Spurs under 23’s 3-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers: (match report)

Our under 23’s returned to PL2 action when they took on bottom of the league Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday evening at the Lamex Stadium. Wayne Burnett’s side of which included Republic Of Ireland international Troy Parrott started the game strongly and they played some good football during the first half. Spurs went into the halftime break three goals to the good however, in the second half Wolverhampton Wanderers were much better and Spurs missed the potency of Parrott who went off at halftime. The final score was Spurs three Wolves two. Spurs lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation as Jonathan De Bie started in goal. A back four consisting of Jubril Okedina, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Tariq Hinds lined up in front of him. Harvey White and captain Jamie Bowden anchored the midfield while Maurizio Pochettino and Dilan Markanday operated out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jeremie Mukendi. Troy Parrott led the line for Spurs. After the Spurs lads huddled together prior to kick off, Wolves got the game underway on a bitterly cold night in Stevenage. Early on in the game Jamie Bowden nodded wide Maurizio Pochettino’s cross before Troy Parrott raced into the Wolves box before cutting the ball back to Dilan Markanday who shot wide. Then in the eighth minute of the game Spurs took a deserved lead through Troy Parrott. After Jubril Okedina found Maurizio Pochettino down the right wing with a splendid pass, the Barcelona born winger whipped the ball into the Wolves box where it was met by the alert Parrott who jabbed the ball past Andreas Sondergaard and into the back of the net, 1-0.

After latching onto Hugo Bueno’s pass Renat Dadashov spun around sharply in the Spurs box before forcing a save out of Jonathan De Bie. Tariq Hinds then blocked Morgan Gibb-White’s cross before Owen Otasowie nodded Taylor Perry’s free kick wide of the Spurs goal. A couple of minutes later Wolves had a glorious chance to draw level. Bruno Jordao’s forward pass ran past Malachi Fagan-Walcott and into the path of Renat Dadashov who darted into the Spurs box where he was met by De Bie who slid in however, Dadashov had slipped the ball into the path of Morgan Gibbs-White who somehow shot wide of the goal. At the other end of the pitch Jeremie Mukendi shot wide from the edge of the Wolves box. Spurs continued to come at Wolves and after White passed the ball to Bowden whose shot was blocked by Christian Marques before Maurizio Pochettino fired the ball over Andreas Sondergaard’s goal. At the other end of the pitch and after latching onto Hugo Bueno’s pass Renat Dadashov spun around inside the Spurs box before firing an effort on goal but his shot was tipped well onto the post by De Bie. Morgan Gibbs-White then whipped the ball dangerously across the face of De Bie’s goal before at the other end of the pitch Troy Parrott tapped wide Maurizio Pochettino’s cross. Then in the 27th minute Spurs doubled their lead through Jeremie Mukendi. After Parrott had won a free kick out on the left flank the Irishman opted to take it quickly and pass it to Harvey White who passed to Mukendi who continued forward before firing the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the Wolves goal from the edge of the penalty area, 2-0.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott did well to clear away Chem Campbell’s corner kick before Bowden received White’s pass before blazing an effort over from distance. Spurs were fully on top as Mukendi came desperately close to slipping Parrott through on goal. Maurizio Pochettino then had a cross cleared away by Christian Marques before Renat Dadashov tapped Taylor Perry’s cross into the arms of De Bie. Wolves came at us again, this time Bueno passed it to Perry who passed it to Dadashov whose effort on goal was tipped over the crossbar by De Bie. Tariq Hinds then cleared away Taylor Perry’s cross before the Spurs fullback passed the ball to Parrott who went on an excellent long lung bursting forward run through the middle of the park. After speeding into the Wolves half, Parrott passed the ball to Pochettino who played a one two with Mukendi inside the Wolves box before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 3-0. The referee sounded his whistle for halftime shortly afterwards. Rodel Richards came onto replace Troy Parrott at the break as Spurs got the second half underway. Malachi Fagan-Walcott cleared away Hugo Bueno’s cross before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster blocked the same players shot in the box. Rodel Richards then had a curling effort from distance saved by Sondergaard. Fagan-Walcott then cleared away Taylor Terry’s free kick before Mukendi had a shot saved by Sondergaard after receiving Markanday’s pass down the left flank. After Bueno had passed the ball to Dadashov down the left side of the Spurs box the Azerbaijani youngster shot, but his effort was well saved and gathered by De Bie.

After turning inside the Spurs box Dadashov shot wide of De Bie’s goal from close range before Fagan-Walcott made a good challenge on Dadashov in the Spurs box. Phoenix Patterson came onto replace Maurizio Pochettino out on the right flank before Spurs conceded a penalty after Malachi Fagan-Walcott brought down Dadashov from behind. Dadashov stepped up to fire the ball down the left of the goal, 3-1. Jamie Bowden was shown a yellow card for fouling Taylor Perry. Phoenix Patterson then had a shot blocked by Christian Marques inside the Wolves box. Andreas Sondergaard’s long kick up field came to Renat Dadashov who darted past the outrushing De Bie and slotted the ball into the empty net. Bruno Jordao hit the bar with a thumping effort from the edge of the Spurs box before Harvey White blocked the same players shot. After Oskar Buur passed the ball to Jordao the Portuguese youngsters shot was saved well by De Bie. Rayan Clarke then came onto replace the influential Jeremie Mukendi. After breaking forward well Clarke passed the ball to Markanday who skied a shot over the crossbar. Dadashov blazed an effort over at the other end of the pitch before De Bie gathered Enzo Loiodice’s cross, before the referee brought the game to an end.

Player reviews:

• Jonathan De Bie: The Belgian goalkeeper made half a dozen good saves last night and he also dealt well with set pieces.
• Jubril Okedina: The right back had a very good game for Wayne Burnett’s side. Okedina got up and down the right flank well and he made some good and clever passes. The 19 year old also defended solidly down his side of the pitch. 
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: The RCB defended well and he cut out some dangerous chances. The penalty that Fagan-Walcott conceded was a harsh one.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The centre half along with Fagan-Walcott had a good game. Lyons-Foster was sharp and attentive, and aware of his surroundings. The 19 year old also made some good passes and he read the game well. 
• Tariq Hinds: The left back got up and down the flank well and he defended with real maturity. 
• Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain played with real bite in the middle of the park and he made some good forward passes. Bowden also took some good set pieces. 
• Harvey White: Like Bowden, fellow central midfielder Harvey White was good on the ball and he used it intelligently.
• Maurizio Pochettino: The right winger made a big impact on the game last night and he went on some good surging runs down the right flank. Pochettino also whipped in some delightful crosses and he registered a goal and an assist.
• Jeremie Mukendi: Operating as a CAM, Mukendi linked the play really well and he traveled forward with the ball well. Mukendi took his goal well and he created some good chances for Spurs.
• Dilan Markanday: The skilful left winger made some good darting forward runs and he linked up well with Parrott during his time on the pitch.
• Troy Parrott: My man of the match, see below.
• Rodel Richards: The second half substitute worked hard up top and he pressed well.
• Phoenix Patterson: The right winger worked hard and he tracked back well. 
• Rayan Clarke: The fast winger was involved in one good Spurs break away towards the end of the game. 

My man of the match: Ireland international Troy Parrott (18) came off the bench to play against Wolves’ first team at the weekend. On Monday evening the Dubliner started against their under 23’s. Parrott really was the difference between the two sides last night and his sheer presence on the pitch helped to galvanise the team. Parrott played a part in all three of our goals and his off the ball movement, work rate, aggression and decision making was top class. Despite only playing 45 minutes, Parrott influence on the game was massive.

Spurs: De Bie, Okedina, Hinds, Bowden (c), Fagan-Walcott, Lyons-Foster, Pochettino (Patterson 72), White, Parrott (Richards 46), Mukendi (R Clarke 90), Markanday. Substitutes (not used): Oluwayemi, Dinzeyi.

Wolves: Sondergaard, Buur, Otasowie, Marques (c), Mayounga Ngolou, Bueno (Loiodice 90+1), Gibbs-White (Taylor 36), Perry, Dadashov, Jordao, Campbell (He 82). Substitutes (not used): Nya, Cundle.

Goals: Spurs – Parrott 8, Mukendi 27, Pochettino 45+2; Wolves – Dadashov 77 (pen), 85.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Pochettino 61, Bowden 79; Wolves – Buur 73.

Referee: Gary Parsons.

Venue: Lamex Stadium, Stevenage.

Attendance: 464.

Spurs under 23’s statistics: 

Goals: Armando Shashoua – 5

Harvey White – 3

Rodel Richards – 3

Jamie Bowden – 3

Dilan Markanday – 3

Troy Parrott – 3

Kazaiah Sterling – 2

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 2

Shilow Tracey – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Phoenix Patterson – 1

Elliot Thorpe – 1

Luis Binks – 1

Malachi Fagan-Walcott – 1

Jubril Okedina – 1

Maurizio Pochettino – 1

Jeremie Mukendi – 1

Assists: Shilow Tracey – 5

Dilan Markanday – 5

Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 3

Armando Shashoua – 3

Rodel Richards – 3

Harvey White – 3

Tariq Hinds – 2

Maurizio Pochettino – 2

Jamie Bowden – 1

Paris Maghoma – 1

Kazaiah Sterling – 1

TJ Eyoma – 1

Jeremie Mukendi – 1

Clean sheets: Brandon Austin – 1

Josh Oluwayemi – 1