Spurs’ Under 21 side faced Chelsea at Kingsmeadow, in a Premier League 2 fixture on Monday evening. Spurs lost the game 3-0. Wayne Burnett’s side lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, and Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Charlie Sayers and Kallum Cesay started in defence for Spurs. Matthew Craig, captain Nile John and Alfie Devine started in midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Roshaun Mathurin started out on the flanks, either side of centre-forward Yago Santiago. Chelsea got the match underway, and the home side started the game the better of the two sides. Jude Soonsup-Bell hit a very early effort wide from the inside the Spurs box, with defender Brooklyn Lyons-Foster doing well to close down the angles for him. Matthew Craig then made a good and very important defensive recovery, before Josh Keeley saved Charlie Webster’s effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area. 

Brooklyn Lyons-Foster received a yellow card on 19 minutes, as Chelsea continued their good start to the match. Kallum Cesay did well to deflect behind an effort from Dion Rankine inside the Spurs box, before Spurs created a good chance of their own. Roshaun Mathurin did well to pass the ball to Alfie Devine, who went forward with the ball at pace from midfield. He eventually worked his way into the Chelsea box, skilfully going past both Zak Sturge and Benjamin Elliott, before hitting a low effort just wide of the goal. Roshaun Mathurin had a good low cross from the left side of the Chelsea penalty area cleared away by goalkeeper Eddie Beach, as Spurs started to grow into the game. Kallum Cesay was shown a yellow card after conceding a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box, in what was a good chance for Chelsea. However, Jude Soonsup-Bell’s effort hit the Spurs wall, before Charlie Webster hit an effort over on the edge of the Spurs box, soon after.

Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed wide a corner-kick from Romaine Mundle, and then a cross from Romaine Mundle to Yago Santiago in the Chelsea box, resulted in Santiago having his first time effort saved by the Chelsea goalkeeper, Eddie Beach. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster then had a headed effort blocked inside the Chelsea box, before at the other end of the pitch Benjamin Elliott’s effort from the edge of the Spurs box, wasn’t fully gathered by Josh Keeley, with Charlie Sayers eventually clearing the ball. After Lyons-Foster had cleared away a cross, Jude Soonsup-Bell had a headed effort saved by Josh Keeley. The Spurs goalkeeper then saved well from Charlie Webster’s effort inside the Spurs box, and then moments later he got a vital foot on the ball to divert Webster’s effort from the left side of the Spurs penalty area. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after. Spurs got the second half underway. 

Josh Keeley saved well with his feet after Dylan Williams’ cross was met by Dion Rankine at Keeley’s far post, whose good volleyed effort was saved. After Yago Santiago went forward with the ball, he had an effort blocked on the edge of the Chelsea box. After Cesare Casadei headed a Chelsea corner-kick to Alfie Gilchrist inside the Spurs box, the defender volleyed an effort wide of the Spurs goal. Soon after Lyons-Foster made an important defensive intervention, before Romaine Mundle had an effort saved from the edge of the Chelsea box. However, Chelsea took the lead soon after. Dion Rankine passed the ball to Jude Soonsup-Bell on the left side of the Spurs box, and he found the far corner of Josh Keeley’s goal with a powerful effort. Soon after the game got started again, Lyons-Foster did well to make another good defensive intervention, before Cesare Casadei hit an effort just wide from inside the Spurs penalty area.

Spurs made two changes during the second half, as Marqes Muir and Jamie Donley came on to replace Roshaun Mathurin and Charlie Sayers respectively. Around a minute after being introduced to the match, Jamie Donley had a great chance for Spurs. After receiving Nile John’s pass on the right side of the Chelsea box, Donley hit an effort off his left foot into the side-netting of the goal. Chelsea then made it 2-0, shortly after Matthew Craig had blocked Leo Castledine’s effort inside the Spurs box, Charlie Webster hit a powerful effort in off Josh Keeley’s right post, 0-2. Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed over Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick, before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had an effort from close range, inside the Chelsea box, saved by Eddie Beach. However, Chelsea then went forward with the ball, as Cesare Casadei passed the ball through to Malik Mothersille, who went forward into the Spurs box and finished low past Josh Keeley, 0-3. Romaine Mundle received a late yellow card before the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. Spurs’ final Premier League 2 fixture of 2022, is on Friday evening at the Rush Green Stadium, as they face West Ham United.

My Spurs player of the match – Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. The central defender, who started the match against Chelsea on the right side of central defence, was in my opinion Spurs’ best player on the day. Lyons-Foster read the game very well I thought, and he made some good and important defensive interventions during the game. His maturity, calmness and composure on the ball was clear to see throughout the match. It’s great to see him playing regular football again for Spurs after his injury.