Spurs under 23’s versus Brighton: (match preview)

After their heroics up in Anfield last Friday evening, Wayne Burnett’s development side will be hoping to carry some of the confidence from that performance into their home PL2 game against Brighton on Friday. Burnett’s youngsters put in an incredible performance against Liverpool last week, forced to play with ten men following the early dismissal of centre half Japhet Tanganga. Spurs not only managed to fight back from the reds taking the lead early on in the game, but they also managed to pull a goal back despite their limitations going forward. Not only that, Burnett’s side put in one of the most disciplined, mature and effective defensive performance your ever likely to see at this level, as they ground out an impressive 1-1 draw up on Merseyside. Next up for Burnett’s side is newly promoted Brighton who they will face in Stevenage on Friday evening. Originally scheduled to be played at the new Spurs stadium as the first public test event, it’s a shame for the youngsters that they’ll be unable to take part in such a historic event. However, all attention will be on Simon Rusk’s Brighton side, the seagulls have drawn their opening two games of the PL2 season against both Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. Brighton finished third in division two last season, and Rusk’s side were able to gain promotion to division one via the play offs. With the seagulls beating Middlesbrough and Aston Villa en route to gaining promotion to division one. Ironically Brighton’s last game was against our old foes Arsenal at the Emirates stadium, on Monday evening. Bolstered by the inclusion of first team players Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Jurgen Locadia, Biram Kayal (30) and Jason Steele Brighton could only manage a 1-1 draw against the reigning champions of the division.

Whilst the likes of Jahanbakhsh and Locadia won’t be coming up against our lads on Friday evening. There’s no reason why fringe first team players such as Jason Steele and Israeli international Biram Kayal won’t. Wayne Burnett will be desperate for his side to register their first win of the new season against Brighton on Friday. After a disappointing 3-1 loss to West Ham in their opening game, they showed their quality and character to come out of the encounter against Liverpool with a point. I’m expecting a different side to the one which drew to Liverpool last week, owing to our under 18’s important league fixture against Chelsea the following morning. I would assume that one of the stars of that Liverpool performance Troy Parrott (16) will be saved for the Chelsea game along with Paris Maghoma, another player who featured in that game. It is likely that Burnett will field a lot of the more experienced members of the squad, players such as Georgiou, Harrison and Ogilvie (if fit!). Just like their first team, Brighton’s development side have a strong defence and only conceded 25 goals in division two last season. As always I’m anticipating a tough game for Spurs, but with the absence of a couple of Brighton’s first team players. I feel that we’re a far better side than the south coast club, and if we can come flying out the blocks early on in the game, then I could see us dominating proceedings . Anyhow, it will be intriguing to see how we fair against the seagulls on Friday evening. There were many scouts at our opening game of the season against West Ham and there will likely be just as many if not more at the Brighton game on Friday. As the loan window for EFL clubs closes at the end of the month. I will be reporting on the game and I shall have my match report out by Saturday evening. It will be interesting to see if Shayon Harrison will lead the line following his excellent performance against Liverpool.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Austin, Hinds, Eyoma, Dinzeyi, Ogilvie, Marsh (c), Roles, Edwards, S.Shashoua, Georgiou, Harrison.

Subs from: Whiteman, Brown, Duncan, Tracey.

Doubtful: Shilow Tracey, Samuel Shashoua, Connor Ogilvie, Tashan Oakley-Boothe and Tom Glover (Glover has been out on trial with other clubs such as Birmingham and Sporting Lisbon).

Injured/unavailable: Jamie Reynolds, Kazaiah Sterling and Japhet Tanganga (suspended).

My one to watch: The seagulls 20 year old forward and top scorer in the league last season with seven goals. Swedish youth international Viktor Gyokeres will be one of Brighton’s main danger men.

ICYMI: https://superhotspur.com/2018/08/20/spurs-under-23s-1-1-liverpool-match-report/