Champions League

TOTTENHAM 3 (Zima 26 og, Kudus 50 pen, Simons 79 pen)
SLAVIA PRAGUE 0

THE raw stats tell you this was a game won by an own-goal and two penalties.

However, Tottenham not only created plenty – and looked like they had extra gears to draw on should they have needed to – but this Champions League win also showed a grit to Thomas Frank’s charges.

Czech champions Slavia Prague came to N17 with tactics based on pure aggression; the aim to knock the home side off their stride and outfight them. But Spurs did not shy away from the challenge and the win puts them up to ninth in the league stage of this competition.

An own-goal on 26 minutes by Slavia defender David Zima came after goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek had already shown his shot-stopping capabilities: his first save, after just 60 seconds from Richarlison, was terrific and he became something of a one-man wall as the home side looked to win at a canter.

Stanek, however, could do nothing about two second-half penalties via Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons. It would have been a pasting if it were not for the heroics of Stanek.

Speaking after the game, manager Frank said: “Slavia did not make it easy for us. They made it awkward in some situations but we kept trying to do the right thing.

“We did the job, got three points and kept a clean sheet. That’s three clean sheets at home in the Champions League and it has put us in a good position. I was pleased with the overall effort, the physical output was needed. There are some offensive signs of getting towards where we want to be.”

Tottenham, in their all-white European kit, made two changes from the mood-shifting win against Brentford at the weekend. Randal Kolo Muani stepped aside for Wilson Odobert, and Rodrigo Bentancur gave way for Joao Palhinha.

The stadium was far from full – around 12,000 seats were empty – but the pre-match presentation to former striker Heung-Min Son gee’d up the crowd.

Within the first minute Spurs carved a golden opportunity. Djed Spence pushed a ball round the back for Odobert, and the winger showed some decent skill to get past his man and fire a cross in. Richarlison looked certain to score but somehow Stanek got a hand to his effort and pushed over.

Tottenham had all of the ball and were patient. The opener came from a well-placed corner that Zima got in a muddle over and headed past his own goalkeeper.

The game suffered from some stop-start stuff as roughhouse tackles flew in. But whenever Spurs got their passing together, they looked likely to extend their lead.

On 50, Pedro Porro was sent down the right and got into the box. As he crossed, he was hacked into the air by Youssoupha Sanyang. It was a clear penalty and Kudus buried his effort from the spot.

The third goal came after substitute Lucas Bergvall carried the ball half the length of the pitch, found Kolo Muani and his chested lay off for Simons set the Dutchman in. He was unceremoniously bundled to the floor and converted the spot-kick himself.

Tottenham will have tougher opponents – but this professional display despatched what was in front of them, the only dark moment being an undeserved yellow card for Micky van de Ven, ruling him out of the next tie against Borussia Dortmund.

Tottenham: Vicario; Porro (Davies, 68), Romero, van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Gray (Sarr, 58) Kudus (Tel, 58), Simons, Odobert; Richarlison (Kolo Muani, 68)
Substitutes not used: Gunter, Kinsky, Danso, Bentancur, Scarlett, Olusesi, Williams-Barnet

Slavia Prague: Stanek; Holes, Chaloupek (Zafeiris, 59), Ogbu, Zima (Prekop, 60); Doudera, Moses, Provod, Sadilek (Cham, 75), Sanyang; Chytil (Vlcek, 60)
Substitutes not used: Markovic, Saracevic, Hashioka, Kusej, Mbodji, Boril, Dorley, Chory, Schranz