Tottenham edge out Cardiff in narrow win

Tottenham edged to a narrow victory at Wembley to leave Cardiff still without a win this season and send the Bluebirds to the bottom of the Premier League.

Eric Dier scored the only goal of the game in the eighth minute, tapping in a loose ball from inside the six-yard box from a corner.

Cardiff had to play most of the second half with 10 men after Joe Ralls was sent off in the 58th minute, but Spurs failed to find a second goal to make the result comfortable.

The visitors showed fight after conceding early and could have equalised midway through the first half but Toby Alderweireld cleared Josh Murphy’s effort off the line.

Spurs lost their way after going in front but improved at the end of the first half with Lucas Moura missing two good chances and Son Heung-min also shooting over.

Immediately after half-time, Cardiff captain Sean Morrison brilliantly blocked Moura’s shot on the line after Harry Kane’s initial header had been saved.

Ralls was then sent off for a cynical challenge on Moura but minutes later Morrison had a header turned onto the post by Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Cardiff, who have already made their worst start to a season since 1964-65, have not won any of their first eight league games.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side climb above Chelsea, who play on Sunday, into third.

The defeat is Cardiff’s fifth in a row in the league and leaves them in 20th place after Huddersfield grabbed a point at Burnley.

The results look bleak for the Welsh side but there were positives in the performance that will please Neil Warnock.

Some might have expected Cardiff to fold after going behind early on, but instead they were the better side for 20 minutes after Dier’s goal.

They would have scored in that spell but for Alderweireld’s goalline clearance, which was made even more impressive by the fact Junior Hoilett was closing in to tap home Murphy’s initial shot.

Cardiff also defended valiantly when Spurs did attack, with Morrison and fellow centre-back Sol Bamba repeatedly using their body to block shots.

Manager Neil Warnock looked furious with Spurs’ players after Ralls was sent off, seemingly unhappy at the way the players surrounded the referee to protest at the challenge.

Ralls’ tackle was not dangerous – nor was he the last man in defence – but as he made no attempt to player the ball referee Mike Dean chose to dismiss the midfielder.

According to BBC, Cardiff again responded well to this setback, hitting the post through Morrison – but in the end the tiredness of playing with 10 men meant they were not able to push for an equaliser late on.