The Spurs Under 21 played their first home Premier League 2 fixture of the 2023/24 season on Saturday afternoon, when they faced Newcastle United at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium. Wayne Burnett’s side impressively won the game 4-1, to continue their perfect start to the new Premier League 2 season. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, as Tyrell Ashcroft, Ashley Phillips, Alfie Dorrington and Harvey White started in defence for Spurs. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Alfie Devine and Jamie Donley started in midfield for Spurs, as Nile John and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, with Jude Soonsup-Bell once again leading the line for Spurs. Newcastle United got the game underway. Early on in the match Spurs’ goalkeeper Josh Keeley made a good reflex save from Remi Savage inside the Spurs box, before another Newcastle player hit an effort over the Spurs goal. Spurs did however, take the lead very soon after. Harvey White passed the ball to Jude Soonsup-Bell, who gave the ball to Yago Santiago, and the former Celta Vigo Academy player once again showed his outstanding pace, to go forward really well with the ball down the left flank. Santiago took the ball into the Newcastle penalty area, before skilfully going past their goalkeeper Jude Smith, and putting the ball into the back of the goal, 1-0.

After receiving the ball on the left flank from a Jamie Donley pass, Alfie Devine came inside from the left flank, before trying to test the Newcastle goalkeeper with a low effort from the edge of their penalty area. However, Devine’s effort went just wide of the goal. Amadou Diallo hit an effort over Josh Keeley’s goal from the edge of the Spurs box, and then shortly after Diallo hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal, after receiving the ball on the left side of their penalty area. After Jude Smith’s pass out from his penalty area was latched onto by Yago Santiago, the Spurs winger continued towards the Newcastle box, before seeing his powerful effort saved by Smith. A great, surging forward run out of defence from Alfie Dorrington resulted in the Tottenham central defender taking the ball a long distance up the pitch. Dorrington would eventually pass the ball to Nile John on the right flank, and he would give the ball back to Dorrington inside the Newcastle penalty area, where the Spurs man found Jamie Donley with a reverse pass, but his effort went just wide of the goal.

After Jamie Donley had passed the ball to Yago Santiago, the Spurs forward gave the ball back to Donley on the left flank, and the England youth international managed to find Jude Soonsup-Bell from a good cross towards the back post of the Newcastle goal, from which Soonsup-Bell finished well, into the goal, 2-0. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster hit an effort over from distance, as Spurs continued to impress, before Newcastle forward Jay Turner-Cooke brought the ball inside from the right flank, and then curling an effort just wide of the Spurs goal, in what was the final chance of the first half. Spurs got the second half underway. Alfie Devine had a low effort from the edge of the Newcastle box saved, before Josh Keeley saved Amadou Diallo’s effort from the left side of the pitch, following a move inside from the left flank, with the ball. Yago Santiago would receive a pass from Alfie Devine on 52 minutes, which would see him skilfully go past a Newcastle defender with the ball at ease, before finishing really well from the left side of the Newcastle box, as he found the right side of the goal with real style, 3-0. Following a free-kick lay-off by Harvey White, Alfie Devine tested goalkeeper Jude Smith from distance. A couple of minutes later and after Jude Soonsup-Bell had been challenged inside the Newcastle penalty area, the ball came to Nile John, inside the box, and his early effort found the bottom left corner of the Newcastle goal, 4-0.

Newcastle’s Jamie Miley hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal from the edge of their penalty area, before Yago Santiago had a deflected effort at the other end of the pitch saved by Smith. A double substitution for Spurs resulted in Rio Kyerematen and Will Lankshear replacing Jamie Donley and Jude Soonsup-Bell respectively. Shortly after Matthew Craig replaced Harvey White at left-back. Despite the best efforts of Matthew Craig on the Spurs goal-line, Newcastle managed to get a goal back on 78 minutes, after substitute James Huntley volleyed home, after meeting Ben Parkinson’s cross inside the Spurs penalty area. Alfie Devine received a yellow card, before Remi Savage headed over a Newcastle corner-kick. Spurs’ final substitution saw Max Robson replace Alfie Devine. After Rio Kyerematen had an effort blocked inside the Newcastle box, the ball came to Nile John, who had an effort saved by Jude Smith. Very late on in the game Spurs debutant Ashley Phillips received a yellow card. This was another excellent team performance from Spurs, who face Derby County (away) next Friday evening in their next Premier League 2 fixture.

Player reviews: 

• Josh Keeley: The Spurs goalkeeper really impressed once again with his distribution, but he also made a couple of important saves, including a fine and very important reaction save at 0-0.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: This was another solid defensive performance at right-back from Tyrell Ashcroft, who defended well down his side of the pitch.
• Ashley Phillips: I thought that the Spurs debutant and new signing did well against Newcastle, and he was very assertive in his defending. Ashley Phillips worked well alongside another England youth international, his Spurs teammate Alfie Dorrington.
• Alfie Dorrington: Playing on the left side of central defence, Alfie Dorrington’s class and quality on the ball was evident once again on Saturday afternoon. However, he also read the game well alongside Ashley Phillips.
• Harvey White: Starting the game at left-back, Harvey White would step into midfield on a number of occasions against Newcastle, and he made some good passes.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: In a similar way to his excellent performance against Manchester City’s Under 21 side in Spurs’ first game of the season, defensive-midfielder Brooklyn Lyons-Foster performed his role in midfield so well against Newcastle. He passed the ball around the pitch really well, held great defensive positioning and he was really performing a number of roles to great effect, from that defensive-midfield position. The Spurs captain has been so important to the team in the first two Premier League 2 games of the season.
• Alfie Devine: The Spurs midfielder got an assist against Newcastle, and he took up some good forward positions. Devine was unlucky not to score a goal during the first half.
• Jamie Donley: Once again the furthest forward of the Spurs midfielders linked the play well, and he got a good assist for Jude Soonsup-Bell’s goal.
• Nile John: Starting the game out on the right flank as a winger, Nile John didn’t see as much of the ball as he did when he was playing in midfield during the previous Saturday. However, he took his goal really well against Newcastle on Saturday.
• Jude Soonsup-Bell: Showing some good pace and skill with the ball, centre-forward Jude Soonsup-Bell got a goal and an assist in what was a fine performance from the 19 year old former Chelsea Academy player.
• Yago Santiago: My man of the match, see below.
• Rio Kyerematen: The Second half substitute would replace Jamie Donley in the CAM position in the second half.
• Will Lankshear: The centre-forward worked really hard off the ball after entering the pitch during the second half.
• Matthew Craig: The midfielder returned as a second half substitute against Newcastle.
• Max Robson: The 20 year old was a late substitute, going into the left-back position after being brought on.

My man of the match – Yago Santiago. The 20 year old forward was excellent and very influential out on the left flank as a winger on Saturday afternoon against Newcastle United. Yago Santiago, who I really wouldn’t be surprised to see be called-up to represent Spain at youth level in the near future, showed outstanding pace and composure with the ball. He was skilful and unpredictable, but he took both of his goals really, really well against Newcastle. Yago also worked well off the ball.