Spurs under 23’s 0-4 Blackburn Rovers: (match report)

Our under 23’s took on Blackburn Rovers in game week six of the PL2 season on Monday night, at the Leyland County ground. Despite starting Monday’s game brightly Wayne Burnett’s side faded away during large chunks of the first half and they conceded a goal on 22 minutes through 25 year old Dominic Samuel. The second half was much the same story. After starting the half quite well Spurs lost their composure once again and a very solid Blackburn side punished them for it. Dominic Samuel scored his and Blackburn’s second of the game before Stefan Mols added a third. Samuel would later go onto score a hat-trick and put Blackburn 4-0 up, the result would remain unchanged. It was a hugely disappointing night for Burnett’s side who were missing a recognised striker. Spurs lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation as Brandon Austin returned in goal. A back four made up of Tariq Hinds, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Harvey White lined up in front of him. Paris Maghoma and captain Jamie Bowden partnered up in central midfield while Dilan Markanday and Shilow Tracey operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Tashan Oakley-Boothe. Phoenix Patterson led the line for Spurs. Blackburn got the game underway on a wet and windy night in Leyland. Spurs started the game brightly and after Tashan Oakley-Boothe won a free kick in Harvey White range on the edge of the Blackburn box, the Spurs left back unsurprisingly elected to take it. However, White’s resulting effort flew straight into the Blackburn wall. After running forward with the ball at his feet, Paris Maghoma tried his luck from range with a powerful dipping effort which, was saved by Blackburn goalkeeper Joe Hilton. Tashan Oakley-Boothe then had a low cross cleared behind for a corner kick by Blackburn captain Joe Grayson. Harvey White’s resulting corner kick was flicked against Joe Grayson by Jonathan Dinzeyi before the ball was cleared away. At the other end of the pitch Brooklyn Lyons-Foster cleared a low cross into the Spurs box from Lewis Thompson before Jonathan Dinzeyi made a good lunging challenge on Jack Vale inside the Spurs box, to thwart a dangerous Blackburn attack.

After going on a long mazy run into the Spurs box Stefan Mols passed the ball to Joe Rankin-Costello whose resulting effort on goal was blocked by Tariq Hinds. Jonathan Dinzeyi then cleared away Lewis Thompson’s low cross before Brandon Austin managed to gather Joe Rankin-Costello’s cross as Blackburn started to really get into the game. Shortly after Brooklyn Lyons-Foster thwarted a dangerous Blackburn attack, Jamie Bowden blocked a shot from Jacob Davenport. Joe Rankin-Costello then curled an effort well wide of Brandon Austin’s goal, before Jonathan Dinzeyi misjudged Stefan Mols’ lofted pass and failed to clear it. Joe Rankin-Costello then latched onto the ball before bursting into the Spurs box and firing an effort at goal which was smartly saved at his near post by Brandon Austin. Blackburn were dominating the game. Dominic Samuel headed Lewis Thompson’s cross wide of the Spurs goal before Tariq Hinds blocked a shot from Dominic Samuel. Then in the 22nd minute of the game Blackburn took the lead. Stefan Mols’ corner kick was headed on by Sam Barnes for the lurking Dominic Samuel to tap home past the helpless Brandon Austin, 0-1. Tariq Hinds cleared a low cross from Lewis Thompson before a dangerous cross from Stefan Mols managed to evade everyone in the Spurs box. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster then cleared a cross from Charley Doyle before Stefan Mols’ corner kick was headed wide at the back post by Joe Rankin-Costello. Rankin-Costello then had a shot blocked by Jonathan Dinzeyi before Rankin-Costello almost latched onto Charley Doyle’s cross inside the Spurs box. A good Spurs move resulted in Shilow Tracey passing the ball to Phoenix Patterson who gave it to Tariq Hinds. The Tottenham right back then gave the ball back to Tracey on the edge of the Blackburn box, but his resulting shot on goal was blocked by Joe Grayson. Spurs goalkeeper Brandon Austin got lucky at the other end of the pitch after he fumbled Stefan Mols’ powerful low cross. Jonathan Dinzeyi then cleared a cross from the same player.

After embarking on a mazy run into the Spurs box Jack Vale looked as if he was about to have a pop on goal but he lost control and let the ball run into the arms of Brandon Austin. The referee sounded his whistle for half time shortly afterwards. Spurs got the game back underway. Tariq Hinds’ cross was gathered by Joe Hilton with Paris Maghoma running in at the back post. Spurs were knocking the ball around the park well during the opening stages of the first half. After advancing forward through the middle of the park Paris Maghoma played a nice pass through to Phoenix Patterson down the left side of the Blackburn box however, his powerful low effort from a tight angle was saved by Joe Hilton. Jamie Bowden’s powerful effort from long range was parried by Hilton before Blackburn doubled their advantage. Jacob Davenport’s long pass towards Dominic Samuel was met by the Blackburn striker on the edge of the Spurs box as Brandon Austin came rushing out of his penalty area. However, the Spurs goalkeeper collided with Tariq Hinds, and Samuel was allowed to run through into the Spurs box before slotting the ball into the empty net, 0-2. Harvey White had a free kick cleared away by Sam Barnes. After Jack Vale passed the ball to Stefan Mols down the right flank the Spaniard pumped a cross into the Spurs box which was cleared away by Jonathan Dinzeyi. Brandon Austin managed to hold Jack Vale’s thumping effort from long range before Brad Lyons whipped a dangerous low cross across the face of the Spurs goal. Maurizio Pochettino came onto replace Phoenix Patterson as Shilow Tracey went up top. Unfortunately Blackburn extended their lead through Stefan Mols. After playing a quick one two with Jack Vale inside the Spurs box, Mols calmly tucked the ball into the left hand corner of the goal, 0-3. Shortly after the restart Stefan Mols curled an effort narrowly wide of Brandon Austin’s goal from the edge of the Spurs box. Centre half Jonathan Dinzeyi was shown a yellow card for a challenge on Brad Lyons. Dominic Samuel headed over Joe Rankin-Costello’s cross before Jubril Okedina came onto replace Jonathan Dinzeyi.

After receiving Stefan Mols’ pass Jack Vale shot wide of Brandon Austin’s goal, before Maurizio Pochettino had a cross gathered by Joe Hilton. Blackburn made it 4-0 shortly afterwards. After receiving Jack Vale’s pass on the edge of the Spurs box, Dominic Samuel fired a low effort into the bottom right hand corner of Brandon Austin’s goal despite the Spurs goalkeeper managing to get a hand to the ball, 0-4. Jamie Bowden’s late challenge on Jacob Davenport led to a coming together between both sets of players before the Tottenham midfielder was shown a yellow card by the referee. Paris Maghoma fired Harvey White’s short free kick into the side netting of Joe Hilton’s goal before Dominic Samuel shot an effort wide of goal from inside the Spurs box. Then in the dying moments of the game Stefan Mols received Charley Doyle’s pass inside the Spurs box before shooting wide of goal. The referee sounded his whistle for full time a couple of moments later, bringing to an end a very disappointing night for Spurs. Spurs’ next game is on Friday evening when they face Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX stadium.

Player reviews: 

• Brandon Austin: The Spurs goalkeeper made two smart saves on Monday night however, he wouldn’t have been happy with the mix up that occurred between him and Tariq Hinds which led to Blackburn’s second goal of the game.
• Tariq Hinds: The right back generally had a solid game and he protected his side of the pitch well. Hinds made several important blocks. 
• Jonathan Dinzeyi: The RCB did have some difficult moments in the game, but he did make a very good early challenge on Jack Vale inside the Spurs penalty area during the first half. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The LCB had a particularly strong first half before enduring a more difficult second half alongside Jonathan Dinzeyi. Lyons-Foster cut out a couple of good Blackburn attacks during the first half. 
• Harvey White: The makeshift left back was good on the ball and decent defensively.
• Paris Maghoma: My man of the match, see below. 
• Jamie Bowden: Tenacious and effective at breaking up play and protecting the Spurs defence. Young Bowden’s passing was good and he kept things ticking over nicely in the middle of the park. Furthermore, captain Bowden made some meaty challenges. Along with Maghoma he was one of Spurs’ best players on the night.
• Dilan Markanday: Despite his best efforts the wide man never really got into the game. Markanday did track back excellently and he helped out Tariq Hinds defensively.
• Tashan Oakley-Boothe: The CAM never really managed to get into the game despite his best efforts.
• Shilow Tracey: The left winger struggled to get into the game and he didn’t get much service down the left flank. Tracey would later go onto play up top after Patterson was substituted during the second half. 
• Phoenix Patterson: The makeshift centre forward made some intelligent runs and he would often drop deep to receive the ball before bringing it forward. However, Patterson just didn’t get the service on the night.
• Maurizio Pochettino: The right winger whipped a couple of decent crosses into the Blackburn box during his time on the pitch.
• Jubril Okedina: The defender filled in at RCB for the last 15 minutes of the game.

My man of the match: Central midfielder Paris Maghoma was just about the only Spurs player who was trying different things to attempt to break down the Blackburn defence. Maghoma went on some good surging forward runs through the middle of the pitch. In addition the England under 19 international tested Joe Hilton early on with a good effort on goal before later setting up a decent goal scoring chance for Phoenix Patterson during the second half. Maghoma was tenacious alongside Bowden and he worked hard to break up play and link defence with attack. The 18 year old also made some good runs into the Blackburn penalty area. It was an all round impressive performance from the first year pro.

 Blackburn: Hilton, Doyle, Thompson, Davenport, Barnes, Grayson (c), Mols, Lyons, Samuel, Vale, Rankin-Costello. Substitutes (not used): Eastham, White, Whitehall, Brennan, Boyomo.

Spurs: Austin, Hinds, White, Bowden (c), Dinzeyi (Okedina 75), Lyons-Foster, Markanday, Maghoma, Patterson (Pochettino 68), Oakley-Boothe, Tracey. Substitutes (not used): Oluwayemi, Eyoma.

Goals: Rovers – Samuel 23, 57, 83, Mols 69.

Yellow cards: Rovers – Grayson 86, Rankin-Costello 87; Spurs – Dinzeyi 73, 

Bowden 86.

Referee: Steven Copeland.

Venue: The County Ground, Leyland.

Spurs under 23’s statistics: 

Goals: Troy Parrott – 2

Kazaiah Sterling – 2

Harvey White – 2

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 1

Shilow Tracey – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Rodel Richards – 1

Phoenix Patterson – 1

Armando Shashoua – 1

Dilan Markanday – 1

Assists: Shilow Tracey – 5

Jamie Bowden – 1

Tariq Hinds – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Kazaiah Sterling – 1

Dilan Markanday – 1

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 1

Armando Shashoua -1

Clean sheets: Brandon Austin – 1