Spurs’ Under 23 side played their latest Premier League 2 match on Monday night, when they faced Derby County at the Lamex Stadium, in Stevenage. Wayne Burnett’s side won 3-1 against Derby County, and it was a deserved win for Spurs despite Derby improving in the second half. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal, while a back four consisting of Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier lined up in front of him. Captain Harvey White and Nile John started in central midfield. Dilan Markanday and Jack Clarke started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game started and it was from their first real attack of the game that they took the lead. After Nile John received the ball quite far out from the Derby penalty area he went on a surging forward run. He eventually took the ball to edge of the Derby box before hitting the ball well and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Tobi Omole cleared a promising cross into the Spurs box shortly after the game got started again, before Max Bardell headed the ball onto the Spurs crossbar a couple of minutes later from a corner. Jack Clarke hit a free-kick over the Derby goal, just before Spurs doubled their lead in the 20th minute of the game. Jack Clarke’s good lofted pass managed to find Dilan Markanday out on the right flank. He travelled forward with the ball towards the edge of the Derby box, before finding the bottom right hand corner of the goal with a powerful low effort, 2-0.

A low cross/shot from Devine on the left was gathered by Derby goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes, before a Harvey White free-kick found Jack Clarke inside the Derby box. Clarke’s resulting effort was cleared off the line, before the ball came to Marqes Muir, but his powerful effort was then saved by Foulkes. Derby got a goal back in the 27th minute of the game. A ball over the top to Connor Dixon resulted in him entering the Spurs box before squaring the ball for Luke Plange, who finished past Oluwayemi and into the goal from a first time effort, 2-1. Nile John had an effort saved by Foulkes inside the Derby box, and then a couple of moments later he had an effort blocked. After receiving Marcel Lavinier’s low cross Devine had a low effort saved by Foulkes, in what was the final piece of action from the first half. Derby got the second half underway but Spurs had made a half-time change as Dane Scarlett had been replaced by Yago Santiago. A Derby player had an effort blocked before another Derby forward then hit an effort just wide of Oluwayemi’s goal. Dilan Markanday’s cross from the right flank was met well by Yago Santiago inside the centre of the Derby box, but his first time effort was well saved by Harrison Foulkes. At the other end of the pitch and after latching onto the ball down the left side of the Spurs box Reece Hutchinson hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal. 

Tobi Omole received a yellow card before Jordan Brown hit the resulting free-kick wide of the Spurs goal. Luke Plange had an effort well saved by Oluwayemi, and then at the other end of the pitch John hit Devine’s cross from the right flank wide. Harvey White had a volleyed effort cleared behind, while a couple of minutes later Connor Dixon hit a free-kick into the Spurs wall. Dilan Markanday had an effort well blocked inside the Derby box as the game continued to be open. Oluwayemi dealt very well with a good Derby cross into the Spurs box, and then Spurs went forward – with Lavinier finding Markanday in the Derby box, but his powerful low effort was well saved by Foulkes. However, Spurs secured all three points through Alfie Devine. Jack Clarke had a cross into the Derby box cleared, but only to Santiago, who passed the ball to Markanday. He went past a Derby defender really well before squaring the ball to Devine, who controlled the ball well before finishing into the back of the net, 3-1. Matthew Craig replaced Jack Clarke, before Spurs came close to getting a fourth goal. Santiago received Lavinier’s pass inside the Derby box, he then gave it to Harvey White, who had made a really good run, but his effort was saved by Foulkes. Harvey White then had a late effort blocked by Max Bardell, in what was the final piece of action from the game. Spurs’ next game at this level is on Friday, when they face Crystal Palace at their training ground in the Premier League 2.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: Commanding his penalty area well once again, Joshua Oluwayemi didn’t have too many saves to make, but he dealt well with crosses and set-pieces.
• Kallum Cesay: Once again going on some good and skilful runs, Kallum Cesay played at right-back against Derby.
• Marqes Muir: Strong in the air and working well alongside Tobi Omole again in central defence, Marqes Muir worked very hard again against Derby, and he was tested a lot more in the second half of the match.
• Tobi Omole: The left sided centre-half showed good experience in situations against Derby. 
• Marcel Lavinier: Playing at left-back for this match, Marcel Lavinier wasn’t afraid to go forward to support Jack Clarke in the final third.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain played as the most deep-lying midfielder, but he made some good and ambitious forward passes. The 20 year old also made one good late run into the box to receive the ball, but was unlucky not to score.
• Nile John: Taking his early goal really well and showing good skill on the ball throughout. This was another good and direct performance from the first year professional.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Alfie Devine: The CAM’s work-rate and desire to press the defence was very impressive. Devine was never stood still and he was always looking to receive the ball, but he once again drifted out wide and made some clever runs into the Derby box. Devine took his late goal well.
• Jack Clarke: Setting up Dilan Markanday for his goal by making a good lofted pass, throughout the game whenever Clarke received the ball he was always very direct and enthusiastic.
• Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward led the line well, held the ball up well and also worked hard inside the Derby half.
• Yago Santiago: During the second half the substitute made some clever runs off the ball and he also came close to scoring early on in the half.
• Matthew Craig: The late substitute played in central midfield and showed good enthusiasm on the pitch, and was always looking to pass the ball forward.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. While the winger was once again very good going forward, I was very impressed again with his tireless tracking back and also the good challenges that he made. Markanday took his goal really well and also went past a Derby defender with great skill to set-up Alfie Devine for his goal. Unlucky not to extend his goal tally during the game, this was yet another very good performance from the player from Barnet. I really do hope that he starts for Spurs’ first team on Thursday night against NŠ Mura.