Gent 1-0 Tottenham: Uefa Europa League - as it happened

Full-time: Gent 1-0 Tottenham

A game bereft of creativity and quality but Gent are deserved winners. Tottenham can have no complaints with the defeat, they were lethargic and created little in the way of clear-cut opportunities.

Veteran Jeremy Perbet's close-range effort gave Gent a precious lead ahead of the second leg at Wembley Stadium, while Pochettino, who went with a full strength side, will rue shifting Dele Alli into a holding role midway through the second half.

Tottenham still have not won in Belgium but Gent have secured their first ever win over English opposition.

That brings to the end our coverage, have a very good evening.

Into stoppage time now, Gent trying to hold what they have while Eriksen tries to pull the strings for Spurs. Can't see Tottenham equalising now.

Less than five minutes of normal time remaining. Spurs are trying to crank up the pressure but Gent seem largely untroubled.

Alli attempts to executes a deft pass into the path of Son but Dejaegere is there to deny. Son was adjudged offside anyway.

This man is the matchwinner for Gent at the moment.

Eriksen is involved from the get-go but scoops his effort high over the crossbar.

Milicevic almost gets another chance straight away but Lloris is alert to the potential danger. Gent are brimming with confidence, playing some lovely one-touch football.

The hosts make their final change as Asare makes way for Gershon, while Pochettino brings on Eriksen for Winks.

POST! Esite finds Milicevic who draws a smart save from Lloris, but the French goalkeeper can only tip the attacker's effort onto the post. Tottenham offering nothing in the final third, Gent look like the team most likely to score next.

Dele Alli has just received a yellow card for dissent. Frustration starting to boil over for Spurs now.

Double change for Genk as Koulibaly and Kalu replace Simon and Perbet, the matchwinner as it stands.

Gent close to doubling their lead as an unmarked Mitrovic gets round the back post and heads a corner over the bar.

Second change for Spurs as N'Koudou replaces Sissoko.

Pochettino ready to the roll the dice with Son ready to enter the fray. The forward replaces Dembele, which suggests another tweak to the system, N'Koudou also set to come on.

Tottenham win a free-kick in a dangerous area as Esiti fouls Kane. Dier is the one to take charge of the dead ball but whips it comfortably wide of Kalinic's goal. A bit of a waste, in truth.

It's a sucker punch for Tottenham but the hosts lead! Asare jinks through a couple challenge and finds Milicevic, who picks out Perbet. The veteran sees his first attempt blocked but manages to strike home at the second time of asking.

GOAL! Gent 1-0 Tottenham (Perbet)

Walker zooms down the right flank and picks out Alli, who tries to bundles his way through the Gent backline. The 20-year-old is eventually crowded out and doesn't even receive a goal kick for his troubles.

Tottenham asking a lot of questions of Gent but the hosts are holding their own. Alli gives away a cheap foul on Gigot as he strives to make an impact.

Tottenham are finding Walker with extreme regularity now but the former Aston Villa defender has been shown a yellow card for a rash challenge on Perbet. Late and unnecessary from the England international.

Alli is no stranger to a bit of rough and tumble.

POST! Walker drives in and finds Alli who dinks it through for Kane. The England international swivels and beats Kalinic but can only find the left post. Much better start from Spurs, the Walker change seems to be reaping immediate rewards.

Kyle Walker seems to have been pushed into the right-wing position in this second half, Davies has tucked into the middle. Three at the back for Spurs now.

Second half is underway. Let's hope it makes up for the dreadful first period.

Balanced first half with little difference between the two teams, say Gent. Sounds about right.

Half-time - Gent 0-0 Tottenham

A game lacking in quality, tempo and well, anything. Alli and Kane have had efforts but neither goalkeeper has really been tested. Second half surely cannot be as dull as that showing.

Kane nearly slips through Alli but his cross is well cut out by Mitrovic. Sissoko is on the floor after Simon raked his Achilles.

Dembele tests Kalinic from long range before Foket executes a lovely switch of play to Saief, but his cross doesn't find Perbet.

Both teams huffing and puffing but can't find a way through each other. Gent win a cheap corner as Lloris slices horribly but yet again, nothing comes of it.

Dembele, always a classy operator, is taking up Eriksen's position behind Kane. The Danish international may need to be introduced at half-time, though; this game is crying out for a bit of flair and craft.

Alli balloons an effort over the bar after being teed up by Sissoko, who has come into the game over the last few minutes. Good work from Dembele finds the Englishman again, but his effort is blocked. Better from Spurs.

Sissoko almost finds Kane but his low cross is cut out by Mitrovic. Winks' seemingly harmless cross is then spilled by Kalinic but Gent manage to clear the danger inflicted upon themselves. A let-off for the Croatian.

Saief makes the most of a sloppy pass from Walker and tries to catch Alderweireld on the back foot, but the Belgian blocks the Gent attacker's effort. The hosts have a corner and almost executed a smart set-piece routine before being thwarted by Davies.

Dele Alli is very much a peripheral figure so far this evening.

Only one shot on target in the first quarter of the match, and that was Kane's speculative effort from 25 yards. Short of entertainment at the Ghelamco Arena.

Gent are regularly trying to find right-back Foket but he is not having a lot of joy so far. The 22-year-old gives away a silly free-kick for hauling down Dier.

An irresistible passage of play sees Gent surge up the pitch but the ever-excellent Alderweireld snuffs out the danger. A very turgid, dull game so far.

Alli seems to be peeling off into the left channel in order to have more of an impact. Dembele feeds Kane who tries to execute a curling effort from outside the area but it's nothing Kalinic can't handle. 0-0.

Alli has come very deep in order to get involved in proceedings but his pocket is swiftly picked. He then links up with Winks nicely and flashes a shot wide of Kalinic's post. First effort of the match goes to Spurs.

Walker finds Kane but the England international is bundled out of possession. Gent look dangerous going forward but Foket saps the momentum from his side's move. Belgian outfit's supporters are making a lot of noise.

Dier commits a foul after Dembele is robbed of the ball in his own half. Gent have a free-kick in a decent area, but nothing comes of it.

Sissoko is sent flying in the air by Esiti after his poor touch plays him into trouble. Tottenham now dictating the pace of the game, but it's all being played in the middle of the park.

Almost an early chance for Gent as Simon's cross almost finds Milicevic. Hosts seem to have settled instantly.

Spurs have won only 2 of their last 13 competitive away matches.

Tottenham get us underway.

It's a sell-out in Gent, although some seats around the stadium are still empty due to traffic problems. The Ghelamco Arena holds 20,000 people.

Two teams walking out onto the pitch. Kick-off just moments away.

Kick-off not far away now. Will Spurs break their Belgium hoodoo or will Gent spring a major upset on the favourites to win the competition?

Gent is the birthplace of Bradley Wiggins. Who knew?

The Buffaloes have some European pedigree, like the Tour de France winner. They reached the last-16 of the Champions League last season.

Pochettino's pre-match thoughts: "I want to give some freshness to the team ahead of a busy schedule. Christian (Eriksen) and Son play a lot of games and need to rest a little bit.

"Gent have performed well in the Europa League and we are well aware of that.

"Today is important, the league is important but now we have a break and it's important to get to the next round of the Europa and FA Cup. We need to show good quality and be ready to compete."

Just under half an hour until kick-off. Borussia Moenchengladbach and Fiorentina also get underway at 6pm, while there are three other last-32 ties kicking off at 8:05pm.

Gent goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic wears the number 91 shirt. Not one for the purists, that.

Lovely blue skies over the Ghelamco Arena. Kick-off just under 40 minutes away.

Gent and Tottenham will use similar systems if the Belgian outfit's graphic is anything to go by.

It's getting busy in Belgium...

A certain club from north London did not fare very well in European competition last night, but there is little chance of Tottenham replicating their old foes Arsenal.

Under Pochettino Spurs are defensively solid and mentally sound. They were largely poor against Liverpool last time out but will presumably have learned their lessons from their Anfield beating and will be looking to return to winning ways immediately.

Gent aren't Bayern Munich, too, so that helps.

SUBSTITUTES

Gent: Rinne, Coulibaly, Cardoso Neto, Kalu, De Smet, Verstraete, Gershon

TEAM NEWS

Gent: Kalinic; Gigot, Mitrovic, Asare; Foket, Dejaegere, Esiti, Saief; Milicevic, Perbet, Simon.

Pochettino going essentially as strong as possible in Belgium. Will be interesting to see if Dembele is deployed in a more advanced role with Eriksen on the bench or whether Spurs opt for a flat three in midfield with the inclusion of Winks.

The match represents a chance for Sissoko to stake a claim for a regular first-team spot. The Frenchman has underwhelmed since joining from Newcastle in recent weeks but has the opportunity to take advantage of Son's indifferent form.

SUBSTITUTES

Tottenham: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Eriksen, Onomah, Nkoudou, Son.

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham: Lloris (C), Walker, Alderweireld, Dier, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Winks, Sissoko, Dele, Kane.

A reminder that Spurs will be without key defensive duo Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose this evening, while long-term injury victim Erik Lamela remains sidelined.

Pochettino would love to have Vertonghen and Rose available for selection this evening but he is pleased with how the pair are recovering from their knee and ankle knocks respectively.

"Jan is close and we're very happy," Pochettino said. "Danny Rose is on plan, he's very positive, a good reaction after his injury. Erik Lamela is building step by step, positive too. We're happy with the way they are training."

It's Hein Vanhaezebrouck's birthday today! Will the 53-year-old Gent boss receive a special birthday gift from his players?

It will be interesting to see just how strong Pochettino goes with his starting line-up. Spurs lie in third in the Premier League and are very much in the race to finish in the Champions League.

The Argentine could decide to rest some of his big guns as he looks to qualify for Europe's elite competition, though his side do have a slightly easier proposition on Sunday when they travel to face Championship outfit Fulham in the FA Cup fifth round.

Gent on the other hand currently lie eighth in the Belgian league and will presumably go full-strength against Spurs, who don't seem to enjoy playing in Belgium.

Good afternoon and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of Tottenham's last 32 Europa League clash against Gent.

Mauricio Pochettino's men have never won in Belgium and are without Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela for the match at the Ghelamco Arena. Gent are not in excellent form at the moment and have won just two of their last nine matches, but boss Hein Vanhaezebrouck says his side 'are not afraid of anybody'.

We are expecting team news in less than half an hour. Stay with us for the latest updates and all the action as it happens.