After a disappointing showing against Fulham, Spurs had a point to prove as they welcomed Luton Town FC to Tottenham after a long hiatus.
It was to be a difficult afternoon for Tottenham, who sat in fifth, three points off Aston Villa but with a game in hand.
The visitors were in rapture after two minutes when Tahith Chong slotted home after a break down the right. Dejan Kulusevski had fluffed a chance to create something at the other end, Heung-Min Son slipped and Luton were off, finding it far too easy work their way into the box.
Spurs responded well, with Timo Werner the driving force, playing Son through, crossing for Pape Matar Sarr and feeding Kulusevski in quick succession. Minutes later he made the wrong decision when, played through with a punt over the top he opted to twist outside and shoot rather than playing in Destiny Udogie, who was free in the middle.
The best chance came when Son rounded the keeper, only to see his shot rebound off one post and then another before Werner and Sarr both had shots blocked by defenders.
Spurs kept attacking but nothing would come off. Son failed to pick a pass given all the time in the world, while Udogie put an inch-perfect cross in but there was no striker there.
Towards the end of the first half, Spurs ratcheted up the pressure, with crosses and through balls flying in, but the Luton defence was resolute.
Ange Postecoglou made a half-time change, bringing on Brennan Johnson for Kulusevski. He was involved immediately, teeing up Son for a shot that was blocked and then it was his cross that created the own goal by Issa Kabore after 50 minutes.
Spurs continued to press and Postecoglou brought on fresh legs with Rodrigo Bentancur and Giovani Lo Celso coming on for Maddison and Sarr with 20 minutes to go.
The 85th minute saw the return of Richarlison, on for Yves Bissouma as the home team hunted a winner.
A minute later it was Son who broke the deadlock, charging downfield, playing out to Werner and benefitting from Johnson's layoff. This time he found the net.
It was what fans expect from him and was his final contribution, with Pierre-Emile Hijbjerg on to see out the game.
It was a game with lots of Spurs pressure but some fans managed to turn their back on it at 65 minutes in protest over the removal of season tickets concessions for over-65s by the club.
1. Brennan Johnson (7)
The young Welshman came on for Kulusevski at half time. He made a real difference, hogging the byline and put balls across, including the one that created an own goal. His assist gave Son the winner. | AFP via Getty Images Photo: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images
2. Son Heung-Min (6)
The captain did not have his best game, with a few misplaced passes and losses of control. But when he gets motoring he is still a threat to any defence, and no one would have foreseen his first half shot coming off both posts. In the second half the ball was millimetres from crossing the line. But he didn't let his head drop and it was his drive forward which created the moving leading to his winner. | Getty Images Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
3. James Maddison (5)
Always ready to receive the ball and look forward, there is no one else in the squad who can do what Maddison does. His love of a Modric-style outside of the boot pass is growing. | Getty Images Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
4. Cristian Romero (5)
The defence is not as convincing without Micky van de Ven, but Cristian Romero put in a steady shift with Dragusin at the back. | Getty Images Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images