner running in behind. The German forward cut inside Issa Kabore but dragged his shot narrowly past the post.

The hosts were seriously threatening to get on the scoresheet and came agonisingly close twice in a matter of seconds. A loose pass from the back by Teden Mengi was pounced upon by Pape Matar Sarr, with Son racing clear and rounding Thomas Kaminski before his shot hit both posts. Sarr followed in for the rebound but his shot was cleared off the line by Mengi.

On the other side of half-time, Tottenham pulled level. Brennan Johnson played a lovely little give-and-go with Pedro Porro to break clear down the right before his cross was turned into his own net by Kabore with Werner lurking behind him.

Another fine Spurs move down the right saw Son play in Porro, with his low cross this time cleared by Kabore to safety.

Porro then delivered a whipped ball from deep to find Son, whose shot was well kept out by Kaminski's feet.

Down the other end, Guglielmo Vicario had to be at full stretch to push aside a shot from Jordan Clark after Spurs failed to clear a corner.

Johnson and Porro continued to cause Luton problems, with the Welshman this time turning provider for the Spaniard, only for his shot to whistle over the top of the crossbar.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thought the home side had gone in front when Johnson appeared to have scrambled home a cutback from Giovani Lo Celso, only for his shot to hit Kaminski, the inside of the post and then be cleared by Alfie Doughty just before it crossed the line.

With just under five minutes remaining, Spurs found that second goal. Son carried the ball away from a Luton corner, sending in Werner down the left. His ball in field was knocked back by Johnson into the South Korean's path, lashing a strike off Daiki Hashioka and past Kaminski to snatch the three points.

Tottenham player ratings (4-2-3-1)

GK: Guglielmo Vicario - 6/10 - Had to be alert to make some stretching saves when Luton shot from distance. Not a lot he could have done about the opening goal.

RB: Pedro Porro - 7/10 - Quiet in the first half but took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half, being emboldened by his partnership with Johnson.

CB: Cristian Romero - 7/10 - Quietly going about his business of late rather than going over the top with his trademark and characteristic aggression. Silenced Morris fairly comfortably.

CB: Radu Dragusin - 6/10 - Still getting to grips with the pace of the Premier League but showed some promising skills carrying the ball out from the back.

LB: Destiny Udogie - 6/10 - A little naive with some of his fouls but couldn't fault his work ethic or ability to create overloads to Luton's detriment.

CM: Pape Matar Sarr - 6/10 - The usual engine in midfield for Spurs. Won the ball back several times through his energetic pressing and harrying.

CM: Yves Bissouma - 4/10 - Allowed Townsend far too much freedom leading to the opening goal. Never got into his groove after that.

RW: Dejan Kulusevski - 6/10 - Opened Luton up with some exquisite passes in the first half before being hooked at the break. A better ball to Son would've meant Spurs didn't concede the opening goal in the way they did.

AM: James Maddison - 6/10 - Brought moments of ingenuity which Luton sought to extinguish with cynical fouls. Didn't have much of a say in the final third until the second half.

LW: Timo Werner - 7/10 - The full Werner experience. Missed a sitter, forced an own goal, played a crucial role in the winner.

CF: Son Heung-min - 8/10 - Never stopped running and led from the front excellently, even if his usual quality was lacking until late on.

Substitutes

SUB: Brennan Johnson (46' for Kulusevski) - 9/10 - Completely changed the game. Always got at his man, showed bravery and came up with two goal contributions.

SUB: Rodrigo Bentancur (68' for Maddison) - 7/10

SUB: Giovani Lo Celso (68' for Sarr) - 6/10

SUB: Richarlison (85' for Bissouma) - 6/10

SUB: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (88' for Son) - 6/10

Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven

Manager

Ange Postecoglou - 7/10 - A flat first half was again followed by a roaring second. Made the right changes to win Spurs the game.

Luton player ratings (4-3-1-2)

GK: Thomas Kaminski - 7/10 - Produced a number of fine saves but eventually his task of keeping Spurs out proved too tough.

RB: Issa Kabore - 4/10 - Continually roasted by Werner and this lopsided duel ended with the right-back scoring an own goal.

CB: Teden Mengi - 7/10 - Luton's most authoritative defender despite his young age. Harsh on him to be on the losing side.

CB: Reece Burke - 6/10 - Defended stubbornly in his one half of football before being withdrawn at the break.

LB: Alfie Doughty - 6/10 - Given a tough time by Johnson in the second half but got his own back with an incredible clearance off the line shortly prior to succumbing to injury.

CM: Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu - 5/10 - A jack-of-all-trades job in midfield, protecting the backline and beginning attacks without much success.

CM: Luke Berry - 5/10 - Plugged gaps defensively by dropping between the full-back and centre-back but didn't offer a lot else.

CM: Tahith Chong - 8/10 - Like Berry had an important role defensively, but also aimed to stretch play with his natural winger instincts. Stunned Spurs with such an early goal.

AM: Ross Barkley - 6/10 - Enjoyed himself early on dancing about the midfield but his influence on the match waned as Spurs took control.

CF: Andros Townsend - 7/10 - Got close to Morris at times and went out wide at others, but always proved a useful outlet. Not a bad personal return to north London.

CF: Carlton Morris - 3/10 - Offered nothing at all. Taken out of the game by Romero.

Substitutes

SUB: Daiki Hashioka (46' for Burke) - 6/10 - Defended with vigour for the most part before the late collapse.

SUB: Jordan Clark (63' for Berry) - 5/10

SUB: Fred Onyedinma (74' for Chong) - 5/10

SUB: Cauley Woodrow (83' for Doughty) - 5/10

Subs not used: James Shea (GK), Tim Krul (GK), Daiki Hashioka, Joe Johnson, Axel Piesold, Zack Nelson

Manager

Rob Edwards - 6/10 - Luton were organised but eventually ran out of ideas going the other way.

Player of the match - Brennan Johnson (Tottenham)

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