Johnson sparks Spurs and gives a lift to old pals
BRENNAN JOHNSON came off the bench to spark Spurs to victory and give his old club Nottingham Forest a big boost in their fight for survival.
Injury-hit Luton took a third-minute lead through Tahith Chong (below) from a Ross Barkley pass and went toe-to-toe with Tottenham with brave man-marking tactics.
But in a bad week for Welsh football after they failed to qualify for Euro 2024, Johnson’s half-time introduction changed the game and condemned compatriot Rob Edwards to a painful defeat.
Edwards said: “I feel sick right now.
“We’ve got to turn around quickly, it doesn’t get any easier! We’ll try and go again.”
His low cross was turned into his own net by Issa Kabore before his late assist saw captain Heung-min Son net the 86th-minute winner aided by a big deflection.
The victory keeps Ange Postecoglou’s side in the hunt for a Champions League place. But Luton’s eighth defeat in 10 games sees them slip back into the bottom three below Forest on goal difference.
The Reds were hit with a four-point penalty earlier for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) after delaying Johnson’s £47.5million transfer to the summer.
The Welshman made another payment to Forest by helping to deny Luton a point yesterday – and give Spurs a much-needed win to celebrate before Tuesday’s fifth anniversary of the opening of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Postecoglou hailed the “outstanding” Son after the Spurs captain netted his 160th Tottenham goal.
The South Korean star, who signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, overtook Cliff Jones as the fifth highest scorer in the club’s history.
And Son now trails fellow Spurs legends Harry Kane (280), Sir Jimmy Greaves (268), Bobby Smith, (208) and Martin Chivers (174).
Postecoglou said: “He is outstanding. He keeps delivering. When we need him, he has been there for us.
“He’s a credit to himself and this club.”
Son scored twice during the international break for South Korea in World Cup qualifiers and yesterday took his tally to 24 for club and country this season.
He said: “I didn’t even realise how many I’d scored. I want to thank everyone who played with me and coached me for their big effort.”