Wittek’s volley downs Spurs’ second string

Tottenham's decision to leave their big guns at home saw them lose 1-0 to Vitesse Arnhem in Group G of Europa Conference League.

The likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Cristiano Romero and Hugo Lloris did not travel to the Netherlands, with Sunday's clash at West Ham in mind, and a second string were undone by Maximilian Wittek’s 78th-minute strike.

The side Nuno Espirito Santo picked still had nine international players, but were never really in the game and Bryan Gil’s shot that hit the crossbar early in the second half was their only moment of note.

Nuno has shown the competition respect so far, but made it clear where his priorities lay, leaving the entire XI that played 90 minutes at Newcastle last weekend at home to train ahead of Sunday’s Premier League visit to the Hammers.

With the return fixture in a fortnight and then a trip to the weakest team in the competition, NS Mura, to come, the Portuguese decided leaving his big guns back in London for this game was a risk worth taking.

It was a gamble because this was a big night for Vitesse, who sold out their Gelredome stadium for the first time in seven years – and they startedwithintent.

Nikolai Baden Frederiksen forced Pierluigi Gollini into a save with his feet after being played in in the third minute and then Jacob Rasmussen flashed a header just wide from a corner.

Unsurprisingly, given the amount of changes, Spurs were not up to much in an attacking sense in the first half, with teenage striker Dane Scarlett, inset, up against it in a lone role in attack.

Theyshowedmore after the break and were within inches of taking the lead in the 47th minute. Giovani Lo Celso showed why he is becoming a key player for Argentina as he went on an enterprising dribble before laying it off for Gil, whose first-time shot rattled the crossbar.

That was as good as it got for Spurs who were pinned further and further back as the second half wore on, with Eli Dasa twice going close.

It was no surprise when the goal came 12 minutes from time as Wittek brilliantly volleyed home Dasa's cross to send the home crowd wild.