Tottenham player ratings vs Qarabag - Dragusin daft, Johnson and Solanke score, Van de Ven vital
Tottenham Hotspur won 3-0 despite having 10 men for much of their game against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday night and here are our Spurs player ratings.
Ange Postecoglou made six changes to his line-up from the team that beat Brentford on Saturday, with Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma all coming in to start against the Azerbaijani side. The kick-off had to be delayed by 35 minutes as Qarabag arrived late due to severe road problems in the area while many fans were unable to get to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when they had originally planned due to multiple train cancellations around Tottenham Hale.
When the game eventually began, it took just seven minutes for drama to arrive as Dragusin was sent off after a poor bit of play, losing the ball after some poor control and then bringing down Juninho as he ran clear. Spurs reacted quickly with 10 men though and scored five minutes later with Dominic Solanke using his strength to win the ball back, hold off his marker and put Brennan Johnson through to score his third goal in as many games.
Sarr doubled Spurs' lead early in the second half. Half-time substitute Dejan Kulusevski's corner was flapped at by the keeper under pressure from Davies and Sarr volleyed it in off a defender.
The visitors were given a penalty after Bissouma initially caught Elvin Jafarguliyev in the box but then got the ball with his second challenge. Tural Bayramov though sent the penalty on to the crossbar and over.
It soon became 3-0 to 10-man Tottenham as Solanke made it two goals in two games as he followed up Son Heung-min's saved shot to fire home and the ten men held on for a clean sheet and the win.
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Here are our Tottenham player ratings:
Guglielmo Vicario
Did well to come out and beat a Qarabag attacker after Davies was dispossessed. Made a number of comfortable saves before a brilliant full stretch one to deny Jafarguliyev. A dominant display. 8
Archie Gray
Put in a real shift at right-back and tried to get Spurs up the pitch as well even with 10 men. It's not his ideal position but he's getting plenty of minutes there and he's getting sharper. Looked like he picked up a late painful knock but was running it off in the final minutes. 7
Radu Dragusin
Dreadful decision-making to let the ball roll across his body and then bring down Juninho as the last man. Red card after seven minutes. 1
Micky van de Ven
Held the defence together superbly after Dragusin's exit and that pace always helps Tottenham out. 8
Ben Davies
Got dispossessed midway through the first half but was bailed out by Vicario. A couple of shaky moments but on the whole battled away and put off the goalkeeper for Spurs' second. 6
Pape Matar Sarr
A quiet first half but he was much better in the second half and doubled Spurs' lead early in the second period with a volley home off a defender. 7
Yves Bissouma
An erratic display with some good moments but plenty of sloppy ones. Gave away the missed penalty. He certainly got the ball at the second attempt but it was the initial contact that was the problem. 5
Lucas Bergvall
So tough on the young Swede and he looked gutted, sacrificed for Udogie to come on. 5
Brennan Johnson
Made it three goals in three games with a fine finish into the bottom left corner just five minutes after the red card. Came off at half-time as Kulusevski was added to bolster the midfield. 7
Dominic Solanke
Showed his strength to win the ball and then assist Johnson for his early goal. Made it two goals in two games in following up Son's saved effort. Looked knackered by the end but he proved to be a terrific focal point for the other nine men on his team. Goal and an assist on a good night for him. 8
Son Heung-min
Worked hard down the left to give Spurs an outlet down that channel and it was his saved shot that Solanke fired home. 7
Subs
Destiny Udogie
Came off the bench after 10 minutes or so and quickly made a couple of important interceptions. Played his part in Spurs keeping a clean sheet. 8
Dejan Kulusevski
It was his corner that led to the second goal and he was involved in the third. Helped give the midfield more strength. 7
Timo Werner
Didn't offer too much in the final stages. 5
Rodrigo Bentancur
Helped give Spurs a more secure base after replacing Bissouma. 6
Mikey Moore
The 17-year-old made his European debut in the final moments and hopefully the first of many such games for the club. N/A
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