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.