Pacos de Ferreira claim upper hand in Portugal - report and reaction

Our first-ever game in the inaugural Europa Conference League ended in defeat in Portugal as Pacos de Ferreira edged home to hold a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg in north London next Thursday.

With all three new signings – Pierluigi Gollini, Cristian Romero and Bryan Gil - making their full debuts along with Academy graduates Nile John and Dane Scarlett, we found it difficult to get into our rhythm throughout the 90 minutes, with the home side grabbing the only goal of the game just before half-time through Lucas Silva.

We made a bright start in the sunshine at the Estadio Capital do Movel with debutant Bryan looking particularly lively in the opening exchanges, but we couldn’t capitalise on those early moments and it was the hosts with the first shot on target in the 17th minute, Nuno Santos’ low drive comfortable for Gollini.

Pacos, fifth in the Portuguese top flight last season, were certainly an accomplished side and they grew into the game as it went on, Denilson attempting an audacious lob from just inside our half on 35 minutes but it fell short and Gollini gathered. The home side took the lead on the stroke of half-time after a swift counter-attack. Nuno Santos picked up the ball and threaded a pass straight through the middle of our defence for Lucas Silva, who had timed his run to perfection and he strode into our area and produced a composed finish to score.

Captain on the night Ben Davies flicked a header wide from a Harry Winks corner early in the second half as we looked for the equaliser, while Ryan Sessegnon tried to make something happen on 62 minutes, coming in off the left flank, riding a couple of challenges but lashing his shot high and wide.

In the closing stages, Pacos dropped deep whenever we had the ball and made it very difficult for us to find a way through, playing on the counter and had a late opportunity when Cameron Carter-Vickers gave away a free-kick but Antunes smashed the set piece into our wall. Despite enjoying two thirds of the possession on the night, we failed to muster a shot on target and suffered our first defeat under Nuno Espirito Santo, but all is not lost as we reconvene in a week's time for the return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Youngsters make history

There was a touch of Club history made on Thursday evening, with the selection of identical twins Michael and Matthew Craig on the substitutes’ bench - the first time that's ever happened in our men's first team.

While the Craig brothers didn’t see any action, there were plenty of other debuts. Head Coach Nuno - making his return to Portugal - handed full debuts to summer arrivals Gollini, Romero - who came off the bench for his bow against City on Sunday - and Bryan, plus youngsters John and Scarlett. Two more young players made their debuts as late replacements, J’Neil Bennett coming on for Sessegnon and Maksim Paskotsi replacing Carter-Vickers.

Reaction on Spurs TV

Nuno's view

“It was a tough game, but we didn’t play well,” said Nuno afterwards. “We moved the ball well in the first half but lost too many passes. Let’s look at that and start to improve it. No excuses. The boys are working well and hard, many are getting back and trying to get the right performance level that competition in all football requires. We’ll get there. Let’s analyse the match, because there were things we did well, but many things that we didn’t do so well.”

Highlights on Spurs TV

Match data

Goal: Pacos de Ferreira – Lucas Silva 45.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Davies, Bryan; Pacos de Ferreira – Helder Ferreira, Antunes, Delgado.

Venue: Estadio Capital do Movel.

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy).

Weather: Clear sky, gentle breeze, 20 degrees.

Attendance: 2,284.