Spurs’ Under 21 side welcomed Blackburn Rovers to Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon, for their last Premier League 2 fixture until after the international break. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won the game 4-0, performing excellently throughout the match. Luca Gunter started in goal for Spurs, as Tyrell Ashcroft, Alfie Dorrington, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Charlie Sayers started in defence. Captain Matthew Craig, Rio Kyerematen and Jamie Donley started in midfield, as Jude Soonsup-Bell and Yago Santiago started either side of Spurs’ centre-forward Will Lankshear. Spurs got the game underway. Quite early on in the game Spurs’ goalkeeper Luca Gunter collided with a teammate while trying to gather a Blackburn Rovers free-kick into the Spurs box, and this resulted in Gunter dropping the ball. However, Jamie Donley was able to clear it off of the line in time. Will Lankshear hit an effort wide on the turn at the other end of the pitch, before a good passing move resulted in a chance for Jude Soonsup-Bell. After receiving the ball on the left side of the Blackburn penalty area, Lankshear found Soonsup-Bell with a lofted pass, from which the former Chelsea player volleyed an effort on goal, but goalkeeper Jordan Eastham made a fine save.

Spurs had started the game well and after Soonsup-Bell had received Craig’s pass on the right side of the Blackburn penalty area, the Spurs forward came inside with the ball, before having his resulting effort saved by Eastham. Zack Stritch then had a back-heeled effort inside the Spurs box, saved comfortably by Gunter, following a good move from the away side. Rio Kyerematen had an effort blocked, before Spurs deservedly took the lead. Yago Santiago’s corner-kick found Jude Soonsup-Bell inside the Blackburn penalty area, and he cleverly guided the ball with his head, into the bottom right hand corner of Jordan Eastham’s goal, 1-0. Yago Santiago received a yellow card moments after the game got started again, before Luca Gunter saved relatively comfortably from Zack Stritch’s headed effort on the Spurs goal. After Lankshear and Soonsup-Bell had exchanged passes near the Blackburn Rovers penalty area, Lankshear had an effort from the edge of the box saved by Eastham. A decent chance for the away side resulted in Harrison Wood receiving the ball on the right side of the Spurs box, but his effort from a difficult angle went wide of the Spurs goal. Luca Gunter did save a low effort from the same player shortly after. Just before half-time Jude Soonsup-Bell received a yellow card.

Blackburn Rovers got the second half underway. Will Lankshear had an effort blocked on the edge of the Blackburn Rovers penalty area, and then a couple of moments later the Spurs centre-forward headed over an effort, from Yago Santiago’s free-kick into the penalty area. Another good Spurs passing move resulted in Tyrell Ashcroft passing the ball to Jamie Donley inside the Blackburn penalty area. Donley then found Yago Santiago on the left side of the box, but his fine and low curling effort went just wide of Jordan Eastham’s goal. After Donley had received a forward pass from Alfie Dorrington, the Spurs forward found himself through on goal. He continued into the penalty area, before calmly curling an effort past Eastham, and into the goal, 2-0. Matthew Craig received a yellow card soon after, before Jamie Donley curled over a free-kick effort from just outside the Blackburn Rovers penalty area. A good chance came to Donley a couple of minutes later, inside the penalty area, however, his effort was well blocked by a defender. Another great Spurs passing move, this time on 70 minutes, resulted in Spurs extending their lead. After Donley received Santiago’s pass on the left flank, the Spurs forward delivered a fine cross towards Lankshear in the centre of the Blackburn penalty area, and the Spurs forward clinically side-footed the ball into the goal, 3-0.

A double substitution for Spurs saw Dante Cassanova and Max McKnight replace Matthew Craig and Rio Kyerematen respectively. The alert Luca Gunter tipped over a powerful effort on goal from Harrison Wood soon after, before Max Robson came on to replace Tyrell Ashcroft. The excellent Will Lankshear held off a defender with ease, before having an effort from the edge of the penalty area saved by Eastham. Charlie Sayers made a good and important block inside the Spurs box, to stop a good chance for Blackburn Rovers. Following another good move Spurs substitute Max McKnight slipped the ball through well to Lankshear on the right side of the Blackburn penalty area, but the centre-forward just missed the target, from his lofted effort. Will Andiyapan moved into defence after he was substitute on to replace Will Lankshear. Spurs made it 4-0 on 91 minutes, following yet another really good passing move. After Max Robson had initially won the ball, he passed the ball to Soonsup-Bell inside the Blackburn penalty area, and the Spurs forward calmly and clinically found the bottom right corner of the goal, 4-0. Jude Soonsup-Bell almost got a hat-trick just before the game came to an end, as he hit an effort over Jordan Eastham’s goal, after receiving Yago Santiago’s pass on the right side of the Blackburn Rovers penalty area.

Spurs’ next competitive game at this level is not until Tuesday the 19th of September, when they face Colchester United (away) in their first group-stage fixture of the 2023/24 EFL Trophy.

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The Spurs goalkeeper made some routine saves and one good save on Saturday, and his distribution was good once again.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: This was another good defensive performance at right-back from Tyrell Ashcroft, who has played so well this season, since making his return in pre-season from a bad injury.
• Alfie Dorrington: The right sided central defender for the game, was solid in defence and he also got the assist for Jamie Donley’s goal. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Playing on the left side of central defence, the influential Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was very good at going on skilful surging forward runs out of defence and into midfield, and once again he read the game well in defence.
• Charlie Sayers: The left-back had a good game, and he made one very good block during the second half.
• Matthew Craig: The Spurs captain was always looking to pass the ball forward and try to be inventive with the ball. He covered a lot of ground in midfield, during his time on the pitch.
• Rio Kyerematen: The central midfielder went on some excellent surging forward runs with the ball, from midfield. Rio also worked well off the ball.
• Jamie Donley: This was another very good performance from the Spurs CAM. Jamie Donley scored one goal and provided one assist, but his work off the ball was just as good.
• Jude Soonsup-Bell: This was an excellent performance on the right flank from the former Chelsea Academy player, as he scored two goals. Jude has played as a winger before, when he was with Chelsea. And he was clever and inventive on the ball, showing good skill, pace and strength with it. He took both of his goals well, and he was unlucky not to have got a hat-trick on the day.
• Will Lankshear: My man of the match, see below.
• Yago Santiago: The Spurs winger provided an assist and came very close to scoring a goal against Blackburn Rovers. Yago did well on the day.
• Dante Cassanova: The Spurs substitute played as the defensive-midfielder after entering the pitch.
• Max McKnight: On his Premier League 2 debut for Spurs, the substitute set-up one very good chance for Will Lankshear to score from.
• Max Robson: The late substitute provided an assist after going into midfield. He was very positive with the ball.
• Will Andiyapan: A very late Spurs substitute, Will Andiyapan went to right-back after being substituted on.

My man of the match – Will Lankshear. I could have named all of the Spurs players who started the match, man of the match. However, for me the Spurs centre-forward did so well off the ball once again. He pressed the Blackburn defence so, so well, and Will Lankshear’s physicality and strength to hold players off at ease, meant that the Blackburn Rovers defence had a really difficult game. Lankshear took his goal well, and on another day he could well have had a hat-trick.

Spurs’ Under 21 side welcomed Sunderland Under 21’s to Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Tuesday evening, in Spurs’ first ever group game in the Under 21 Premier League Cup. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won the game 3-2. Luca Gunter started in goal for Spurs, as Will Andiyapan, Ashley Phillips, Alfie Dorrington and Max Robson started in defence. Captain Matthew Craig, Yago Santiago and Jamie Donley started in midfield for Spurs, with Nile John and Harvey White (initially) starting either side of centre-forward Will Lankshear. Spurs got the game underway against Sunderland (unfortunately I didn’t manage to find a team-sheet at the match on Tuesday, so for the Sunderland players that I don’t know, I will be referring to their starting number). Early on in the match Alfie Dorrington headed over Nile John’s corner-kick. Then a couple of minutes later Jamie Donley managed to find Harvey White on the left side of the Sunderland box, but his resulting effort was saved by the Sunderland goalkeeper Matt Young. After Jamie Donley had travelled with the ball from the right flank, he had an effort blocked by a defender, before Nile John had an effort from the edge of the Sunderland penalty area saved. A Sunderland free-kick which was taken by the Sunderland left-back (number three) was blocked by the Spurs wall, before Spurs took the lead.

Nile John went on a skilful run from the right flank, before entering the Sunderland penalty area, where he was tripped by Sunderland player Nectarios Triantis, resulting in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Jamie Donley, who calmly and clinically found the bottom right hand corner of Matt Young’s goal, 1-0. Sunderland did come close to equalising soon after, after a good through-ball pass to Marshall Burke in the Spurs box resulted in the Sunderland player hitting an effort over Luca Gunter’s goal. However, an effort on the edge of the Spurs penalty area a couple of minutes later from Ellis Taylor ended up takin a big deflection off of Alfie Dorrington, wrong footing Luca Gunter as it went into the Spurs goal, 1-1. Alfie Dorrington made a great and important sliding challenge on Sunderland’s number nine inside the Spurs penalty area, before Spurs regained the lead. A good pass from Matthew Craig found Will Andiyapan on the right flank, and the Wales youth international then managed to find Yago Santiago on the edge of the Sunderland penalty area, and he finished really well into the bottom of the goal, 2-1. This Sunderland side never gave up however, and just before half-time they came close to getting level again, on two occasions.

The first occasion was after Dorrington blocked really well, on the line after the Sunderland number nine almost got his goal. The ball then came to the Sunderland number eight, whose effort went over the Spurs goal. Sunderland got the second half underway. The Sunderland right-back had a headed effort saved from Luca Gunter, before Spurs went forward with the ball. Yago Santiago once again showed his excellent pace as he went forward with the ball down the left flank, before eventually passing the ball to Jamie Donley, whose effort hit the crossbar. Harvey White then had an effort from distance saved by Matt Young, before Nile John went on a surging forward run into the Sunderland penalty area, however, his resulting effort went over the goal. Luca Gunter saved a header well from a corner-kick, as the game continued to be played at a very good pace. The Sunderland number ten had an effort on the half volley on the edge of the Spurs box, saved by Gunter. Spurs made a double change shortly after, as Maxwell McKnight and Rio Kyerematen came on to replace Will Andiyapan and Matthew Craig respectively. 

Sunderland’s number three had an effort saved by Luca Gunter from the left, before  the Spurs goalkeeper made a fantastic double save. After the ball was squared to the Sunderland number nine inside the Spurs penalty area, Gunter saved well from the effort from the centre-forward, before then saving superbly from the Sunderland right-back who was somehow stopped by Gunter from close range on the follow up. Max Robson superbly headed clear a headed effort on goal from a Sunderland corner-kick, before a low cross into the Spurs box from the left, was blocked on the line by Dorrington. The Sunderland number 15 had a low effort saved by Gunter, before Jude Soonsup-Bell came on to replace Jamie Donley. Sunderland were getting closer, and closer to drawing level. Ashley Phillips made a sliding block from the Sunderland number ten’s effort inside the Spurs box. However, on 85 minutes Sunderland thought that they’d most probably earned a point from the game. A low cross into the Spurs box from the left came to Ben Crompton, who managed to find the goal from close range, 2-2. Spurs were not happy with just a point however, and after Rio Kyerematen went on a brilliant surging forward run with the ball through the middle of the pitch, the Spurs substitute found Will Lankshear well on the left flank, and he continued with the ball into the Sunderland box. However, his powerful effort on goal was well pushed behind for corner-kick by Matt Young.

Harvey White received a yellow card in second half additional time, before the Sunderland number 15 had a headed effort saved by Luca Gunter. Not long after Harvey White had a free-kick effort saved on the edge of the Sunderland box by Matt Young, Jude Soonsup-Bell managed to win a free-kick in a similar position. Harvey White stepped up to show tremendous composure and quality, to score a free-kick goal that he has done on many occasions over the years, to find the goal with a powerful, curling effort past Matt Young, to win the game for Spurs in the 98th minute, 3-2! Just before the referee was about to sound his whistle for full-time, Sunderland’s Nectarios Triantis was shown a red card. This was another good win for Spurs, who return to league action on Saturday afternoon, with a home Premier League 2 fixture against Blackburn Rovers.

Player reviews:

• Luca Gunter: The 18 year old goalkeeper made an excellent double save during the second half, and Luca Gunter did make some additional impressive saves during the match. This was a good performance from the England youth international.
• Will Andiyapan: On his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, I thought that Will Andiyapan had a good balance to his game. The 18 year old who started the match at right-back, made some good blocks and kept good defensive positioning during his time on the pitch. He also provided the assist for Yago Santiago’s goal in the first half. However, he unfortunately went off with an injury during the second half.
• Ashley Phillips: The central defender did well alongside Alfie Dorrington, making some good defensive interventions against Sunderland.
• Alfie Dorrington: My man of the match, see below. 
• Max Robson: This was a really good performance from Max Robson at full-back, against Sunderland. Starting the game at left-back, Robson did well in that position. During the second half he would later go to right-back, and as well as making an important headed clearance off the line, he made some really good and strong challenges, as he defended that side of the pitch well.
• Matthew Craig: The central midfielder was involved in Spurs’ second goal of the game. He worked hard off the ball and was involved quite a lot during his time on the pitch.
• Yago Santiago: The Spurs forward started the game in central midfield however, he later moved out to the left flank, where he played as a winger. Santiago was excellent with the ball, he scored a fine goal during the first half and his surging forward runs down the left flank were something that Sunderland just couldn’t stop. Yago now has five goals in all competitions for the Spurs Under 21 side this season, from just four appearances.
• Jamie Donley: The Spurs CAM for the game, took his early penalty goal really well. However, once again he was very hardworking off the ball, and he was unlucky not to score another goal during the second half.
• Nile John: Doing well to win a penalty for Spurs early on in the game, Nile John impressed off the right flank, where he had a good game. The 20 year old also went on some good surging forward runs, with the ball.
• Will Lankshear: The Spurs centre-forward really impressed with his off the ball pressing and hard work. Lankshear might not have scored a goal against Sunderland or had too many really good chances to score a goal from, but his work-rate was excellent for the entirety of the match.
• Harvey White: Starting the game out on the left and eventually drifting into midfield, 21 year old midfielder Harvey White showed real character throughout the match. He deserved to score that quality free-kick goal at the end of the match.
• Max McKnight: The substitute for Spurs on Tuesday teamed up with Max Robson at right-back to help stop Sunderland from having too much joy on that side of the pitch, during the latter stages of the game.
• Rio Kyerematen: The Spurs midfielder and second half substitute went on one excellent surging forward run through midfield, with the ball.
• Jude Soonsup-Bell: The late substitute won the very late free-kick from which Harvey White scored the winning goal of the game.

My man of the match – Alfie Dorrington. The central defender made some impressive and very important defensive interventions against Sunderland. The 18 year old made two very important blocks on the goal-line, as well as showing good quality on the ball. He was impressive alongside Ashley Phillips on the day in my opinion, on a day that Alfie had quite a lot of defending to do, against a good Sunderland side.

In what will be the Spurs Under 21’s first ever game in the Under 21 Premier League Cup, Wayne Burnett’s side will be looking to continue their perfect start to the season, going into their meeting with Sunderland Under 21’s, on Tuesday evening (the game starts at 19:00pm). The game on Tuesday takes place at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium, and Spurs will face Sunderland at this level for the first time since the 2017/18 season, when the two teams meet. Spurs have won all three of their Premier League 2 fixtures so far this season, with their most recent win being against Derby County (away) on Friday evening. Sunderland’s Under 21 side have won one, lost one and draw one, from their three opening Premier League 2 games of this season. I haven’t seen Sunderland’s Under 21 side in a number of years, so I don’t know what their style of play is. However, this is the first of two Premier League Cup group games in this competition between Spurs and Sunderland, and the first of six group games for Spurs in this competition (the top two sides progress into the next round of the competition). I wish the Spurs team all the very best for the game on Tuesday.

My predicted lineup: (4-3-3) Gunter, McKnight, Dorrington, Sayers, Robson, Cassanova, Craig (c), Kyerematen, Ajayi, Lankshear, Santiago.

Substitutes from: Maguire, Andiyapan, Ashcroft, Donley, Soonsup-Bell.

Injured/unavailable: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Previous meeting: 0-0.

My score prediction: Spurs 4-0.

My one to watch: Harry Gardiner (19). The Sunderland forward scored six Premier League 2 goals from 12 appearances last season for the Sunderland Under 21 side.

Spurs’ Under 21 side faced Derby County’s Under 21 side in their third Premier League 2 fixture of the 2023/24 season, on Friday evening at Derby County’s Pride Park stadium. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side continued their perfect start to the Premier League 2 season, by winning 2-0 away to Derby County, in what was a good performance against a hardworking Derby side. Spurs started with Josh Keeley in goal, as Tyrell Ashcroft, Alfie Dorrington, Maksim Paskotši and Harvey White started in defence. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Rio Kyerematen and Jamie Donley all played in midfield, as Nile John and Yago Santiago started out in the flanks, either side of centre-forward Jude Soonsup-Bell. Derby got the game underway. Daniel Cox managed to block Jamie Donley’s early effort on the Derby goal, before Donley managed to find Jude Soonsup-Bell inside the Derby penalty area. However, Soonsup-Bell’s resulting low effort went wide of the goal. After Rio Kyerematen received Nile John’s pass on the edge of the Derby box, Kyerematen had an effort on the turn saved by Derby’s goalkeeper Harry Evans. Spurs continued to be the better team. Yago Santiago did well to run with the ball from the left flank into the Derby penalty area, but he eventually lost the ball. However, Jamie Donley managed to latch onto it inside the box, and his resulting effort went just wide of the goal.

Bradley Johnson headed wide a corner-kick from Carlos Richards, before Bradley Johnson hit an effort over the Spurs goalkeeper from the edge of their penalty area. Derby were enjoying more of the ball for a time towards the latter stages of the first half. After Adebayo Fapetu had won the ball, the Derby midfielder went forward with the ball, but his resulting effort went wide of Josh Keeley’s goal. Spurs did finish the first half well however, as Yago Santiago went forward with the ball, beyond Darren Robinson with great skill, before being fouled on the edge of the Derby penalty area. The ball came to Nile John on the right side of the box, but his resulting effort was pushed behind by Derby’s goalkeeper Harry Evans. Brooklyn Lyons-Foster blocked Carlos Richards’ effort late on, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Spurs got the second half underway. Early on in the second half Rio Kyerematen received a yellow card for going to ground too easily in the Derby penalty area, according to the referee. A good cross-field pass from Tyrell Ashcroft to Yago Santiago on the left side of the Derby box, saw Santiago control the ball before having his effort saved by Evans.

Spurs’ first substitutions saw Matthew Craig and Will Lankshear replace Jude Soonsup-Bell and Rio Kyerematen, respectively. On 59 minutes Matthew Craig had an effort blocked on the edge of the Derby penalty area. Jamie Donley picked the ball up before finding Will Lankshear on the right side of the Derby box, with a good curling pass. Lankshear finished well on the half-volley, to put the ball past Evans and into the Derby goal, 1-0. Soon after the game got started again, Lankshear headed an effort wide after meeting a cross from the impressive Harvey White inside the Derby box. Donley then headed over a Harvey White cross, before Santiago received a pass from Donley, before travelling at pace into the Derby penalty area, and only hitting the ball narrowly wide from close range. Derby’s Darren Robinson then hit an effort over on the turn, from the edge of the Spurs penalty area, in what was a rare chance in the second half for the home side. Jamie Donley received a yellow card, before Max Robson replaced Maksim Paskotši.

A good Spurs move resulted in Dorrington finding Lankshear, who took the ball to the right side of the Derby penalty area, before squaring the ball for Donley, whose resulting effort was deflected over the goal by a Derby defender. Spurs continued to search for their second goal of the game. After Santiago had found Lankshear on the left side of the Derby box, the 18 year old had an effort saved at his near post by Harry Evans, before the ball came to Santiago, whose effort was blocked. Will Lankshear then hit an effort over from the edge of the penalty area. Nile John hit a low effort wide from the left side of the Derby box, before Dante Cassanova replaced Nile John a couple of moments later. Spurs managed to double their lead in the fifth minute of second half additional time, in what was a very similar goal to their first of the game. Jamie Donley had picked the ball up on the edge of the Derby penalty area, before curling the ball into the back post to find Lankshear, who was brave, as he challenged goalkeeper Harry Evans, to head the ball beyond him and into the goal, 2-0.

Alfie Dorrington blocked a late Derby effort, before Will Lankshear was shown a yellow card in the final moments of the game. This was another good team performance from Spurs, whose next game is on Tuesday evening at the Lamex Stadium against Sunderland, in the Under 21 Premier League Cup.

Player reviews:

• Josh Keeley: The Spurs goalkeeper didn’t have a save to make against Derby County, but once again he was vocal throughout the match.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: The Spurs right-back made some good tackles and he got forward well on the right flank.
• Alfie Dorrington: The right sided central defender had some good moments during the game, where he was defensively solid alongside Maksim Paskotši. Dorrington went on a really good surging forward run out of defence during the second half.
• Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international was also solid defensively, and good on the ball.
• Harvey White: This was a good performance from the 21 year old at left-back. Harvey got better and better as the game went on, and he was good in defence. However, he got forward well and delivered some fine crosses into the penalty area.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The Spurs captain took what seemed to be a knock to his ankle very early on in the game, but he got stronger and stronger as the game went on, in midfield, where he used the ball well and also impressed with his reading of the game. Lyons-Foster finished the game in central defence.
• Rio Kyerematen: The central midfielder played higher up the pitch than Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. Rio worked well off the ball.
• Jamie Donley: The Spurs CAM worked very well off the ball against Derby, and he also provided two fine assists to set-up Will Lankshear’s goals. He did also go close to scoring a goal, on a couple of occasions against Derby.
• Nile John: Starting the game out on the right flank as a winger, Nile John didn’t see a lot of the ball, but he did track back well and also try to be inventive with the ball.
• Jude Soonsup-Bell: The Spurs centre-forward didn’t have many chances to score a goal from, but he did work hard off the ball during his time on the pitch.
• Yago Santiago: The winger was one of Spurs’ most creative players against Derby County. Yago Santiago showed some great close ball control and skill on the left flank and on another day he could have had a couple of goals to his name.
• Matthew Craig: The central midfielder was assured in midfield, after being substituted on during the second half.
• Will Lankshear: My man of the match, see below.
• Max Robson: Max Robson was a late substitute against Derby. He played out on the right flank.
• Dante Cassanova: Dante Cassanova entered the pitch as a very late substitute .

My man of the match – Will Lankshear. The 18 year old centre-forward entered the pitch in the 58th minute of the match. The former Sheffield United Academy player did really well during his time leading the line, against Derby County. Will Lankshear pressed well, but it was his two goals that he scored, both of which he took well, and was found well by Jamie Donley. It was great to Will score his first Premier League 2 goals for Spurs, especially after he missed quite a lot of last season with injury.

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.

Spurs’ Under 21 side faced the reigning Premier League 2 champions Manchester City on Saturday afternoon, at their Academy training ground. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won their first Premier League 2 game of the new 2023/24 season 5-0, against Manchester City, in what was a very good performance from Spurs. Josh Keeley started in goal for Spurs, while Tyrell Ashcroft, Alfie Dorrington, Maksim Paskotši and Max Robson started in defence. Captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Nile John and Jamie Donley all started in midfield, as Damola Ajayi and Yago Santiago started the game out on the flanks, either side of Spurs’ centre-forward Jude Soonsup-Bell. Manchester City got the game underway. It was however, Spurs who started the game much the better of the two sides, as Manchester City’s fairly inexperienced side at Premier League 2 level, fell behind in the seventh minute of the game. Following a good Spurs passing move, Jamie Donley found Yago Santiago on the left flank, the Spurs winger then took the ball into the Manchester City box, before finding the back of the net with a clinical finish past Manchester City goalkeeper True Grant, 1-0.

Brooklyn Lyons-Foster headed a good effort onto the top of the Manchester City crossbar, after meeting Yago Santiago’s free-kick delivery into their penalty area, from the left flank. Spurs did make it 2-0 shortly after, as a pass came to Jamie Donley on the edge of the Manchester City box, as the ball bounced off him and into the feet of Jude Soonsup-Bell inside the penalty area, and he finished superbly well from quite a difficult angle, as he lifted the ball into the roof of True Grant’s goal, 2-0. The impressive Max Robson deflected behind Isaiah Dada-Mascoll’s effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area. After some really good work from Jamie Donley, Jude Soonsup-Bell would surely have scored from inside the Manchester City penalty area, but for a really good last ditch challenge, to take the ball away from him. At the other end of the pitch Alfie Dorrington made a very good sliding defensive intervention, to stop Kane Taylor’s cross into the Spurs box, from finding a teammate.

Nile John had two efforts in quick succession blocked on the edge of the Manchester City penalty area, before then setting-up a chance for Yago Santiago to score a goal from the left side of the home sides’ penalty area, but Santiago’s low effort was saved by goalkeeper True Grant. After some fine skill from Jamie Donley inside the Manchester City box, the Spurs forward had an effort blocked. And then a couple of minutes later Brooklyn Lyons-Foster hit an effort wide from the edge of the penalty area, following another very good Spurs move. Manchester City were trying to create good chances, as Isaiah Dada-Mascoll hit an effort wide from the edge of the Spurs box. However, Nile John came close to extending Spurs’ lead, from a good curling effort on the edge of the Manchester City penalty area, which True Grant did well to push away from goal. Following a pass that was picked up by Nile John from a Manchester City player, Spurs moved into their penalty area once again. Soonsup-Bell gave the ball to Donley, but with True Grant out of his goal a Manchester City defender was able to block his effort on goal. The referee then sounded his whistle for half-time.

Spurs got the second half underway. It took Spurs less than two minutes into the second half, before they got their third goal of the game. As Spurs went forward with the ball Jude Soonsup-Bell made a through-ball pass to second year scholar Damola Ajayi, who took the ball into the Manchester City box where he showed good skill on the ball, before finishing well beyond the goalkeeper with a low effort, 3-0. A deflected effort on the Spurs goal was well headed away by Maksim Paskotši, before Joel Ndala’s effort inside the penalty area came to Will Dickson, whose effort went narrowly wide of Josh Keeley’s goal. Alfie Dorrington then blocked behind Joel Ndala’s effort from the edge of the Spurs box, as Manchester City tried to respond. Joel Ndala hit an effort over from the edge of the Spurs box, before Spurs further extended their lead. Santiago won the ball off of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on the left flank, before travelling with the ball into the home sides’ box. He then cleverly twisted his way beyond the Manchester City defender, before finding the roof of the goal, with a powerful effort, 4-0.

After Yago Santiago had passed the ball to Jamie Donley on the left side of the Manchester City box, Donley came close to scoring, but for a good save from True Grant, who pushed the ball over his goal. Spurs made some substitutions, as Will Lankshear and Rio Kyerematen replaced Jude Soonsup-Bell and Jamie Donley respectively. And after a quick free-kick from Damola Ajayi saw him find Rio Kyerematen, the Spurs substitute ran forward with the ball at pace, into the Manchester City box, before finishing well past True Grant, to make it 5-0 to Spurs. Dante Cassanova came on to replace Tyrell Ashcroft, before Lankshear had an effort blocked inside the Manchester City box, following a good run from the former Sheffield United academy player. Charlie Sayers came on to replace Alfie Dorrington late on in the game, before Rio Kyerematen had a penalty shout waived away by the referee. Very late on in the game Will Lankshear had an effort blocked on the edge of the penalty area, before the referee brought the game to an end. This was a great win for Wayne Burnett’s Spurs Under 21 side, who host Newcastle United in a Premier League 2 fixture, next Saturday at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium.

Player reviews: 

• Josh Keeley: The Spurs goalkeeper didn’t actually have a save to make on Saturday afternoon, but once again his distribution and short passing were good.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: On his first Premier League 2 appearance for almost a year, i thought that Tyrell Ashcroft did really well at right-back, having a good balance to his game during his time on the pitch.
• Alfie Dorrington: The central defender made some good blocks and defensive interventions, and he passed the ball out well from defence.
• Maksim Paskotši: On his first Premier League 2 start for the Spurs Under 21 side for the first time in a while, the central defender looked assured in defence and composed on the ball. He would later play the latter stages of the game at right-back.
• Max Robson: The Spurs left-back had a really good game, linking-up excellently with Yago Santiago in the forward areas of the pitch, but also doing some really good defensive work, where he was solid and assured in how he defended. Robson had a really good balance to his game, and I though that he was one of Spurs’ best players on the day.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: My man of the match, see below.
• Nile John: Linking the play really well at times, midfielder Nile John used the ball well and was also very inventive with it for good parts of the game on Saturday.
• Jamie Donley: The most advanced of the three Spurs midfielders provided two assists against Manchester City. Donley had some really good moments in the game, showing good skill on the ball and also moving well off it. He was also unlucky not to score a goal in the second half.
• Damola Ajayi: The forward and second year scholar impressed for the Spurs Under 21 side on Saturday. Damola Ajayi did well out on the right flank, and he scored a well taken goal as well as providing an assist for Rio Kyerematen’s goal.
• Jude Soonsup-Bell: The centre-forward was another player who really impressed me against Manchester City. He worked hard off the ball, took his goal so well and also provided the assist for Damola Ajayi’s goal.
• Yago Santiago: This was an excellent performance on the left flank from Yago Santiago, as he scored two really well taken goals against Manchester City. Santiago showed his excellent pace and he was really lively on the left flank throughout the match.
• Will Lankshear: It was great to see the talented centre-forward make his return from injury, as a substitute against Manchester City. Lankshear worked really hard off the ball after being introduced to the game in the second half. He also had a couple of efforts on goal blocked.
• Rio Kyerematen: The Spurs CAM for some of the second half took his goal really well following a good run into the Manchester City box.
• Dante Cassanova: The late substitute went into central midfield for the latter stages of the game.
• Charlie Sayers: The central defender entered the game very late on as a substitute.

My man of the match – Brooklyn Lyons-Foster. The Spurs captain played as the defensive-midfielder for Spurs against Manchester City. In my opinion the very versatile Spurs player showed his quality in that defensive-midfield position, and he looked very classy on the ball. Lyons-Foster demonstrated his fine leadership qualities throughout the game, but it was his ability to be almost everywhere in midfield and be so assured and effective in all that he did during the game, which is why I thought that he was the man of the match, and it allowed the other players to be so influential in the final third. Brooklyn finished the game in central defence.