Tottenham have found themselves under pressure away at Bodo/Glimt in the first half despite a 0-0 scoreline at half-time.
The Lilywhites have struggled to get a foothold in the game, and the hosts should have gone ahead when Kasper Hogh skied his penalty over the crossbar.
A trip to Bodo/Glimt was always a potential banana skin for Tottenham, and it is proving to be exactly that so far.
Thomas Frank took a major gamble with his team selection for the clash, and it has already backfired in his face in drastic fashion.
Mohammed Kudus has to come on for Brennan Johnson
Mohammed Kudus was left on the bench for Tottenham in a bizarre selection decision by Thomas Frank, and he is already being made to pay for his pre-match call.
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The former West Ham star has been Spurs’ most creative player in the early stages of the season, and the decision to leave him on the bench was an immediate eyebrow raiser prior to kick-off.
Kudus’ replacement on the right flank is Brennan Johnson, and he has turned in a simply dismal first-half display.
The wideman has struggled to have any sort of impact in the game, apart from when he skewed a volley miles over the bar following a Wilson Odobert corner.
Johnson won just 50% of his duels and has offered next to nothing in terms of creative outlet, having had only 19 touches during the first half.
Tottenham have had just five touches inside their hosts’ penalty area, and they desperately need the energy and direct running that Kudus can provide.
The decision to rest Kudus was baffling in the first place, but Frank surely has to quickly accept that he has made a significant error and address it by bringing the 25-year-old on before it’s too late.
Tottenham have to stop inviting pressure
Tottenham sat back against Villarreal in the second half of their last Champions League outing, and they are attempting to play their hosts on the break once again here.
That is allowing Bodo/Glimt to get a real foothold in terms of possession, and they have spent a large chunk of the first half camped in the Spurs half.
The Lilywhites simply have to get up the pitch and try and impose themselves on the game a little more; they have far superior quality to their opponents, and getting on the front foot will hugely turn the pattern of the game.
If they continue to sit back and try and counter-attack, the result is unfortunately only going one way.