Thank you very much for joining me. Here is Jacob Steinberg’s report from Tottenham.
James Maddison: “Another one ticked off. A lot of people are talking what we will need to get through. Three wins in three is a good start.
“We both wanted to take it, I was the senior player and captain, so was going to take it but then I had a conversation for myself. Richarlison has come back from an injury and I know how hard that is, so I let him take it.
“I thought it would be best if he took it, hopefully that will give him a big boost.”
On Mikey Moore: “From minute 45 yo 65, I thought we had Neymar on the wing. He has a young, fearless mentality. He is a young and lovely lad who takes on a lot of information. It is all about knuckling down and working hard, which he is doing anyway.”
Full time: Tottenham 1-0 AZ
In the end it is Richarlison’s goal that secures Spurs a third straight win in the Europa League but the match will mainly be remembered for Mikey Moore’s second-half performance. He looks like he will be an excellent player.
90+3 mins: NO PENALTY! I think it would be harsh on the goalkeeper to be penalised for trying to block a shot and catching an opponent.
90+2 mins: Spurs should make it 2-0 after a fine move down the left results with Udogie toe poking wide. The goalkeeper catches Udogie and Spurs want a penalty. VAR is having a look …
90 mins: Three minutes added on.
Scott Blair says: “With reference to the earlier Kari Tulinius observation. ‘Whenever I see Troy Parrott on the field, he always seems dangerous to me, like the proverbial gun in a Chekhov play.’
“I’m now compelled to share that whenever I see the AZ lad’s name it reminds me of Chou Pahrot, a...remarkable Paisley-based band from long, long ago. They were the support act for the “Rezillos Christmas Party” at the Glasgow Apollo in 1978.
“And it’s not often one gets to share a memory like that in public, so cheers.”
88 mins: Seeing out the remaining minutes against one man fewer is ideal for Spurs.
Moore departs, Odobert on. The winger has a chance to double the lead but his shot from close range is blocked.
RED CARD! Moller Wolfe
86 mins: A second yellow for Moller Wolfe for a clip on Johnson results in a dismissal. That his is second dismissal in as many matches.
Updated
84 mins: Double change for AZ Dekker and Mijnans off, Meerdink and Kwakman on.
83 mins: Kulusevski drives down the right and then cuts in – he has options in the box but decides to shoot, causing the goalkeeper no issues whatsoever.
81 mins: Dekker slides in to tackle Sarr; he takes the ball but the challenge is deemed reckless, earning Spurs a free-kick and the AZ man a booking.
79 mins: Moore cuts in from the left and decides to shoot, it is not a bad effort but straight at the goalkeeper.
77 mins: Fair play to Forster, he rarely gets a game and has had a quiet night overall but when he’s been called upon he’s always been alert and ready.
75 mins: Parrott sends Lahdo through down the middle and he has a great chance to equalise but whacks it straight at Forster.
73 mins: Bergvall’s race is run. Looks like he has a groin issue. I suspect Sarr will replace him, while Kulusevski is on for Maddison.
71 mins: The camera finds Steve Perryman in the stands. He is checking his phone rather than watching the match.
69 mins: Parrott sends a pass out to Poku on the edge of the box but he is forced too wide and Spurs regroup. AZ come back at Spurs but cannot create a worthwhile chance.
67 mins: Solanke’s first involvement is to foul Penetra.
Lahdo on, Maikuma off for AZ.
65 mins: Maddison whips in a corner which the goalkeeper flaps at, getting a knuckle on it to punch it behind again.
Richarlison departs, Solanke on.
63 mins: Kasius pings a shot from 25 yards but Forster sees is coming and saves.
Kári Tulinius emails: “Whenever I see Troy Parrott on the field, he always seems dangerous to me, like the proverbial gun in a Chekhov play. However, I’ve never actually seen him score a goal, as far as I can remember. Maybe going up against his old club is the drama he needs to go off.”
Updated
61 mins: Solanke is readying himself to come on, with Richarlison the man set to exit. No surprise considering the Brazilian is just back from injury.
59 mins: More incredible stuff from Moore. The winger shows get speed and quickness of feet to glide beyond the AZ defence before flashing a shot across goal.
57 mins: Dragusin goes inside Poku just outside the Spurs area but the defender loses possession and the AZ man is through until Bentacur dives in to save his teammate.
Moller Wolfe is cautioned for pulling on Maddison’s shirt.
55 mins: Moore has ignited Tottenham and the crowd. I did say the fans needed something to lift them and the teenager has certainly done it.
Spurs have a great chance for a second as Johnson latches onto a through on the right-hand side of the box. He debates what to do and attempts to find Richarlison in the middle but Owusu-Oduro does wonderfully well to intercept.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 AZ (Richarlison, 53)
It is the Brazilian who eventually does step up from the spot and he sends it straight down the middle.
Updated
51 mins: PENALTY TO TOTTENHAM! Bergvall is taken down in the box when about to shoot. Richarlison and Maddison are arguing over who should take it. The Brazilian is eventually talked down.
50 mins: Moore, Moore, Moore, how do you like it? The winger loves a dribble and the Spurs fans are thoroughly embracing it. He wins a corner on the left which AZ clear with relative ease.
49 mins: Moore is in the game again, whipping in a cross which Richarlison can’t get his head on and Bergvall can’t connect either but it is still goalbound until the goalkeeper tips it wide.
Moore is having the time of his life out on the left.
47 mins: Johnson’s arrival sees Moore move over to the left where he is more comfortable. He immediately shows incredible skills to dribble past four AZ players and send a wonderful pass with the outside of his boot across to Johnson but his shot is blocked.
Second half
Here we go again!
Johnson on for Werner for Spurs; Koopmeiners replaces Belic for AZ.
Half-time reading:
Half time: Tottenham 0-0 AZ
Spurs have looked good but not had the requisite cutting edge in the final third and are yet to test the AZ goalkeeper.
45 mins: Two minutes added on.
I have just remembered that my one trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium resulted in Timo Werner scoring the winner for RB Leipzig.
Updated
44 mins: Tottenham seem a bit flat on the pitch and in the stands at the moment. Will the fans lift the players or vice versa?
42 mins: Moore shows some quick feet on the right but his cross is not up to the required standard.
40 mins: Kasius races to chase a ball over the top but Forster reads the danger and comes out of his box to just beat the AZ man to the ball.
38 mins: Poku gets the better of Gray on the left and pings a low cross into the box but Dragusin blocks it.
Spurs win the ball back in the AZ half, allowing Richarlison to slip a pass to Werner inside the box but he is off-balance when shooting and sends his effort wide.
36 mins: “Timo Werner scored 78 goals in 127 games at Leipzig before his move to Chelsea. What did they do to him at Stamford Bridge?” asks Jim Denvir.
Suck all the confidence out of him?
34 mins: Poku drives into the box, going up against Dragusin. The AZ man ends up on the floor in the box but there is nothing in it.
32 mins: Maddison goes down in the box after a challenge from Penetra. The Spurs captain wants a penalty but I think the defender gets the ball and VAR agrees.
Bergvall takes the corner and finds Dragusin at the back spot from where he heads it back across the box but AZ manage to get rid.
30 mins: AZ win a corner after Udogie deflects a cross behind. It is a cracking inswinger from the right which Penetra heads towards the top corner but Forster produces a wonderful save to keep it out.
28 mins: Werner should do better after a glorious pass from Bergvall. The German ends up one-on-one but his finish is beyond dismal, kindly passing the ball straight to the goalkeeper.
Updated
26 mins: Richarlison and Maddison combine well but the latter can’t dig out an accurate cross and AZ manage to clear.
24 mins: AZ are sticking to their task well but it still feels like Spurs will be taking the points at this stage.
22 mins: Poku dribbles the ball 40 yards up the pitch to the edge of the box before laying it off to Parrott who sees his shot blocked.
20 mins: Having been hooked at the weekend against West Ham, Maddison is all over the pitch and eager to get on the ball at every opportunity.
18 mins: Kasius whips in a dangerous cross from the right which somehow is met by no one in red. A let-off for Spurs.
Down the other end … Werner is released by Maddison; the winger earns half a yard of space before his cross is turned behind for a corner.
16 mins: The early stats indicate Spurs have had 61% possession but it feels like a lot more.
14 mins: Tottenham are still very much on top here. AZ have a lot of men behind the ball to try and stop the steady flow of attacks.
Updated
12 mins: Maddison tries to find Richarlison but the pass is blocked, the ball comes back to him so he shoots from 18 yards, only to send it straight at the goalkeeper.
Kasius is on for Van Bommel.
10 mins: Van Bommel walks off and looks very frustrated as he heads down the tunnel.
8 mins: Spurs are looking lively in the final third. They are very much on top and will be confident of breaking the deadlock.
There is a break in play while Van Bommel is treated. The youngster does not look too happy as he sits on the turf and a substitution is being prepared.
6 mins: Werner whips the ball towards the back post from the left. Moore makes a clever run but he does not make sufficient contact and the ball flashes wide.
Maddison chases a ball over the top … he almost gets there but he is beaten by the pace on the pass and the goalkeeper collects.
4 mins: AZ look happy to play the ball out from the back. Spurs will be putting them under plenty of pressure when they do.
I am also quite interested in seeing Moore and Bergvall. The two teenager are highly rated and the more minutes they get at this level the better.
2 mins: Clive Allen on co-comms is a bonus. I love a bit of Clive.
Richarlison gets an early touch in the box. It will be interesting to see how he does, Spurs need him challenging Solanke for the starting spot.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
Parrott has made headlines already since moving to Netherlands.
Dragusin gets his first start since being sent off in the eighth minute against Qarabag. The Romanian centre-back has something to prove at Spurs, that’s for sure.
Pre-match reading.
You can also follow Fenerbahce v Man United here:
Starting lineups
Fraser Forster gets a rare start in goal and Mikey Moore is given his chance.
Tottenham (4-3-3): Forster; Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Bentancur, Maddison, Bergvall; Moore, Richarlison, Werner
Subs: Vicario, Austin, Bissouma, Romero, Solanke, Kulusevski, Johnson, Porro, Odobert, Sarr, Van de Ven, Lankshear
AZ (4-3-3): Owusu-Oduro; Maikuma, Penetra, Dekker, Moller Wolfe; Clase, Mijnans, Belic; Poku, Parrott, Van Bommel
Subs: Verhuist, Zoet, Koopmeiners, Addai, Lahdo, Kasius, Kwakman, De Wit, Meerdink, Berkhout
Preamble
Another night under the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium lights is not a particularly catchy phrase but I have to work with what I’m given. Anyway, tonight’s visitors - aiming to end Tottenham’s perfect start in the competition – are AZ. They possess some Spurs inside knowledge, having signed Troy Parrott from the club in the summer and he will be eager to show up his former employers.
The other important thing to know about the Dutch club is their manager is named Maarten Martens, which seems lazy from his parents. Other surprising AZ players include Bruno Martins-Indi, Jordy Clasie and Mark’s son Ruben van Bommel.
This seems like a competition that Tottenham could go a long way in, especially as the Champions League rejects will not be spewed into it in February. They have seen off Ferencvaros and Qarabag already but it feels like this will be a decent test of Ange Postecoglou’s European credentials.
Kick-off: 8pm BST
