Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Leicester City in the Premier League 2 on Monday evening, at Leicester City’s Training Ground at Seagrave. Spurs won the match 4-1, and it was a deserved win for Wayne Burnett’s side, who managed to come back from being one goal down early on in the game, to go on and become the stronger side for the majority of the match. Spurs started with Thimothée Lo-Tutala in goal, while Marcel Lavinier, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Tobi Omole and Kallum Cesay lined-up in front of him. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and captain Harvey White started in central midfield, and Dilan Markanday and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Jack Clarke led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. However, the home side started the match really well, and in the fifth minute they took an early lead. A long pass found it’s way to Kasey McAteer on the left hand side of the Spurs penalty area. McAteer was tackled by Marcel Lavinier, but was able to continue with the ball, before passing it to Tawanda Maswanhise, who emphatically hit the ball past Lo-Tutala and into the roof of the goal, 0-1. The same Leicester player almost doubled their lead a couple of minutes later, after he hit the ball just wide of the Spurs goal, with an effort on the turn from the edge of the box.

Vontae Daley-Campbell curled an effort wide, before there was a penalty shout from Dilan Markanday after he appeared to have been fouled by Benjamin Nelson inside the Leicester box. Markanday was very surprised when the referee waived play on. After showing good skill out on the right flank Markanday whipped a promising ball across the face of the Leicester goal, and then at the other end of the pitch Wanya Marcal-Madivadua had an effort saved by the feet of Lo-Tutala, inside the Spurs box. A couple of minutes later Lo-Tutala then saved a deflected effort on goal from Marcal-Madivadua. After winning the ball on the edge of the Leicester box Harvey White had an effort saved by goalkeeper Brad Young. Spurs continued to play well, and Daley-Campbell blocked a headed effort on goal by Lyons-Foster from a Harvey White corner-kick, before Spurs managed to draw level. Another corner kick for Spurs, which was delivered by Harvey White, came eventually to Markanday down the left hand side of the Leicester box. Markanday whipped a low ball across the goal to Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who was able to guide the ball home from close range, 1-1.

Dilan Markanday continued to impress, and after showing some great skill with the ball he managed to win a free-kick for Spurs on the edge of the Leicester box. Free-kick specialist Harvey White stepped up to curl a superb effort towards the top right hand corner of the goal, off the underside off the bar and into the back of the goal, 2-1. Shortly after the game got back underway Lo-Tutala saved an effort from Marcal-Madivadua, before Santiago had an effort saved by Young at the other end of the pitch, in what was the final action of the half. Leicester got the second half underway and an early effort from Thanawat Suengchitthawon deflected off Kallum 

Cesay and over the Spurs goal. Lewis Brunt headed wide from a Leicester corner-kick, and then Spurs got their third goal of the game shortly afterwards. Harvey White’s cross into the box from the right flank was challenged in the air by Fagan-Walcott with the Leicester goalkeeper, with the ball then falling for Tobi Omole to score from with a first time effort, 3-1. Not long afterwards Spurs got their fourth goal of the game, as Leicester struggled to stop their very good and effective passing game. After receiving Lavinier’s pass, Dilan Markanday cut inside with the ball down the right hand side of the Leicester box. He then managed to find Harvey White in the centre of the box with a pass, and the Spurs midfielder was able to take a touch before finishing the ball past Brad Young, 4-1.

After skilfully going past a Leicester player Dilan Markanday had a low effort saved by Brad Young, before Kallum Cesay was shown a yellow card after making a foul. Romaine Mundle then came on to replace Yago Santiago. Mundle had a low effort saved by Brad Young. And then a pass from Mundle to Nile John resulted in the midfielder taking the ball to the edge of the Leicester box, before having a good effort saved by the Leicester goalkeeper, before Mundle was shown a yellow card shortly afterwards. A volleyed effort from Kasey McAteer was saved well by Lo-Tutala, as Leicester tried to get back into the game. Michael Craig replaced Jack Clarke, before Harvey White had a headed effort saved from a Marcel Lavinier cross. Lyons-Foster blocked an effort from a Leicester player well, and then Harvey White had a goal ruled out for offside. Jacob Wakeling headed wide Ethan Fitzhugh’s cross, and a couple of minutes later Matthew Craig entered the field, to replace Harvey White in midfield. After accidentally passing the ball to Romaine Mundle inside the Leicester box, the Spurs winger had a shot saved by Brad Young, before the ball came back to him and he passed it to Lyons-Foster, who hit the ball over the goal.

While attempting to get the ball off of Ethan Fitzhugh inside the Spurs penalty area Thimothée Lo-Tutala brought down the Leicester player, resulting in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. However, Lo-Tutala managed to save Kasey McAteer’s resulting effort, before then saving an effort from Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, not long after, and that was to be the final chance of the game. Wayne Burnett’s side host Everton at the Lamex Stadium on Friday evening, in their next Premier League 2 game.

Player reviews:

• Thimothée Lo-Tutala: The Paris born goalkeeper made a number of saves in the Leicester match, including one to stop Kasey McAteer from the penalty spot. This was a good performance from Thimothée.
• Marcel Lavinier: The right-back linked up well with Dilan Markanday down the right flank, had a good game defensively and also went on some good forward runs.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Playing on the right side of centre-half, defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott scored his first goal of the season with a finish from a Dilan Markanday pass, during the first half. However, defensively he had a solid game alongside Tobi Omole. Fagan-Walcott was also strong in the air.
• Tobi Omole: The defender worked well alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, made some impressive passes out from defence and also defended well. 
• Kallum Cesay: Playing at left-back Kallum Cesay looked good in defence and also got forward well on occasions.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Always looking to get on the ball in midfield, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster liked to make forward runs through the middle of the pitch to support the forwards when he could. Lyons-Foster played the game at a good intensity in midfield, and once again he allowed Harvey White to make those important forward runs in and around the Leicester box.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain had a really strong game in central midfield. Harvey White’s passing and delivery from set-pieces were consistently very good, but he also showed a real tenacity in midfield as well. The 20 year old took his free-kick goal excellently well.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Nile John: The CAM grew into the game as it went on, and he got on the ball a lot and was able to influence the game in a number of ways.
• Yago Santiago: Playing out on the left flank Yago Santiago did go on some skilful runs, and he also linked up well with centre-forward for the evening Jack Clarke.
• Jack Clarke: Playing at centre-forward Jack Clarke showed some good movement off the ball and he linked up well with the CAM and the wingers during his time on the pitch.
• Romaine Mundle: The second half substitute had some good moments on the ball when he came on, and he used the ball well out on the left flank.
• Michael Craig: Michael Craig came on to play in central midfield in the 79th minute of the game.
• Matthew Craig: The 18 year old was a late substitute. Matthew played in central midfield.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. Playing out on the right flank for the game against Leicester City, winger Dilan Markanday was once again in my opinion Spurs’ most influential and creative player on the day. The 20 year old showed some tremendous skill, particularly during the first half on his forward runs, and he set-up Malachi Fagan-Walcott with a good pass from out on the left side of the Leicester box, for his goal. Dilan also won the free-kick from which Harvey White scored his first goal from, and he assisted Harvey for his second goal of the game, his seventh assist of the season.