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

Our under 23’s will be on a high following their excellent 2-1 win over Wolfsburg II in the Premier league international cup on Monday. And Wayne Burnett’s side will be hoping to put in a similar performance when they face high flying Everton in the PL2 on Friday. Spurs will be looking to avenge the 6-0 thrashing that they received at the hands of the ‘ Toffees ’ back in September at Goodison Park, when these two teams meet at Hotspur Way on Friday. After going on a run of four games without a win, Spurs picked up a very good result earlier in the week over Wolfsburg II as they got their Premier league international cup campaign underway. Since the inception of the PL2 back in 2016 Spurs have lost every single game that they have played Everton in. Everton head coach David Unsworth has made sure that the Merseyside club are one of the best teams at this level. The 2016/17 PL2 winners have started the current campaign in fine form, and after 11 league matches they currently sit in second place in division one. In fact Everton have only lost twice from the 16 games that they have played in all competitions this season. A physical side who are both direct and attacking in their style of play, Unsworth has some very technically gifted players in his team this season. One of those technically gifted players is 21 year old playmaker Kieran Dowell who spent last season on loan with Nottingham Forest. The England under 21 international is a player who can change a game in an instance, and he also has a good scoring record at this level. Another player of similar quality is another England under 21 international in right back Jonjoe Kenny.  Kenny was a regular for Everton’s first team last season and after only recently retuning from injury the 21 year old who played in Everton’s last game against Liverpool, could well travel down to London for Friday’s game. One thing that former Everton defender David Unsworth has implemented into his side is a defensive solidity. And Everton have conceded the fewest goals in the PL2 this season (6) and that is something that Burnett’s side will have to be mindful of going into the game.

I have already mentioned both Dowell and Kenny but another player is 19 year old Scottish youngster Fraser Hornby, a forward who is adept at playing at centre forward. Hornby gave our defence a torrid time when these two teams met up in Liverpool earlier on in the season. Hornby’s sheer force and aerial prowess was something which caught our defence out on several occasions during that 6-0 defeat. Everton’s top scorer in the PL2 this season is centre Bassala Sambou (4) and he will be another player to keep an eye on. Beating Everton on Friday and returning to winning ways in the PL2 will be a tough ask however, it is certainly possible if we can get off to a bright start and play with confidence just like we did against Wolfsburg earlier on in the week. Burnett will still be without the likes of Shayon Harrison, Luke Amos and Jonathan Dinzeyi who all have long term injuries. On a more positive note it is likely that Anthony Georgiou will start for Spurs after appearing off the bench in our 2-1 win over Wolfsburg II earlier in the week. Georgiou had been out injured since August. I’m looking forward to Friday’s match, it will be a good test for Burnett’s youngsters who will be keen to avenge that painful 6-0 defeat up in Liverpool earlier on in the season. My in-depth match report of Friday afternoons match will be published on Saturday afternoon. I wish all of our lads the very best of luck for the match.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Whiteman, Hinds, Eyoma, Tanganga, Georgiou, Marsh, Duncan, Oakley-Boothe, Maghoma, Roles, Sterling.

Subs from: Glover, Brown, Bowden, Reynolds, Richards.

Injured/unavailable: Luke Amos, Shayon Harrison, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Phoenix Patterson, J’Neil Bennett.

Doubtful: Jamie Bowden, Shilow Tracey. 

Previous meeting: Spurs 0-6.

My score prediction: Spurs 2-1.

My one to watch: Everton’s 21 year old playmaker Kieran Dowell who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest. Dowell is a player who the Spurs defence will have to be wary of if he is involved, Dowell is particularly dangerous on the edge of the penalty area and he is a fierce striker of a ball.