Tottenham 3-1 Bodo/Glimt: Johnson, Maddison and Solanke score in Europa League win

Domestically Tottenham are facing their worst season since 1976–77, sitting in 16th place on little over a point per game. There is a good chance Australian Postecoglou will lose his job whatever happens in Europe now, such has been their debacle at home, but finishing on a trophy would be some way to go.

It is 17 years since Tottenham won the League Cup, their last bit of silverware. Mauricio Pochettino and serial winners Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte were unable to bring trophies to Spurs.

On top of ending that trophy drought, it would give Spurs a Champions League spot – despite sitting 23 points off those places in the league.

There was no chance Postecoglou was going to underestimate Glimt, who knocked his Celtic out of the Conference League 5-1 on aggregate three years ago.

But he could not have dreamed of their start as they scored a first-minute goal in a European game for only the second time in their history with Porro’s cross ending up with Johnson netting his 17th goal of the season.

Maddison raced onto a Romero long ball before shooting over the bar but later on he made no mistake from a similar Porro pass. His first touch was excellent and he found the bottom corner despite having three Glimt players between him and the goal.

Spurs could have had a bigger lead at the break but Bentancur’s volley was palmed over by Nikita Haikin.

And they did get their third when the video assistant referee spotted a foul on Romero, with Solanke calmly and casually stroking in the penalty.

Glimt dominated possession – with 70% of the ball in the second half – but barely created any chances until Saltnes, wearing the armband with captain Patrick Berg suspended for this first leg, popped up.

Barring a collapse on the artificial grass of the Aspmyra Stadion next Thursday, Tottenham will reach a fourth final in this competition after 1972, 1974 and 1984’s two-legged showpieces in the Uefa Cup – winning the first and the last of those.