Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Arsenal at Meadow Park, on Friday evening, in a Premier League 2 fixture. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the match 2-1, but it was a game in which they deserved to get something from, such was the quality of their response to going 2-0 down. However, the sending off of Matthew Craig during the second half, made it that bit too difficult for Spurs to get something out of the game. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal for Spurs, while Dermi Lusala, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier started in defence. Matthew Craig and Harvey White teamed up in central-midfield, while J’Neil Bennett and Romaine Mundle started out on the flanks, and Alfie Devine started in the CAM role. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. It was Spurs who got the match underway. Joshua Oluwayemi saved Omari Giraud-Hutchinson’s early effort. A couple of minutes later and after some good skill from Romaine Mundle, Harvey White had an effort blocked inside the Arsenal box. Marcel Lavinier then had an effort blocked inside the Arsenal penalty area, before Arsenal took the lead.

After Marqes Muir dribbled the ball out from defence, he was met by an Arsenal player who managed to win the ball from him. Mika Bierith had the ball played into his feet, and was through on goal inside the Spurs box, with only the goalkeeper to beat. However, after being met by the outrushing Oluwayemi (the Spurs goalkeeper seemed to catch the Denmark youth international), Bierith passed the ball to Marcelo Flores, who tapped the ball into the empty net, 0-1. Arsenal doubled their lead less than seven minutes later. J’Neil Bennett’s pass back to Oluwayemi was latched onto by Giraud-Hutchinson, who passed the ball to Flores, down the left side of the Spurs box. Flores crossed the ball into the centre of the box, but unfortunately Tobi Omole, who was attempting to slide in to clear the ball, ended up putting the ball past Oluwayemi and into the back of the goal, 0-2. Spurs responded well though, and after Alfie Devine picked the ball up just inside his own half, the midfielder went on a surging forward run, all the way into the Arsenal box, before showing good composure and finishing low and into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 1-2.

Soon after the game got started again, a well taken corner-kick by Harvey White came to J’Neil Bennett inside the Spurs box, but his back-heeled effort came to Dane Scarlett, who then also had an effort blocked. After receiving the ball on the edge of the Arsenal box, Devine ran into the Arsenal box before striking the base of the right hand post, as he came very close to getting Spurs level. Marqes Muir defended well to stop Bierith getting forward down the right flank, and then a matter of minutes later Muir headed an effort just wide from a Harvey White free-kick. After holding on well to the ball inside the Arsenal box, Dane Scarlett was able to get the ball to Bennett, but his effort was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk. Matthew Craig was shown a yellow card shortly after, before Oluwayemi did well to gather a cross into the Spurs box from the left from Miguel Azeez, at the second opportunity. Another great forward run from Devine, this time down the right side of the Arsenal penalty area, didn’t come to much on this occasion, because of some good defending from the home side. 

Dane Scarlett received a pass from Devine inside the Arsenal box, just before half-time. However, Scarlett’s deflected effort was tipped behind by Graczyk, before Devine glanced a headed effort just wide from the resulting Harvey White corner-kick, just before the referee sounded his whistle for half-time. Spurs made two changes for the second half, as Yago Santiago replaced Marqes Muir, and Kallum Cesay replaced Dermi Lusala, as Matthew Craig went to central-defence. Arsenal got the game back underway, and early on in the half Marcelo Flores came close to latching onto a cross from the right, at the back post of the Spurs box. After receiving Devine’s pass out on the right flank, J’Neil Bennett hit an effort across the Arsenal goal. Then a couple of moments later Romaine Mundle did really well to work his way into the Arsenal box, before hitting the crossbar with a powerful effort. Dane Scarlett headed wide Harvey White’s free-kick from the right flank. Mundle hit an effort over inside the Arsenal box, and then moments later Harvey White had a good effort from the edge of the penalty area saved by Graczyk.

Oluwayemi did well to save with his feet from James Olayinka’s low effort inside the Spurs box, as the game continued to be played at a great pace. Oluwayemi then saved Giraud-Hutchinson’s effort from inside his penalty area. After receiving Devine’s pass on the edge of the Arsenal box, Harvey White saw his powerful effort on goal tipped behind by Hubert Graczyk. From the resulting Harvey White corner- kick, Tobi Omole’s headed effort on goal was tipped over well by Graczyk. Olayinka’s through-ball pass to Marcelo Flores saw the Arsenal player through on goal, and inside the Spurs box. However, the outrushing Oluwayemi managed to put Flores off, and his effort went over the goal. Bennett then had an effort blocked, before Mundle cut inside onto his right foot inside the Arsenal box, before curling an effort wide of the goal. A great forward run from Giraud-Hutchinson, resulted in the Arsenal winger passing the ball to Marcelo Flores inside the Spurs box, but his effort was saved by Oluwayemi.

Dane Scarlett headed Marcel Lavinier’s cross wide. Then a couple of minutes later a back pass from Arsenal defender Mazeed Ogungbo was latched onto inside the Arsenal box by Scarlett, but his powerful effort on goal was excellently cleared off the line by Alex Kirk. After Matthew Craig fouled Mika Bierith, who was through on goal, the Spurs midfielder was sent off, after being shown his second yellow card of the game. Flores had a low effort from the edge of the Spurs box saved by Oluwayemi. Miguel Azeez had an effort saved by Joshua Oluwayemi, who then almost gave the ball straight to Bierith, but was able to recover the ball well and just in time. Max Robson then replaced J’Neil Bennett late on in the game. Oluwayemi saved yet another effort on goal, before Mika Bierith hit an effort wide on the turn, inside the Spurs box. The referee sounded his whistle for full-time a couple of minutes later. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 game is away to Liverpool, next weekend.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: I thought that the Spurs goalkeeper had a really strong game, making a really good number of good saves, to keep Spurs in the match.
• Dermi Lusala: The right-back completed the first half of the game, before being substituted at half-time.
• Marqes Muir: Starting the match on the right side of central-defence, the first year professional was clearly disappointed at having the ball taken off of him by an Arsenal player, which led to the home side taking the lead. However, Muir did have some good moments in defence, before being substituted at half-time.
• Tobi Omole: The former Arsenal Academy player distributed the ball out well from the back, and also made some important defensive interventions. He recovered well after scoring an unfortunate first half own goal.
• Marcel Lavinier: I thought that at left-back, Marcel Lavinier had a strong game and did well for the team. The 21 year old went on some good forward runs with the ball. 
• Matthew Craig: The midfielder started the game just behind Harvey White, in central-midfield. Very busy in midfield during the first half, Craig started the second half on the right side of central-defence, but was dismissed on 73 minutes, after being shown a second yellow card.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain put in an assertive performance in midfield, was creative with the ball and won a number of challenges in midfield. The 20 year old had a good game on his return to the Under 23 side, and the quality of his set-pieces were as always very good.
• J’Neil Bennett: Starting out on the right flank, J’Neil Bennett only swapped flanks with Romaine Mundle once during his time on the pitch. Bennett tried his luck on goal a number of times, and tracked back well to help the defence.
• Alfie Devine: My man of the match, see below.
• Romaine Mundle: This was a very good performance from Romaine Mundle out on the left flank. The 18 year old winger went on some excellent skilful and unpredictable runs with the ball during the game, and came very close to scoring a goal on one occasion during the second half.
• Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward moved well off the ball, and held the ball up well. Scarlett came very close to getting Spurs level during the second half, when he had an effort cleared off the line.
• Yago Santiago: The midfielder came on at half-time, and he started the second half just behind centre-forward Dane Scarlett. Santiago sometimes went out to the left flank to receive the ball.
• Kallum Cesay: The right-back replaced Dermi Lusala at half-time, at right-back. Cesay had to defend against the talented Marcelo Flores down his side of the pitch.
• Max Robson: The midfielder came on to replace J’Neil Bennett late on in the game, and he worked well off the ball during his short time on the pitch.

My man of the match: Alfie Devine. This was a tireless performance from the midfielder and second year scholar, as he played a big part in helping Spurs get back into the game, after going 2-0 down inside the opening 24 minutes. Starting the game behind centre-forward Dane Scarlett, Devine was constantly being inventive with the ball, making some really clever runs off it and scoring a really good goal during the first half, after going on a long run with the ball. Devine went on a number of impressive surging runs with the ball during the first half. He knew when to make those runs, but also when to drop deep off the ball to make space for himself to receive the ball. He could have scored a hat-trick against Arsenal on another day, but this was a very good performance from Alfie, who worked really well for the team throughout the match, even when Spurs were reduced to ten men and he had to do a slightly different role on the pitch.

Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Leeds United, in a Premier League 2 fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday evening. Wayne Burnett’s side recorded a 1-1 draw with Leeds, and in the end it was probably a fair result. Spurs, who were missing a number of regular starters, lined-up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while a back four consisting of trialist Kwaku Oduroh, Marqes Muir, Charlie Sayers and Dermi Lusala started in-front of the Spurs goalkeeper. Matthew Craig and Spurs captain Marcel Lavinier started in central-midfield, with Yago Santiago and Romaine Mundle starting out on the flanks, either side of CAM J’Neil Bennett. Max Robson started at centre-forward for Spurs. Leeds got the game underway in North London, but it was Spurs who managed to create the first real chance of the game. After Matthew Craig passed the ball to Yago Santiago, the former Celta Vigo player delivered a low cross into the centre of the Leeds box, as Max Robson came so close to making contact with the ball.

Santiago showed some good skill to enter the Leeds United penalty area before passing the ball to J’Neil Bennett, whose effort on the turn, went just wide of the Leeds goal. A couple of minutes later a long ball over the top of the Spurs defence resulted in defender Marqes Muir slipping, as Max Dean received the ball through on goal, inside the Spurs box. However, Oluwayemi made a good save with his legs, to stop Dean from giving Leeds the lead. Nohan Kenneh headed an effort wide from Sam Greenwood’s resulting corner-kick, before a low cross into the Spurs box from Amari Miller to Max Dean, resulted in Dean seeing his effort pushed behind by Oluwayemi. Romaine Mundle had an effort blocked, after Max Robson had initially done really well to win the ball to allow Spurs to go forward. Marqes Muir then blocked Charlie Allen’s effort, before a one-two between J’Neil Bennett and Yago Santiago, resulted in the former having a curling effort saved by Leeds goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson.

J’Neil Bennett received a yellow card, before Nohan Kenneh headed an effort just wide from Stuart McKinstry’s corner-kick, in what turned out to be the final chance of the first half. Spurs got the second half underway. J’Neil Bennett just missed making contact with Marcel Lavinier’s cross inside the Leeds box, before Yago Santiago had an effort blocked inside the penalty area. However, shortly after Spurs conceded a penalty, after Marqes Muir barged Leeds forward Max Dean to the floor inside the Spurs penalty area. Up stepped Sam Greenwood, who placed the ball to the right of Joshua Oluwayemi, who went the wrong way, 0-1. Robson once again came close to guiding the ball home from close range. This time just missing Santiago’s low cross into the Leeds box. Dermi Lusala had an effort from distance saved by Kristoffer Klaesson, before Marcel Lavinier had an effort blocked inside the Leeds box, after going on a good forward run with the ball. Dermi Lusala received a yellow card for making a foul on a Leeds player, and then Spurs made their first change of ten game, as Jaden Williams replaced Yago Santiago.

Leeds United substitute Sean McGurk had an effort blocked on the edge of the Spurs box, before Spurs made their second change of the game. As Jez Davies came on to replace the hardworking Max Robson. After Sam Greenwood passed the ball to Amari Miller on the left side of the Spurs box, the former Birmingham City player hit a good effort on goal, which Spurs goalkeeper Joshua Oluwayemi managed to tip behind. Marqes Muir blocked yet another Leeds effort well, and then Spurs made their final change of the game, as Dante Cassanova came on to replace Dermi Lusala. After Spurs won a free-kick out on the left flank, a really good number of the Spurs players made their way into the Leeds penalty area. A fine ball into the Leeds box from Romaine Mundle saw second year scholar Jez Davies get on the ball in the air, to head home a powerful effort past Kristoffer Klaesson, 1-1. Spurs almost won the game late on, after Bennett received Mundle’s pass down the right side of the Leeds box. However, Bennett’s powerful effort hit the side-netting of Klaesson’s goal.

This was a good and hardworking team performance from a group of Spurs players who haven’t played together that much this season. Our next Premier League 2 game is away to Arsenal, this Friday evening at Meadow Park.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made three impressive and important saves against Leeds United, as he had a strong game for Spurs in goal. 
• Kwaku Oduroh: The trialist from Manchester City, had a steady game at right-back, I thought. Oduroh (19) was defending against the talented Amari Miller, during the game.
• Marqes Muir: I thought that apart from conceding a second half penalty for a foul on Max Dean, which he would have obviously been very disappointed about, that centre-half Marqes Muir had a good game in defence, alongside Charlie Sayers. It was the first time in a competitive game that both Muir and Sayers had teamed up together in central-defence. Marqes made some good blocks, and he once again showed his quality on the ball. 
• Charlie Sayers: My man of the match, see below.
• Dermi Lusala: The left-back for the match got forward down Spurs’ left flank as he showed good skill with the ball, in what was only his third competitive appearance for the Spurs Under 23 side this season.
• Matthew Craig: Very involved in the game in midfield, Matthew Craig was involved a lot on the ball and he liked to pass it forward, while also working hard off the ball.
• Marcel Lavinier: The Spurs captain interestingly played in central-midfield, and I thought that he had a fine game in that new role. Lavinier used the ball well and went on some good forward runs with the ball.
• Yago Santiago: Playing out on the right flank, Yago Santiago showed good skill and determination with the ball, and he delivered some good crosses into the Leeds penalty area.
• J’Neil Bennett: One of Spurs’ best players against Leeds, winger J’Neil Bennett played in a more central role on Monday. He was involved a lot in the play, and his surging forward runs with the ball caused problems for the Leeds defence, and Bennett was unlucky not to get a goal against them.
• Romaine Mundle: I thought that the left winger for the game grew into the match, and got better and better as it went on. Mundle delivered a great ball into the box from a late free-kick to assist the equaliser from Jez Davies.
• Max Robson: Without a recognised centre-forward for the game on Monday evening, first year professional Max Robson had for the most part the job of leading the line. Determined and always willing to make runs into the Leeds box, but also dropping deep to collect the ball on occasions as well. Robson won the ball off Leeds a good number of times, and his work-rate was once again very good.
• Jaden Williams: The first year scholar came on as a substitute during the second half.
• Jez Davies: The late second half substitute came on to make his Premier League 2 debut, and he scored the equaliser for Spurs with a fine headed goal.
• Dante Cassanova: The midfielder came on for the final minutes of the game, to make his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 23 side.

My man of the match: Charlie Sayers. On his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 23 side, I thought that former Southend United player Charlie Sayers had a really good game in central-defence for Spurs. The 17 year old second year scholar who has been a regular for the Spurs Under 18 side since joining the club, had a very solid game defensively against Leeds, and I certainly don’t remember him making a single error during the game. Sayers impressed with his distribution from defence, and Spurs’ head-coach Wayne Burnett was encouraging him to make passes down the left side of the pitch.

Spurs’ Under 23 side welcomed south London club Crystal Palace to Hotspur Way, on Monday afternoon, for their latest Premier League 2 game. Wayne Burnett’s Spurs side lost the match 4-1, and the away side Crystal Palace deserved to win today. Spurs lined-up with Joshua Oluwayemi in goal, while a defence of Dermi Lusala, Marqes Muir, captain Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Marcel Lavinier, started in front of the Spurs goalkeeper. Matthew Craig and Max Robson started in central-midfield, while J’Neil Bennett and Yago Santiago started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. Crystal Palace got the game underway, and it was the away side who took an early lead. After latching onto a loose ball on the edge of the Spurs penalty area, Scott Banks hit an unstoppable effort into the top left hand corner of the Spurs goal, 0-1. Malachi Fagan-Walcott blocked Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s effort inside the Spurs box, not long after. Max Robson narrowly missed making contact with Dane Scarlett’s cross inside the Crystal Palace box, before Spurs midfielder Matthew Craig received a yellow card after conceding a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box.

Scott Banks stepped up to take the resulting free-kick, and his curling effort went into the Spurs goal, after hitting the post, 0-2. Spurs responded well though, and after Dane Scarlett found the run of Alfie Devine with a nice pass. Devine continued with the ball down the right side of the Crystal Palace penalty area, before hitting a low effort towards the goal, which went in off the left hand post, 1-2. Scott Banks headed wide from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s cross, before Matthew Craig had an effort saved from distance. Jack Wells Morrison saw his volleyed effort on goal, take a deflection off of John-Kymani Gordon and go wide, and then a promising ball over the top of the Crystal Palace defence from Dermi Lusala, resulted in Dane Scarlett trying to get to the ball. Scarlett managed to get onto the ball but his looping effort was headed away by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Joe Whitworth. After receiving the ball out on the right flank from Dermi Lusala, J’Neil Bennett cut inside onto his left foot and hit Joe Whitworth’s left hand post. From a cross on the right flank, John-Kymani Gordon tested Oluwayemi, with a good headed effort on goal. However, the Spurs goalkeeper tipped the ball over his crossbar.

A cross from Marcel Lavinier was volleyed back into the Crystal Palace box by Dermi Lusala, but Max Robson, who met the ball, had his headed effort on goal saved by Whitworth. Nya Kirby then headed wide Omotayo Adaramola’s cross wide of the Spurs goal, in what turned out to be the final chance of the first half. Spurs got the second half underway. J’Neil Bennett hit an effort over from the edge of the Crystal Palace box, before Scott Banks hit an effort narrowly wide at the other end of the pitch. Crystal Palace regained their two goal lead not long after, as former Spurs Academy player Nya Kirby received the ball inside the Spurs box. Kirby hit a powerful effort towards Oluwayemi’s goal, and although the Spurs goalkeeper managed to get a hand on the ball, he was unable to keep it out of the goal, 1-3. Spurs tried to respond again, as Dermi Lusala’s cross was brought down inside the Crystal Palace box by Dane Scarlett. However, Max Robson managed to find the ball, but his effort went over the Crystal Palace goal. Malachi Fagan-Walcott blocked behind an effort from Nya Kirby, before Marqes Muir headed clear an effort from Daniel Quick. 

Dermi Lusala received a yellow card after conceding a free-kick on the edge of the Spurs box. Scott Banks stepped up to curl his resulting effort onto Joshua Oluwayemi’s crossbar. However, the ball then came to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who finished from close range. Spurs made a double substitution, as Jaden Williams and Rio Kyerematen came on to replace Max Robson and Dane Scarlett, respectively. There wasn’t much more to report on during the remainder of the game, but a red card was shown to Spurs defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott, late on in the match, for an off the ball incident. Spurs’ next Premier League 2 game is away to Chelsea, on the 18th of February.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made a good save to stop John-Kymani Gordon from scoring a first half goal. However, Oluwayemi was clearly frustrated that he was unable to stop Crystal Palace’s third goal of the game, after managing to get a hand on the ball, from Nya Kirby’s effort.
• Dermi Lusala: The right-back had a lot of work to do to defend down the right side of the pitch, today. Lusala did get forward well though, to help out J’Neil Bennett.
• Marqes Muir: The right sided centre-half teamed up with Malachi Fagan-Walcott in central-defence. Muir had a lot of defending to do, and although this was only his second consecutive start for the first time in a while, I thought that overall he did a good job defensively speaking. He also showed good quality on the ball.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: The Spurs captain and left sided centre-half for the game, like Marqes Muir, had a lot of defending to do today against the talented Crystal Palace forwards. Fagan-Walcott will however, miss the next three Spurs Under 23 matches, after being shown a late red card.
• Marcel Lavinier: The left-back was particularly good going forward today, and he was often making good forward runs off the ball.
• Matthew Craig: One of Spurs’ most impressive performers on Monday, midfielder Matthew Craig had a strong game alongside Max Robson, in my opinion. He used the ball well, and worked hard for the team.
• Max Robson: This was midfielder Max Robson’s first start in a competitive game of football for a very long time. And the player who was playing in central-midfield today, did well in my opinion. Robson made some good runs off the ball, and wasn’t that far away from managing to score a goal. He pressed the Crystal Palace players really well, and his off the ball work didn’t go unnoticed.
• J’Neil Bennett: Playing out on the right flank as a winger, J’Neil Bennett didn’t see lots of the ball. However, he did manage to hit the post during the first half, with a good effort.
• Alfie Devine: My man of the match, see below.
• Yago Santiago: Playing as a left-winger, again today, Yago Santiago did go on some good forward runs with the ball as the game went on.
• Dane Scarlett: The Spurs centre-forward had a good first half. He made some good runs off the Crystal Palace defenders, set-up Alfie Devine’s goal with a good pass, and he worked hard throughout the game.
• Rio Kyerematen: Making his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 23 side as a second half substitute, midfielder Rio Kyerematen played in central-midfield.
• Jaden Williams: Replacing Dane Scarlett at centre-forward, first year scholar Jaden Williams worked hard after being introduced during the second half. He has been playing well for the Spurs Under 18 side so far this season.

My man of the match: Alfie Devine. The second year scholar impressed with his vision with the ball, off the ball running and all round play. Devine played as a CAM, and he scored a really well taken goal during the first half. The former Wigan Athletic player did show his quality throughout the game, and he was always available to receive the ball, as he tried to be inventive with it.