Spurs’ Under 21 side welcomed Blackburn Rovers to Hotspur Way on Saturday afternoon, for a Premier League 2 fixture. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the game 3-1, but the score didn’t really reflect how the game went, in my opinion. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, while Kallum Cesay, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Marqes Muir and Tyrell Ashcroft started in defence. Matthew Craig and Harvey White started in central midfield, with Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle starting out on the flanks, either of CAM and Spurs captain Nile John. Jamie Donley led the line for Spurs, who got the match underway. However, the game didn’t start well for Spurs, with Blackburn Rovers taking the lead in the second minute of the match. After receiving Sam Szmodics pass down the left side of the Spurs box, Jared Harlock continued forward before finishing well past Aaron Maguire, 0-1.

Jared Harlock had an effort saved by Maguire inside the Spurs penalty area, before Tyrell Ashcroft had picked up an injury, and had to be replaced, as Max Robson was substituted on. Romaine Mundle had an effort blocked by Jay Haddow, inside the Blackburn Rovers penalty area, with Jamie Donley then having a deflected low effort from the edge of the away side’s penalty area, saved by Jordan Eastham. Sam Szmodics curled an effort wide of the Spurs goal, before Spurs went forward with the ball down the opposite end of the pitch. Romaine Mundle went inside with the ball from the left flank, before hitting an effort on goal, which was well saved by Eastham. A couple of minutes later and after receiving a pass from Max Robson, Romaine Mundle hit a powerful effort wide of the goal, after going inside with the ball from the left flank.

Patrick Gamble’s powerful effort from distance was tipped over his goal by Aaron Maguire, and then shortly afterwards, and after winning the ball off of Nile John,  Joe Rankin Costello went into the Spurs box, before hitting a low effort wide of the goal. Late on in the half Harvey White had an effort from the edge of the Blackburn Rovers box saved. The 20 year old midfielder then had an effort blocked soon after that initial chance. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time a couple of minutes later. The away side got the second half underway. An early chance came Spurs’ way, as Matthew Craig’s powerful deflected effort inside the away side’s penalty area was saved well by Jordan Eastham, with the ball then going to Jamie Donley, whose effort from close range was also saved.

Former Spurs player Dilan Markanday headed Sam Szmodics’ cross wide, before Spurs went forward down the other side of the pitch. A cross from Kallum Cesay on the right flank, ended up going to Romaine Mundle on the left side of the penalty area, and after some good skill on the ball he curled an effort wide of Eastham’s goal. Marqes Muir did well to block an effort from Joe Rankin Costello, with Spurs once again going forward with the ball. After receiving Harvey White’s pass on the right side of the Blackburn Rovers box, Yago Santiago skilfully went past Georgie Gent, before hitting an effort just over the goal. Malachi Fagan-Walcott was shown a yellow card a couple of minutes later. Marqes Muir blocked Louie Annesley’s effort well inside the Spurs box, before Harvey White blocked an effort from Sam Szmodics. The same player hit an effort against Aaron Maguire’s near post from a tight angle inside the Spurs box, a couple of minutes later.

After receiving Max Robson’s pass, Nile John went forward with the ball before having a powerful effort saved well by Eastham. A pass from Spurs’ goalkeeper Aaron Maguire was latched onto by Adam Wharton, who then passed the ball to the feet of Harry Leonard inside the Spurs box, and the 19 year old forward managed to find the bottom right corner of the goal, 0-2. Marqes Muir again impressed, this time blocking an effort from Sam Szmodics inside the Spurs box, just before Adam Wharton hit an effort just wide of the goal. The game was still quite an even one, but the next goal would prove to be very important. The goal went Blackburn Rovers’ way, after Sam Szmodics received Adam Wharton’s through-ball pass, and  Sam Szmodics’ effort was saved well by Maguire, but the Spurs goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Harry Leonard’s effort on the follow up, into the roof of the goal, 0-3. 

A corner-kick which was delivered well into the box by Harvey White, was met by Marqes Muir, whose effort on goal from close range was saved well by Jordan Eastham. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster came on to replace Nile John, to make his first competitive appearance of the season. After receiving Matthew Craig’s pass on the left side of the Blackburn Rovers box, Jamie Donley hit an effort on goal which was saved by Jordan Eastham, with the ball then bouncing off of Donley and behind for a goal-kick. A good pass from Harvey White to Kallum Cesay on the right side of the away side’s box resulted in the defender hitting an effort wide of the goal. First year scholar Yusuf Akhamrich came on to make his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, after replacing Jamie Donley. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had an effort blocked, and then in the 90th minute of the game Spurs managed to get a goal. After Romaine Mundle passed the ball to Matthew Craig on the left flank, the Scotland youth international managed to find Harvey White in the centre of the Blackburn Rovers box with a lofted pass, and the midfielder finished really well into the goal with an effort on the half volley, 1-3. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after.

Spurs’ Under 21 side face Peterborough United in a Papa Johns Trophy fixture on Tuesday, in their next game.

My Spurs player of the match – Harvey White. Showing his experience in central midfield, Harvey White’s class on the ball and excellent decision making was as impressive as always. Making some good and clever forward passes during the game, the 20 year old also scored a well taken late goal for Spurs. Also, Matthew Craig had a very good game at left-back, where he played at after Tyrell Ashcroft had to be substituted early on in the game. Max Robson linked the play well in the CAM role, and Romaine Mundle went on some good and skilful runs with the ball.