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A rare Eric Dier goal earned Tottenham a 1-0 victory over 10-man Cardiff, extending their winning run to three Premier League matches.<\/p>\nA rare Eric Dier goal earned Tottenham a 1-0 victory over 10-man Cardiff, extending their winning run to three Premier League matches.<\/p>\n
Spurs should have led by more than just Dier\u2019s first club goal in 18 months before Cardiff had midfielder Joe Ralls sent off after 58 minutes at Wembley.<\/p>\n
Ralls was dismissed for tripping Lucas Moura with the ball way out of reach.<\/p>\n
Sean Morrison hit the post as Cardiff came close to an equalizer despite their numerical disadvantage, but the Bluebirds could not find a leveler and remain winless after eight games.<\/p>\n
Mauricio Pochettino made three changes from the side which lost 4-2 to Barcelona on Wednesday night, with Dier included along with Danny Rose and Moussa Sissoko.<\/p>\n
Pochettino had warned against complacency, urging his players to show the same level as they had against Lionel Messi and co when faced with the newly-promoted Bluebirds.<\/p>\n
Spurs led after eight minutes. Kieran Trippier took a corner short, the ball was played back to him and he crossed.<\/p>\n
Davinson Sanchez won the header and the ball became stuck under the feet of Joe Bennett as Dier showed a striker\u2019s instinct to thrash the ball in.<\/p>\n
It was the England midfielder\u2019s first Tottenham goal since April 2017, when he scored twice in eight days.<\/p>\n
Lucas was causing Cardiff frequent concern and set up Sanchez for a shot, only for Neil Etheridge to save.<\/p>\n
The visitors threatened when Sanchez\u2019s back header was met by Josh Murphy, whose pace was Cardiff\u2019s most potent weapon.<\/p>\n
Murphy\u2019s goal-bound effort might have been a shot or cross and Junior Hoilett\u2019s bid to push the ball over the line was thwarted by a last-ditch challenge from Toby Alderweireld.<\/p>\n
Sol Bamba headed wide from the resulting corner as Spurs were reprieved.<\/p>\n
Son Heung-min, Lucas and Harry Kane broke, but Kane was pushed wide.<\/p>\n
Lucas headed over Trippier\u2019s cross and passed wide when presented with a straightforward scoring opportunity by Son\u2019s neat footwork on the left.<\/p>\n
Son then skied an effort after being played in by Sissoko as Spurs had to settle for a one-goal interval lead.<\/p>\n
Within moments of the restart, Spurs had two chances to double their lead.<\/p>\n
Rose\u2019s cross from the left was met by Kane and Etheridge saved only as far as Lucas. The Brazilian\u2019s shot was blocked brilliantly by Morrison.<\/p>\n
Lucas continued to torment the visitors. Lucas, on Spurs\u2019 right, played the ball by Ralls to chase himself and the Blues midfielder made a cynical trip, earning a straight red card. There was no doubt from referee Mike Dean, who booked Kane for his reaction to the challenge.<\/p>\n
Cardiff almost leveled when Dier allowed Morrison to find space and the Cardiff captain hit the post with a header from Victor Camarasa\u2019s free-kick.<\/p>\n
Erik Lamela, on for Son, had a couple of shots blocked for Spurs, who might have had a penalty when Rose went down under the attention of Bruno Ecuele Manga.<\/p>\n
Dean was unmoved and Spurs had to settle for a 1-0 win<\/p>\n