Spurs’ Under 21 side faced Manchester United at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium, on Saturday afternoon in a Premier League 2 fixture. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side recorded a 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, while Matthew Craig, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Kallum Cesay started in defence. Pape Matar Sarr (Premier League 2 debut for Spurs) and Harvey White started in central midfield, as Romaine Mundle and captain Nile John started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs. Manchester United got the match underway. Early on in the match Spurs conceded a penalty, after Pape Matar Sarr had tripped the skilful Zidane Iqbal inside the Spurs penalty area. However, Noam Emeran’s resulting effort from the penalty spot went over Josh Keeley’s crossbar. Nile John then had an effort blocked off the line by a defender inside the Manchester United box, before Alfie Devine had a good chance to take the lead for Spurs. After receiving Santiago’s pass, Devine went forward with the ball into the Manchester United penalty area, before having his effort well saved by Radek Vitek, with Romaine Mundle then hitting an effort wide from the edge of the penalty area.

After Shola Shoretire went past Lyons-Foster down the left side of the Spurs box, the skilful CAM hit an effort off the inside off Keeley’s left post. Shola Shoretire then hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal from inside their penalty area, with Keeley saving Omari Forson’s effort from distance. Romaine Mundle hit a low effort wide from the edge of the Manchester United box, as the game continued to be a lively one. In the 41st minute of the game Spurs took the lead. It was a well worked move which led to the goal, as Devine’s lofted pass to Yago Santiago in the middle of the Manchester United penalty area, resulted in Santiago finding the bottom right corner of the goal, 1-0. Late on in the first half Romaine Mundle hit an effort wide of the goal from inside the Manchester United box, before Matthew Craig had a low effort cleared off the line, in what was the final chance of the half.

Spurs got the second half underway. Kallum Cesay received an early yellow card, before Spurs came so close to doubling their lead. Harvey White’s short pass to Romaine Mundle from a free-kick on the left flank, resulted in Mundle delivering a good ball into the Manchester United box. Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed Mundle’s cross across the face of the goal, to Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, whose volleyed effort from close range hit the crossbar. Toby Collyer blocked an effort from Romaine Mundle, before Josh Keeley made a good save from Charlie Savage, from a tight angle inside the Spurs box. Will Lankshear came on to replace Pape Matar Sarr, just after former Spurs player Tom Huddlestone was substituted on for Manchester United. Rhys Bennett headed a Manchester United corner-kick wide across Josh Keeley’s goal, and then a couple of minutes later the same player headed Shola Shoretire’s free-kick delivery just wide, inside the Spurs box.

Defender Marqes Muir replaced Romaine Mundle, just before Spurs’ goalkeeper Josh Keeley received a yellow card for time wasting. After Marc Jurado went past Marqes Muir with the ball on the right side of the Spurs penalty area, he squared the ball for Shola Shoretire, whose effort went just wide of the goal. Manchester United captain Teden Mengi headed wide Shola Shoretire’s corner-kick, as the game started to come closer to the final whistle. Max Robson replaced Harvey White for Spurs’ final substitution, and then after Marqes Muir had blocked well Noam Emeran’s effort inside the Spurs box, Manchester United equalised late in second half additional time. After Manchester United went forward with the ball in search of a late equaliser, the ball came to Marc Jurado on the right side of the Spurs box, and with his left foot he found the top left corner of Josh Keeley’s goal well, 1-1. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. Wayne Burnett’s side face Chelsea away, in their next Premier League 2 fixture, on Monday the 7th of November. 

Player reviews:

• Josh Keeley: The Spurs goalkeeper made some good and also some comfortable saves during the match, although he wasn’t tested greatly in goal. However, the 19 year old impressed once again with his all-round play.
• Matthew Craig: The right-back for this match, midfielder Matthew Craig had in my opinion a solid game defensively, up against Noam Emeran.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: My man of the match, see below.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The versatile and experienced player started and completed the whole of the match on Saturday on the left side of central defence. Lyons-Foster did well defensively alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, and he made some good decisions in defence, during the match. He was also very unlucky not to score a goal, early on in the second half.
• Kallum Cesay: The Sierra Leone international started the game at left-back, before moving out to the right flank where he played for some of the second half as a winger, and where he showed some fine skill on the ball.
• Pape Matar Sarr: The Senegal international played the game at a good tempo and he pressed the Manchester United players well, from his defensive-midfield role during his time on the pitch.
• Harvey White: The central midfielder did well both on and off the ball in midfield, and he played his part in what was a good team performance from Spurs.
• Romaine Mundle: The skilful winger went on some good runs at pace down the right flank, during his time on the pitch.
• Alfie Devine: Involved a lot in Spurs’ play in the forward areas of the pitch, Alfie Devine did well in the CAM position for Spurs, against Manchester United. Cleverly setting up Yago Santiago’s goal during the first half, Devine came close to scoring a goal himself during the first half, and his movement off the ball was as good as always.
• Nile John: The Spurs captain started the game on the left flank as a winger, initially. However, John finished the game in central midfield.
• Yago Santiago: The centre-forward for most of the match had another good game for Spurs. His movement off the ball, link-up play and hold-up play was impressive, and he took his first half goal really well. 
• Will Lankshear: The second half substitute went up front to play in the centre-forward position.
• Marqes Muir: Playing at left-back during the second half after being substituted on, defender Marqes Muir made two important defensive interventions during his time on the pitch.
• Max Robson: The late substitute made one good run at pace off the ball to try and support Yago Santiago’s forward run during a late Spurs chance.

My man of the match – Malachi Fagan-Walcott. The central defender has being playing really well recently for the Spurs Under 21 side. The 20 year old was once again assertive in defence, and I don’t recall him making a single error during the match against Manchester United.

Spurs’ Under 19 side welcomed Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal to Hotspur Way on Wednesday afternoon, for a UEFA Youth League group-stage fixture. It was the second last such group-stage fixture for both sides in the 2022/23 edition of the competition, and unfortunately Spurs lost the game 2-1, meaning that they are now officially out of the competition, with one game still to play. Spurs lined-up with Aaron Maguire in goal, while George Abbott, Alfie Dorrington, Archie Chaplin and Jahziah Linton started in defence. Captain Nile John and Alfie Devine started in central midfield, with Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM Jamie Donley. Will Lankshear, on his first start for the club, led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway.

The game couldn’t have started any better for Spurs, who took an early lead through Will Lankshear. After Sporting Clube de Portugal captain Renato De Palma Veiga had given the ball away to Lankshear inside the Sporting Clube de Portugal box, Lankshear showed good composure, before calmly finding the bottom left corner of the goal, 1-0. Sporting Clube de Portugal responded well however, and an effort from Diogo Gomes Cabral from the right side of the Spurs box, was saved well by Aaron Maguire. A couple of minutes later Afonso Bastardo Moreira volleyed wide Diogo Gomes Cabral’s cross away from the Spurs goal. At the other end of the pitch George Abbott hit an effort over the goal, before Marco Sousa Cruz headed just wide from Afonso Bastardo Moreira’s corner-kick. Aaron Maguire gathered a ball well inside his penalty area, shortly after. George Abbott blocked an effort well inside the Spurs box, before a good Sporting Clube de Portugal move resulted in an equalising goal.

Marco Sousa Cruz found the left corner of the Spurs goal with a curling effort from inside their penalty area, after receiving a pass, 1-1. Archie Chaplin did well to divert Samuel Loureiro Carvalho Justo’s effort inside the Spurs penalty area. Nile John and George Abbott both blocked efforts well in quick succession, before Jahziah Linton was shown a yellow card after making a foul. Jamie Donley hit an effort wide of the Sporting goal from inside their penalty area, after receiving a pass from Alfie Devine. Jahziah Linton then blocked Diogo Gomes Cabral’s late effort, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Sporting Clube de Portugal got the second half underway, after Spurs had made a change, as Maxwell McKnight came on to replace Jahziah Linton. Jaden Williams came on to replace Will Lankshear soon after, before Sporting took the lead for the first time in the game. Alfie Dorrington had initially done really well to block Rodrigo Duarte Ribeiro’s effort inside the Spurs box, but Marco Sousa Cruz managed to get on the ball, and his effort went in off Aaron Maguire’s left post, 1-2.

Spurs made a double change as Yago Santiago and the injured Alfie Dorrington were replaced by Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore, respectively. Jamie Donley and Romaine Mundle were both shown yellow cards, before Spurs made their final change of the game. As Callum Olusesi came on to replace Romaine Mundle. Aaron Maguire saved Pedro Baldé Sanca’s low effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area, in what was the next chance in the match. Renato De Palma Veiga hit a powerful effort wide of the Spurs goal, before Pedro Baldé Sanca hit an effort wide of Aaron Maguire’s goal, from the left side of the Spurs box. The alert Aaron Maguire, who was having a good game, saved Diogo Travassos’ free-kick, and then at the other end of the pitch Mikey Moore had a good effort from the right side of the Sporting penalty area saved by Diego Calai Silva. Jamie Donley, who was now playing in central defence, blocked a late Sporting effort well, before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ final game of the competition takes place next Tuesday, when they face Olympique de Marseille, in Marseille.

Player reviews:

• Aaron Maguire: The Spurs goalkeeper and first year professional had a good, solid game in goal for Spurs. Maguire made a good save early on in the game, and he would later make some good decisions during the game.
• George Abbott: My man of the match, see below.
• Alfie Dorrington: The 17 year old central defender had in my opinion an impressive game. The England Under 18 international was good on the ball, but his reading of the game and impression on the game inside Spurs’ half of the pitch, was good and he read the game really well. He had to leave the pitch in the second half because of injury, but hopefully he will return soon.
• Archie Chaplin: The first year scholar worked well alongside the slightly more experienced Alfie Dorrington in central defence, and like Dorrington, he had quite a lot of defending to do during the match.
• Jahziah Linton: The left-back had quite a bit of defending to do during the first half, but after receiving a yellow card during the first half he was replaced by Maxwell McKnight at half-time.
• Nile John: The Spurs captain played as the deepest of the two central midfielders, and he tried to keep the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch, while also doing quite a bit of defending.
• Alfie Devine: Always trying to be inventive on the ball and be creative with it, Devine went on some good surging forward runs with the ball from midfield.
• Yago Santiago: The forward started the game out on the right flank, and during the first half in particular he was particularly creative with the ball, at times.
• Jamie Donley: Starting the match in the CAM position, Jamie Donley looked to link the play with Will Lankshear. Following Alfie Dorrington’s injury during the second half, Donley finished the match in central defence. He did well in central defence.
• Romaine Mundle: The winger started the game on the left flank, and he took most of Spurs’ set-pieces during the match.
• Will Lankshear: The centre-forward took his early goal well, and he worked very hard off the ball during his time on the pitch.
• Maxwell McKnight: The substitute came on for the start of the second half, and while he had quite a bit of defending to do, he did well defensively, in my opinion.
• Jaden Williams: The second half substitute came on to play out on the right flank initially, before the finishing the game in the centre-forward position.
• Damola Ajayi: The second half substitute went into midfield during his time on the pitch.
• Mikey Moore: The second half substitute impressed at times during his time on the pitch as a winger.
• Callum Olusesi: Callum Olusesi came on in the match as a late substitute.

My man of the match – George Abbott. The central midfielder once again started at right-back, and in my opinion I thought that he did really well. The 17 year old was tenacious, kept good defensive positioning, and he made some excellent blocks. Abbott’s reading of the game was as always very good, and he looked really confident against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Spurs’ Under 18 side faced Fulham in a Premier League South fixture at their Motspur Park training ground, on Saturday. Spurs lost the game 6-0, and it was a game in which Fulham were the much better team. Spurs lined-up with captain Luca Gunter in goal, while Brandon Bryan-Waugh, Archie Chaplin, Jahziah Linton and Maeson King started in defence. Callum Olusesi and Mikey Moore started in central midfield, as Maxwell McKnight and Riley Owen started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Damola Ajayi. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. Fulham started the game well, and after Oliver Gofford had hit an effort over Luca Gunter’s goal from the centre of the Spurs box, Aaron Loupalo met a cross from the right flank, inside the Spurs box. However, his effort was saved by Luca Gunter. Jaden Williams had an effort blocked by Caelan Avenall inside the Fulham box, before Archie Chaplin blocked Oliver Gofford’s effort at the other end of the pitch. 

Mikey Moore blocked an effort from Terrell Works, as Fulham continued their good start to the game. Archie Chaplin made a good recovery challenge on Aaron Loupalo, before the Fulham centre-forward received a through-ball pass, before continuing into the Spurs box. However, Luca Gunter read the situation well, and he was able to get an important hand on the ball. After winning a free-kick near the edge of the Fulham box, Mikey Moore hit an effort towards goal, which was deflected behind by the Fulham wall. Archie Chaplin did well to block an effort from Oliver Gofford, off the line inside the Spurs box, before Fulham won a penalty. Lemar Gordon was brought down by Jahziah Linton inside the Spurs box, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Terrell Works stepped up to find the bottom left corner of the Spurs goal, 0-1.

Not long after Fulham had taken the lead, the home side got another goal. Brandon Bryan-Waugh’s clearance inside the Spurs box following a Fulham chance, came to Oliver Gofford, who finished low past Luca Gunter, 0-2. After Aaron Loupalo turned his way past Archie Chaplin, the Fulham forward went forward with the ball and into the Spurs box. Luca Gunter was initially able to gather the ball, before Aaron Loupalo managed to get on the ball again, and this time he found the back of the net, 0-3. After dribbling his way into the Fulham box well, Callum Olusesi hit an effort over their goal. Archie Chaplin made a good challenge on Aaron Loupalo, inside the Spurs box, before Fulham extended their lead. Terrell Works passed the ball to Aaron Loupalo on the right side of the Spurs box, and the first year scholar found the bottom left corner of the goal, in what was the final chance of the first half, 0-4.

Fulham got the second half underway. After receiving Terell Works’ pass inside the Spurs box, Aaron Loupalo hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal. Han Willhoft-King came on to replace Callum Olusesi, before Thomas Bloxham came on to replace Damola Ajayi. The impressive Aaron Loupalo hit an effort over the Spurs goal from inside the penalty area, and then Archie Chaplin managed to block Lemar Gordon’s effort on the edge of the Spurs box. Riley Owen was shown a yellow card by the referee after making a strong challenge, and then Maxwell McKnight had an effort blocked by Harvey Araujo on the right side of the Fulham box. Brad De Jesus hit an effort wide from distance, before Han Willhoft-King blocked an effort from the same player shortly after. Thomas Bloxham hit an effort wide from the edge of the Fulham box, as Spurs tried to get back in to the game.

Yusuf Akhamrich came on to replace Riley Owen, and then Oliver Gofford hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, from inside their penalty area. Substitute Callum Osmand further extended Fulham’s lead after receiving a pass inside the Spurs box, Callum Osmand found the bottom left corner of Luca Gunter’s goal, 0-5. Thomas Bloxham had an ambitious effort from distance saved, before Fulham got another goal. It was a good move by the home side, as Terrell Works passed the ball to Callum Osmand inside the Spurs box, and he then finished past Luca Gunter, 0-6. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time soon after. Spurs’ Under 18 side face Norwich City at home next Saturday, in their next Premier League South fixture.