Own goal and deflected Son shot see lucky Spurs struggle past Luton

Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Kabore 51 (og), Son 86)

Luton Town 1 (Chong 3)

Att: 61,534

Heung-Min Son's deflected 86th-minute goal kept the pressure on Aston Villa in the fight for fourth place as Spurs laboured to a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatrened Luton.

Tahith Chong gave the Hatters the lead after just three minutes with Luton's first attack, Spurs were level shortly after the restart thanks to an own goal from Issa Kabore and Son's deflected effort saved Tottenham's blushes.

Luton stunned the Spurs fans with their first break away. It was the fifth consecutive home game in which Spurs had conceded first. They have now recovered to win four of those games, but will have to improve if they are going to see off Villa and clinch Champions League football next season.

Former Spurs man Andros Townsend was afforded far too much space down the right for the Hatters' opener. He was able to play the ball into Ross Barkley, who found Chong. Chong controlled the ball with his first touch and slotted it past Guglielmo Vicario with his second. Luton were in dreamland.

Timo Werner should have levelled on the quarter hour. He was set free by Dejan Kulusevski's lovely long pass. Werner collected the ball in the inside left channel, twisted and turned Issa Kabore but put his shot wide with only goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to beat.

Then came a comedy moment. Luton got caught playing out from the back and Son was through on goal. Son rounded Kaminski but his shot hit the right-hand post, rolled along the line and hit the left-and post before the Hatters cleared.

Luton then pushed for a second. Townsend's deep cross from the right was volleyed goalwards by Alfie Doughty but the effort was blocked.

Barkley had a shot from distance which forced Vicario into a save low down to his left just after half-time, but within seconds Spurs were level at the other end - Brennan Johnson's cross from the right turned into his own goal by Kabore, under pressure from Werner.

And just a couple of minutes later Spurs were naerly ahead. Pedro Porro played a one-two with Son then crossed towards the back post, but this time Kabore did manage to clear, with his left foot.

Spurs were on top but Luton wouldn't go away - Vicario again called into action, this time from substitute Jordan Clark's effort from outside the box.

Tottenham came back. Pedro Porro's left-footed effort flew over the bar when he realy should have at least got the ball on target, before Johnson's effort from point blank range was stopped by Kaminsky then hooked off the line by Doughty as the ball trickled towards the net.

And just as it looked as though Luton had held on for a much-needed point, Son won it for Spurs. Werner's cross from the left was stabbed back into the path of Son by Johnson and Son's shot was deflected past Kaminski by Daiki Hashioka.

Spurs were lucky, but at this stage of the season it's points that matter.

Over to Vila.

Teams:

Spurs: Vicario, Dragusin, Son (Hojbjerg 88), Bissouma (Richarlison 85), Maddison (Bentancur 68), Werner, Romero, Kulusevski (Johnson h/t), Porro, Sarr (Lo Celso 68), Udogie

Luton: Kaminski, Barkley, Berry (Clark 63), Morris, Kabore, Chong (Onyedinma 74), Mengi, Burke (Hashioka h/t), Mpanzu, Townsend, Doughty (Woodrow 83)

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Picture: Charlie Stong