Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Manchester United at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday, in the Premier League 2. Wayne Burnett’s side won the match 1-0, thanks to a very late winner from Dilan Markanday. Spurs lined-up with Thimothée Lo-Tutala in goal, while the defence included Kallum Cesay, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier. Captain Harvey White and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster started in central midfield, and Jack Clarke and Dilan Markanday started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. Manchester United got the game underway, but an early chance for Spurs saw Dilan Markanday hit an effort just wide from Dane Scarlett’s cross from the right flank. Marcel Lavinier then tested Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar from the edge of the Manchester United penalty area, before Markanday had a low effort saved from the left. Thimothée Lo-Tutala saved Anthony Elanga’s effort, and then a couple of moments later Tobi Omole blocked an effort from Amad Diallo. After latching onto a loose ball Nile John hit an effort over the Manchester United goal, and then at the other end of the pitch Thimothée Lo-Tutala came out of his goal to make a challenge (from where I was it seemed to be inside his penalty area) and fouled Shola Shoretire, conceding a free-kick for the away side.

After being shown a yellow card Lo-Tutala saved Shoretire’s resulting free-kick, before Nile John blocked Isak Hansen-Aarøen’s effort. After the Manchester United players looked for a penalty from a supposed handball from Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Lo-Tutala made a save from Joe Hugill’s effort, before Shola Shoretire hit the post from inside the Spurs box. Lyons-Foster blocked Hansen-Aarøen’s effort, and then Fagan-Walcott blocked Hugill’s effort well. The unmarked Teden Mengi volleyed over Amad Diallo’s corner-kick, as Manchester United continued to play well. Lyons-Foster then made a good challenge on Anthony Elanga inside the Spurs box, before at the other end of the pitch John had an effort blocked, before then testing Matej Kovar in the Manchester United goal, in what was the final effort of the half. Spurs got the second half underway, and early on in the half Lo-Tutala saved well from Hansen-Aarøen’s effort, before Dane Scarlett headed wide from Harvey White’s corner-kick. Shortly afterwards Markanday received a pass from Harvey White inside the away team’s box, but his effort was well saved by the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Charlie Wellens volleyed an effort wide from distance, before Amad Diallo saw his effort on goal take a deflection off of Harvey White, before being saved by Lo-Tutala. Nile John hit an effort narrowly wide of the Manchester United goal, before at the other end of the pitch the newly introduced Charlie McNeill hit the side-netting of the Spurs goal. Yago Santiago came on for Jack Clarke, in what was Spurs’ first change of the game. After receiving Markanday’s pass, John had an effort saved from Kovar, before the Manchester United goalkeeper tipped over an effort from Harvey White. Romaine Mundle made his return from injury to replace Tobi Omole, and then a couple of minutes later Markanday won a free-kick on the edge of the Manchester United box, which Harvey White hit over the goal. Michael Craig then came on to replace Nile John in midfield, before Scarlett headed over Mundle’s cross. Then in the 92nd minute of the game Spurs took a deserved lead through their best player on the day – Dilan Markanday. Santiago’s low pass tried to be cleared by a Manchester United defender, but the ball came nicely to Markanday inside the away team’s box. Markanday showed good composure to powerfully hit a low effort past Kovar, and into the back of the goal, 1-0.

Björn Hardley headed over Amad Diallo’s corner-kick, before Yago Santiago had an effort blocked inside the Manchester United box, in what was the final piece of action of the game. This was another very good and deserve win for Spurs, who will play Brighton away in their next and final league game before the upcoming international break.

Player reviews:

• Thimothée Lo-Tutala: The Spurs goalkeeper made a number of good saves for Spurs on Saturday, in what was a good performance from the France Under 19 international. 
• Kallum Cesay: I thought that the right-back defended well against the talented Anthony Elanga, down Spurs’ right flank.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: The right sided centre-half made an important block in the first half, and overall I thought that he defended solidly alongside Tobi Omole in central defence.
• Tobi Omole: The left sided centre-half had a strong game alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, during his time on the pitch against Manchester United.
• Marcel Lavinier: I thought that the full-back defended solidly on Saturday and also got forward well on occasions as well.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had a difficult job to do in midfield, as Manchester United focused a lot on trying to build from midfield, and also trying to be better and more influential than us in that area of the pitch. However, I thought that Harvey White and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster more than held their own in the centre of the pitch, and they complimented each other well. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Making some good challenges and interceptions in midfield alongside Harvey White, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster’s overall reading of the game was good.
• Jack Clarke: The winger who switched flanks with Dilan Markanday during the second half was very direct with the ball out in the wide positions.
• Nile John: The CAM tried his luck on goal on numerous occasions, and he was very direct with the ball when going forward with it, and showed good skill as well. 
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Dane Scarlett: The second year scholar led the line well for Spurs and worked very hard off the ball. His movement off the ball was as good as always.
• Yago Santiago: The second half substitute helped to set-up Dilan Markanday’s winner, and he made a good impression on the game after he came on.
• Romaine Mundle: The winger made his return from injury as he came on to play the final 12 minutes of normal time of the game.
• Michael Craig: N/A.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. The 20 year old winger really grew into Saturday’s game, and after switching flanks with Jack Clarke he really started to cause Manchester United a lot of problems (he was good before switching flanks). Markanday took his goal really well again, and his directness and excellent skill on the ball was very impressive. He really liked to cut inside onto his favoured left foot after switching onto the right flank during the second half.