Spurs’ Under 21 side faced the current Premier League 2 Division One champions Manchester City, on Sunday afternoon at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. The game finished 0-0, and it was a performance that Spurs could be proud of, despite the fact that Manchester City played much of the game with ten men. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, while Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, Charlie Sayers and Tyrell Ashcroft started in defence. Matthew Craig and captain Nile John started in central midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Roshaun Mathurin started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway. Kallum Cesay made an important early clearance inside the Spurs box, before Manchester City created their first real chance of the game. After receiving Shea Charles’ pass on the left side of the Spurs box, Oscar Bobb went past Kallum Cesay before hitting an effort on goal, which the alert Aaron Maguire did well to tip onto his near post.

Marqes Muir blocked Carlos Borges’ effort inside the Spurs penalty area, and then at the opposite end of the pitch Roshaun Mathurin had an effort from distance saved by Mikki van Sas. After receiving Tom Galvez’s pass inside the Spurs box Carlos Borges was met by Spurs goalkeeper Aaron Maguire, who made a good save from Borges’ effort. After Manchester City were unable to clear a Spurs corner-kick inside their penalty area, Charlie Sayers headed an effort wide of the goal. After going inside with the ball from the right flank Juan Larios hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal. Dire Mebude had a deflected effort from the edge of the Spurs box saved by Aaron Maguire, and then Carlos Borges hit a low effort wide from a good position inside the Spurs penalty area. After Tyrell Ashcroft passed the ball to Roshaun Mathurin on the left side of the Manchester City box, Mathurin passed the ball back to Ashcroft, but his effort went over the goal.

Manchester City would have to play the rest of the match with ten men, after Jadel Katongo fouled Romaine Mundle, when he was through on goal. Romaine Mundle’s resulting free-kick effort went into the Manchester City wall, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Manchester City got the second half underway. After receiving Jamie Donley’s pass inside the Spurs box, Roshaun Mathurin had an effort saved by Mikki van Sas. Shortly after that chance for Spurs, Jamie Donley had a good chance to take the lead. After receiving a pass from Charlie Sayers, Roshaun Mathurin showed some good skill inside the Manchester City box, before passing the ball to Jamie Donley, whose effort from a difficult angle was saved by Mikki van Sas. A low corner-kick from Roshaun Mathurin to Romaine Mundle on the edge of the Manchester City box resulted in Romaine Mundle having an effort tipped over the goal by the Manchester City goalkeeper. Roshaun Mathurin then had an effort blocked on the edge of the Manchester City penalty area, shortly after.

Yago Santiago met Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick in the centre of the Manchester City box, but his effort was saved by the Manchester City goalkeeper. Romaine Mundle then had an effort blocked, before Kallum Cesay was shown a yellow card after making a foul. From a Manchester City free-kick Shea Charles found Josh Adam inside the Spurs box with a lofted pass, but Aaron Maguire was alert to make the save. Maguire then saved an effort from Carlos Borges, before Romaine Mundle volleyed an effort over the Manchester City goal from just outside their box. After going inside from the left flank Roshaun Mathurin hit an effort over the Manchester City goal. Jaden Williams came on to replace Jamie Donley, before Carlos Borges missed a good chance, after he hit an effort over from inside the Spurs box. Max Robson replaced Romaine Mundle, and then a couple of minutes later Max Robson headed an effort wide from Roshaun Mathurin’s late corner-kick. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. The Spurs Under 21’s next Premier League 2 fixture is against Liverpool, at the Lamex Stadium on Friday.

Player reviews: 

• Aaron Maguire: My man of the match, see below.
• Kallum Cesay: The right-back had to defend against the very talented Carlos Borges for some of the game, and so he had quite a lot of defending to do. Defensively I thought that Kallum did well.
• Marqes Muir: I thought this was a good performance from the central defender, who read the game well and made some good decisions during the match.
• Charlie Sayers: Like Marqes Muir, central defender Charlie Sayers had a good game and he also read the game well. Sayers made some good passes out from defence.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: Making some good overlapping runs down the left flank, Tyrell Ashcroft had a good game both in defence, and at going forward. He had a good chance to score a goal during the first half of the match.
• Matthew Craig: Tidy, clever on the ball and hardworking. Midfielder Matthew Craig had another good game in midfield for Spurs’ Under 21 side, today.
• Nile John: Starting the match in central midfield, Nile John worked well off the ball for Spurs, and he used the ball well. 
• Romaine Mundle: One of Spurs’ best forwards against Manchester City, Romaine Mundle went on some really good skilful runs with the ball, and he was involved in a lot of good things for Spurs, when they went forward with the ball.
• Jamie Donley: The Spurs CAM for this match made some good passes from midfield, and he was unlucky not to score a goal during the second half, from what was a good position. 
• Roshaun Mathurin: Starting the match on the left flank as a winger, Roshaun Mathurin showed good creativity on the ball, and he was always available to receive the ball.
• Yago Santiago: The centre-forward for most of the game against Manchester City, Yago Santiago led the line well. He was enthusiastic without the ball and he covered quite a lot of ground.
• Jaden Williams: The second half substitute went to the centre-forward position after replacing Jamie Donley.
• Max Robson: The late substitute went to the CAM position.

My man of the match – Aaron Maguire. This was as an impressive Premier League 2 debut for the Republic of Ireland Under 19 international and first year professional. The 18 year old made two key saves early on in the match, and he had a solid game. Maguire’s distribution was also good throughout the match.