Hats off as Son’s blast has desired impact on Spurs
TOTTENHAM 2 LUTON 1
HEUNG-MIN SON got the big response he wanted after reading Tottenham the riot act.
Mild-mannered South Korea star Son was as furious as he has ever been when Spurs were spanked 3-0 at Fulham two weeks ago.
He labelled that defeat “unacceptable” in a post-match rant.
Son also told his team-mates to look in the mirror and treat it as a wake-up call.
So, the 31-year-old was delighted to see Spurs show the grit and determination he had demanded.
It looked like being another tough day when Tahith Chong put Luton ahead.
But an Issa Kabore own goal levelled the scores before skipper Son struck late on.
Son said: “Fulham was a tough result – after the game we had an international break, it felt very long.
“I wish we could win every single game, 38 games, win them all.
“It’s easy to say but in football, performance-wise, it’s impossible.
“Losing in that way against Fulham was just not us.
“We showed great character to bounce back, a great football style off the ball.
“It tastes nice this three points.”
Spurs are three points behind fourthplaced Aston Villa with a game in hand – and dreaming of a return to the Champions League.
Defender Destiny Udogie, above, is under no illusions about the size of the task.
He said: “We aim to win every game so we will see at the end.We keep fighting until the end.We show this in every game and every day in training.”
Midfielder Yves Bissouma said: “The most important thing is to stay focused.
“We have nine finals. We will work hard and be ready for that.”
Spurs needed to show bags of character because Luton had chances to extend their lead.And Son’s 160th goal for the club did not come until the 86th minute with the game still firmly in the balance.
His last three goals have all come in the last five minutes of normal time - and Son admits that Spurs work on late-game heroics in training.
Son said: “I want to play until the last whistle and I still believe that the chances will be there, even in the 95th minute. Until the last whistle. “When the chances come, everybody is tired… the way we play, we put a lot of intensity.
“Especially second half of games, everybody gets tired and space will open up even more. Then you create more chances.
“That’s not a secret. We put in a lot of effort for this kind of situation.We work hard for this.”