In the Spurs Under 21’s first Premier League 2 fixture of the new 2022/23 season, Wayne Burnett’s side played against Leicester City, at their new training ground. The game finished in a 2-2 draw. It was quite a close and end to end match, and in the end I thought that a draw was probably the fair result. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, with Tyrell Ashcroft, Matthew Craig, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Charlie Sayers starting in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Kallum Cesay started in central midfield, as Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Nile John led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. Early on in the match a through-ball pass from Ethan Fitzhugh to Tawanda Maswanhise resulted in the Leicester forward receiving the ball inside the Spurs box, but his low effort was saved by Josh Keeley. Kallum Cesay blocked Kasey McAteer’s effort inside the Spurs penalty area, before Leicester took the lead shortly after. The impressive Sammy Braybrooke’s lofted pass to Tawanda Maswanhise on the right side of the Spurs box, resulted in the Leicester player heading the ball across goal. However, unfortunately Charlie Sayers’ attempted headed clearance saw the ball go into the goal off of the underside of the crossbar, 0-1.

Less than six minutes after conceding the opening goal of the match, Spurs managed to score an equalising goal. Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick found Malachi Fagan-Walcott inside the Leicester box, and his volleyed effort on goal bounced into the goal and past Chituru Odunze in the Leicester goal, 1-1. After receiving Kasey McAteer’s cross inside the Spurs penalty area, Ethan Fitzhugh’s headed effort on goal was saved by Josh Keeley. A good free-kick from Romaine Mundle deflected wide of the Leicester goal, from the left side of the pitch. Then a couple of minutes later Josh Keeley did well to save Ethan Fitzhugh’s low effort from the edge of the Spurs penalty area. After latching onto a loose pass, Romaine Mundle tested the Leicester goalkeeper Chituru Odunze with an effort from distance, but the goalkeeper saved well, before Alfie Devine hit an effort wide of the goal. After receiving Alfie Devine’s pass on the edge of the Leicester penalty area, Tyrell Ashcroft hit an effort over the Leicester goal.

Jamie Bowden had an effort from the edge of the Leicester penalty area blocked, after receiving the ball from Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick. After winning the ball, Romaine Mundle went forward with the ball at pace, before having a low effort saved from the right side of the Leicester penalty area. Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Tyrell Ashcroft were both shown yellow cards during the remaining minutes of the first half, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Leicester got the second half underway. A low cross from Kasey McAteer on the right side of the pitch, resulted in Tawanda Maswanhise meeting the ball in the centre of the Spurs box, and he tapped the ball past Josh Keeley to put Leicester in to the lead again, 1-2. Josh Keeley did well to get the ball off of Kasey McAteer on the right side of the Spurs box, and he then made a good and important challenge on Ethan Fitzhugh, outside of his penalty area. Spurs made two substitutions in less than three minutes, with Jamie Donley firstly replacing Charlie Sayers, before Roshaun Mathurin replaced Yago Santiago.

Spurs managed to score an equalising goal on 66 minutes, after Jamie Bowden met Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick on the edge of the Leicester box. Bowden’s powerful effort was well saved by Chituru Odunze, but the ball came to Nile John inside the Leicester box, and he was able to finish into the goal, 2-2. Soon after Spurs’ equalising goal, Jamie Bowden had an effort from the edge of the Leicester City penalty area saved by Chituru Odunze, before Marqes Muir came on to replace Jamie Bowden. Very late on in the match Alfie Devine headed an effort just wide from Romaine Mundle’s corner-kick towards the near post of the Leicester goal. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 fixture is at home to Everton, at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium on Friday evening.

My Spurs player of the match – Romaine Mundle. Starting the match out on the left flank as a winger, in my opinion Romaine Mundle had a good game, and was arguably Spurs’ best player on the day. The 19 year old used the ball well, went on some good forward runs with it, and he got the assist for Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s goal. Romaine’s set-pieces were consistently good against Leicester City.

In their final pre-season friendly before going to France to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen, Spurs’ Under 21 side faced Isthmian League Premier Division side Billericay Town, at their New Lodge ground, on Saturday evening. Spurs won the game 4-1, and it was a deserved win for Wayne Burnett’s side, who were the better team for much of the game. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, while Maksim Paskotši, Marqes Muir, Alfie Dorrington and Marcel Lavinier started in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Kallum Cesay started in central midfield, while Roshaun Mathurin and Yago Santiago started on the flanks, with Nile John starting in the CAM position. Jamie Donley led the line for Spurs, who got the game underway. An early effort from Maksim Paskotši on the right side of the Billericay penalty area, was blocked by Toby Stevenson. A couple of minutes later, John Ufuah went past Makism Paskotši with the ball, and into the Spurs box, but Marqes Muir did well to block his effort. Spurs took the lead soon after that chance for the home side, as Roshaun Mathurin passed the ball to Yago Santiago on the edge of the Billericay box. He then gave the ball to Kallum Cesay, who gave the ball back to Santiago, who had gone into the penalty area, where he finished low past goalkeeper Harry Seaden, 1-0.

Marqes Muir blocked Montel Agyemang’s volleyed effort from the edge of the Spurs box, before Billericay got an equalising goal. A long ball forward by Marvel Ekpiteta, was headed away by Alfie Dorrington, but the ball came to Bradley Stevenson, whose lobbed, volleyed effort on the right side of the Spurs box, went over Josh Keeley, who had came off his line, and into the goal, 1-1. Muir and Dorrington switched sides in central defence, before the game got back underway. Marcel Lavinier blocked Bradley Stevenson’s effort on the right side of the Spurs box, before Spurs’ goalkeeper Josh Keeley gathered an effort from John Ufuah. Spurs continued to do well, but after Nile John had an effort from distance blocked by Bradley Stevenson, Billericay managed to create a good chance. After receiving John Ufuah’s pass, Bradley Stevenson had an effort well blocked by Marcel Lavinier, inside the Spurs penalty area. Alfie Dorrington then guided a header onto the Billericay goal, after meeting Jamie Bowden’s corner-kick, but the Billericay goalkeeper Harry Seaden did well to keep it out and make the save.

Spurs regained the lead in the 41st minute of the game, after the alert Yago Santiago latched onto a loose pass out from the Billericay defence inside their penalty area. Despite Montel Agyemang making a sliding challenge, Santiago calmly found the back of the goal, with a low effort, 2-1. Montel Agyemang hit an effort over the Spurs goal from distance, before Josh Keeley managed to save John Ufuah’s free-kick effort, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Billericay got the second half underway. Marqes Muir did well to win the ball in defence, before stepping forward with it and passing it to Roshaun Mathurin, who skilfully worked his way into the Billericay box, before hitting an effort over from a tight angle. Josh Keeley saved John Ufuah’s effort from the left side of the Spurs box, before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster and Jeremie Mukendi replaced Marqes Muir and Alfie Dorrington respectively. Roshaun Mathurin had an effort saved from distance. Then, after getting on the ball inside the Spurs box, Billericay’s Trialist B missed the goal with his effort, which went wide of the Spurs goal.

A forward pass from Yago Santiago into the path of Jamie Donley inside the Billericay penalty area, resulted in the centre-forward showing good composure in front of goal, as he finished low into the goal, 3-1. Max Robson replaced Nile John, and then a couple of minutes later Jahziah Linton and George Abbott came on in place of Marcel Lavinier and Jamie Donley respectively. Spurs made it 4-1 soon after, as Jamie Bowden’s cross into the Billericay box, from the left flank, was missed by Jeremie Mukendi, before Maksim Paskotši had an effort saved by goalkeeper Emmanuel Nwosu, but Max Robson read the situation well, and headed the loose ball into the goal, 4-1. Anthony Jeffrey hit an effort wide of the Spurs goal, from the right side of their penalty area, a couple of minutes before Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had an effort blocked inside the Billericay box. The referee sounded his whistle soon after for full-time. Spurs’ Under 21 side will travel to France next week to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen, which begins on Friday.

Player reviews:

• Josh Keeley: The Spurs goalkeeper made some saves, all of which were fairly comfortable saves, on Saturday evening against Billericay. This was Josh Keeley’s second appearance for the Spurs Under 21 side, after he made his debut for them against Bromley, on Wednesday.
• Maksim Paskotši: Versatile defender Maksim Paskotši started the match at right-back, and would later move to central defence during the second half, before finishing the game at right-back. The 19 year old almost scored a goal late on in the game.
• Marqes Muir: I thought that this was a very good and assured performance in central defence from Marqes Muir. He made two important blocks, read the game well, was solidly defensively and I don’t recall him making a single error during his 60 minutes on the pitch.
• Alfie Dorrington: Central defender Alfie Dorrington started the game on the left side of central defence. However, he would later switch with Marqes Muir, to the right side of central defence, during the first half. Dorrington had some good moments in the game, showed his quality on the ball and he almost scored a goal from a header. He completed 60 minutes of the match.
• Marcel Lavinier: Starting the game at left-back, I thought that Marcel Lavinier had a good game in defence. He read the game well.
• Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain started the game as the defensive-midfielder, where he did well, and made some good forward passes. However, he finished the game in central defence, where he looked assured and composed defensively.
• Kallum Cesay: Providing the assist for Yago Santiago’s first goal of the game, defender Kallum Cesay started in central midfield for this game. He impressed with his all-round play, and he also went on some good skilful forward runs with the ball. 
• Roshaun Mathurin: The highly skilful and creative winger used the ball well out on the right flank, brought it forward well with good skill and he was also involved in Spurs’ opening goal of the game.
• Nile John: The Spurs CAM had an effort blocked during his time on the pitch, and he did well with his link-up play on occasions.
• Yago Santiago: My man of the match, see below.
• Jamie Donley: Always looking to drop deep to receive the ball, centre-forward Jamie Donley took his second half goal well, and he showed some good skill on the ball during the game.
• Jeremie Mukendi: The second half substitute played at centre-forward for the final 30 minutes of Saturday’s match. Jeremie Mukendi worked hard off the ball, and he came close to scoring a late goal.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The defensive-midfielder got another important 30 minutes of game time, as he continues to work his way back to full fitness.
• Max Robson: The late substitute scored a headed goal during the second half, to get Spurs’ fourth goal of the game.
• Jahziah Linton: The late substitute went to left-back, on his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side.
• George Abbott: The late substitute went into central midfield after entering the pitch in the 73rd minute of the game. He also made his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side.

My man of the match – Yago Santiago. With two goals and an assist, Yago Santiago had a really good game for Spurs’ Under 21 side against Billericay Town. The 19 year old started the match on the left flank as a winger, and he was confident with the ball, and at going forward with it. Santiago took both of his goals well, and he showed good vision to find Jamie Donley, for his goal during the second half.

Spurs’ Under 21 side faced National League side Bromley, on Wednesday evening at Hayes Lane, in a pre-season friendly. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side won the game 2-0, and it was a good performance from Spurs, against a good Bromley side. Spurs lined-up with Josh Keeley in goal, while Tyrell Ashcroft, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Charlie Sayers and Marcel Lavinier started the game in defence. Captain Jamie Bowden and Kallum Cesay started in central midfield, as Romaine Mundle and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Kion Etete led the line for Spurs, who got the match underway. A back-pass to debutant goalkeeper Josh Keeley, almost ended up going into the Spurs goal, but the goalkeeper managed to recover well, just in time. After receiving Adam Marriott’s pass inside the Spurs box, David Smith had an effort blocked by Charlie Sayers. Then a couple of minutes later Louis Dennis’ cross was met by Adam Marriott, inside the Spurs box, but his headed effort on goal was saved by Josh Keeley.

Bromley had started the match well. A corner-kick which had been delivered into the Spurs box, was headed towards goal by Sam German, to Charlie Nicholas, who then headed the ball wide of the goal. Jamie Bowden was shown a yellow card for a slightly late challenge, before right-back Tyrell Ashcroft had unfortunately picked up an injury early on in the match, which meant that he had to be substituted, with Jamie Donley replacing him. After receiving the ball from Marcel Lavinier, out on the left flank, Kallum Cesay showed some great skill to work his way into the Bromley penalty area, before having an effort saved by the Bromley goalkeeper (trialist A). Marcel Lavinier had an effort from the edge of the Bromley box saved by their goalkeeper, before the impressive Jamie Donley managed to pass the ball to Kion Etete on the edge of the Bromley box. The centre-forward turned with the ball, but his resulting effort was blocked by a defender. Another good run from Kallum Cesay down the left side of the pitch resulted in him finding Kion Etete, who turned with the ball well and then went into the Bromley box, before hitting the ball over the goal.

After reaching a cross from Harry Forster on the right flank, inside the Spurs box, Marcus Sablier hit the ball wide of the Spurs goal, from the left side of their penalty area. Then a couple of minutes later Spurs took the lead, through Romaine Mundle. After Jamie Donley passed the ball to Romaine Mundle on the right side of the pitch, Mundle came inside onto his left foot on the edge of the Bromley penalty area, before curling a powerful effort past the goalkeeper, and into the goal, 1-0. Charlie Nicholas hit an effort over the Spurs goal from distance, before a good Spurs move resulted in Nile John passing the ball to Kion Etete, who then found Romaine Mundle on the right side of the Bromley box. However, Romaine Mundle’s powerful effort went wide of the goal. James Vennings hit an effort over Josh Keeley’s goal from the edge of the Spurs box, before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Bromley got the second half underway. Early on in the second half, Romaine Mundle won a penalty kick for Spurs, after showing some great skill to enter the right side of the Bromley box, before being fouled, resulting in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Mundle stepped up to calmly find the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-0.

A back pass from Charlie Sayers to Josh Keeley resulted in the goalkeeper being unable to properly control the ball, but he recovered really well and showed good feet to skilfully get past a Bromley player, inside his penalty area. A free-kick which was taken by Romaine Mundle, was delivered towards Jamie Donley inside the Bromley box. Donley was able to control the ball well on the right side of the Bromley penalty area, before putting a low cross in front of the Bromley goal, which Kallum Cesay came to close to being able to tap into the goal. Spurs made a number of changes in the 63rd minute of the game, as Kion Etete, Jamie Bowden, Nile John, Romaine Mundle, Charlie Sayers and Marcel Lavinier all left the pitch. Max Robson, Alfie Dorrington, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Maksim Paskotši, Roshaun Mathurin and Jeremie Mukendi came on in their place. Substitute Max Robson came very close to being able to tap the ball into the Bromley goal, following a good cross towards the back post, inside the Bromley box, from Roshaun Mathurin.

Reece Hannam hit an effort on the volley towards the Spurs goal, from the edge of the Spurs box, but Josh Keeley was alert to make the save. Marqes Muir came on to replace Malachi Fagan-Walcott in central defence, and then a headed effort from a Bromley player was cleared away inside the Spurs box. Reece Hannam then delivered a cross into the Spurs box, which a Bromley player was able to receive, but his effort was well saved by Josh Keeley, and Kallum Cesay was then able to clear the ball. After Chris Bush had challenged Jeremie Mukendi, the Bromley defender was shown his second yellow card of the match, meaning that Bromley had to play the remainder of the match with ten men. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time shortly after. Spurs’ final friendly match of pre-season is on Saturday, when they face Billericay Town, before then going to France to compete in the annual Tournoi Européen.

Player reviews:

• Josh Keeley: On his debut for the Spurs Under 21 side, the Republic of Ireland youth international made three saves, including an impressive save late on in the match. The goalkeeper was getting used to the way that Spurs play, and in particular the way that they pass the ball out from the back, and he was put in some difficult situations with his distribution on a couple of occasions. However, he will no doubt get used to that way of playing the game, even more over time.
• Tyrell Ashcroft: Unfortunately the defender and recent signing from Reading, was only able to complete 22 minutes of Wednesday’s friendly match, after he picked up an injury and had to be substituted on 22 minutes. Tyrell Ashcroft started the match at right-back.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: Following his recent involvement with the Spurs first team in South Korea, central defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott had a defensively solid game on his return to the Spurs Under 21 side, alongside Charlie Sayers, during his time on the pitch. 
• Charlie Sayers: Passing the ball out well from defence and doing well defensively, left footed central defender Charlie Sayers completed 63 minutes of the friendly match with Bromley.
• Marcel Lavinier: Marcel Lavinier started the game at left-back, but following Tyrell Ashcroft’s injury, he moved to right-back, where he got up and down the right side of the pitch well.
• Jamie Bowden: The Spurs captain moved around the midfield well as he kept the ball moving in the central areas of the pitch. His experience showed during the game.
• Kallum Cesay: This was a very good performance from Kallum Cesay, who despite starting the game in midfield, he would play the majority of the match at left-back. The Sierra Leone international went on some really good and skilful forward runs with the ball down the left flank, and he linked-up well with Yago Santiago on that side of the pitch. 
• Romaine Mundle: My man of the match, see below.
• Nile John: Starting the game in the CAM role, midfielder Nile John later went into central midfield, along with Jamie Bowden, after Kallum Cesay went to left-back.
• Yago Santiago: The winger impressed with his link-up play on the left side of the pitch. 
• Kion Etete: The centre-forward started the game well, and he did well at linking-up with Jamie Donley and at getting into some good goalscoring positions.
• Jamie Donley: This was a good performance from the second year scholar, who entered the pitch in the 22nd minute. Playing in the CAM role, he got the assist for Romaine Mundle’s first goal, and his defensive work and tracking back was very good.
• Jeremie Mukendi: The forward replaced Kion Etete in the centre-forward role during the second half, and he moved well off the ball.
• Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international went to right-back after entering the pitch during the second half.
• Max Robson: The creative midfielder came close to tapping a cross from Roshaun Mathurin into the goal, not long after being introduced to the match. Robson’s off the ball work was as good as always.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The defensive-midfielder completed almost 30 minutes of the match, as he builds up his fitness, following a knee injury which has kept him out for much of 2022.
• Alfie Dorrington: The central defender replaced Charlie Sayers on the left side of central defence, during the second half.
• Roshaun Mathurin: The highly skilful winger came on in the 63rd minute of Wednesday’s match.
• Marqes Muir: The central defender came on in place of Malachi Fagan-Walcott, in the 72nd minute of the game.

My man of the match – Romaine Mundle. The Spurs player started the match as a winger on the right flank, and every time that he received the ball he would look to take on the Bromley left-back for skill. The 19 year old took his first goal really well, before then winning a penalty during the second half, and also scoring from it.