Spurs under 18’s versus Brighton & Hove Albion: (match preview)

Our under 18’s will travel down to the south coast on Saturday morning to face Brighton & Hove Albion, in the under 18 southern division at the American Express Elite Football performance Centre. Matt Wells high flying side come into Saturday’s game on the back of a comprehensive 1-0 victory over Swansea. And table toppers Spurs will be hoping that they can record another win when they take on the ‘ Seagulls ‘ who sit in ninth place in the league. The reverse fixture at Hotspur Way back in August kicked off our under 18’s domestic season and in some style too. Matt Wells side put in a sparkling attacking performance against Brighton on that day, and after fighting back from being two goals down Spurs managed to win the game 6-4. In fact a lot of our meetings with Brighton at this level over recent seasons have been thoroughly entertaining affairs. The last time we faced Mark Beard’s side at their training ground we beat them 6-3, that was another crazy game which saw Phoenix Patterson net his first hat-trick at under 18 level. Beard’s side have  struggled for consistency so far this season and after only picking up three wins in the league this campaign they find themselves only three points away from bottom of the table Norwich City. Since achieving category one academy status Brighton have produced some bright young talents from their Lancing based training ground, and they currently have a host of England youth internationals in their under 18 side. Some of Brighton’s most talented youngsters include dynamic midfielder Tariq Shihab, central midfielder and England youth international Teddy Hoare and their top scorer this campaign Ryan Longman who usually operates out on the right wing. Attacking midfielder Dan Cashman is another player to watch out for, Cashman has put in several eye catching performances against our under 18 side over the last couple of seasons. Brighton’s last game was against another title contender in Arsenal, they lost that match 3-1 last Saturday and the struggling ‘ Seagulls ‘ have only won one of their last five league games.

Matt Wells side on the other hand will be hoping that they can overwhelm Brighton with their high tempo attacking football. Spurs have also got a hugely important FA youth cup fourth round tie on following Thursday to think about, so one would imagine that we may rest the likes of Troy Parrott and Paris Maghoma on Saturday to keep them fresh for the cup game. I am anticipating another entertaining match when these two teams face each other on Saturday and I am hoping that Spurs‘ high energy attacking football will prove too much for Mark Beard’s well organised Brighton side. I will be getting the train down to Lancing first thing on Saturday morning to report on our under 18’s 13th league game of this season, my match report will be out by the following day. I wish all of Matt Wells side the very best of luck for Saturday’s big game.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Oluwayemi, Tainio, Okedina, Binks, Cirkin, White,  A.Shashoua (c), Markanday, Thorpe, Bennett, Richards.

Subs from: Kurylowicz, Statham, Walcott, Cooper, Clarke.

Injured/unavailable: Enoch Asante, Jeremie Mukendi. 

Doubtful: Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Malachi Walcott, Phoenix Patterson, Armando Shashoua.

Previous meeting: Spurs 6-4.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-1.

My one to watch: The ‘ Seagulls ‘ top scorer at under 18 level this campaign is winger and second year scholar Ryan Longman. The 18 year old has skippered Mark Beard’s side on numerous occasions so far this season and the forward has found the net on a regular basis for Brighton, scoring seven goals so far this campaign.