Spurs’ Under 23 side faced Manchester United at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday, in the Premier League 2. Wayne Burnett’s side won the match 1-0, thanks to a very late winner from Dilan Markanday. Spurs lined-up with Thimothée Lo-Tutala in goal, while the defence included Kallum Cesay, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier. Captain Harvey White and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster started in central midfield, and Jack Clarke and Dilan Markanday started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. Manchester United got the game underway, but an early chance for Spurs saw Dilan Markanday hit an effort just wide from Dane Scarlett’s cross from the right flank. Marcel Lavinier then tested Manchester United goalkeeper Matej Kovar from the edge of the Manchester United penalty area, before Markanday had a low effort saved from the left. Thimothée Lo-Tutala saved Anthony Elanga’s effort, and then a couple of moments later Tobi Omole blocked an effort from Amad Diallo. After latching onto a loose ball Nile John hit an effort over the Manchester United goal, and then at the other end of the pitch Thimothée Lo-Tutala came out of his goal to make a challenge (from where I was it seemed to be inside his penalty area) and fouled Shola Shoretire, conceding a free-kick for the away side.

After being shown a yellow card Lo-Tutala saved Shoretire’s resulting free-kick, before Nile John blocked Isak Hansen-Aarøen’s effort. After the Manchester United players looked for a penalty from a supposed handball from Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Lo-Tutala made a save from Joe Hugill’s effort, before Shola Shoretire hit the post from inside the Spurs box. Lyons-Foster blocked Hansen-Aarøen’s effort, and then Fagan-Walcott blocked Hugill’s effort well. The unmarked Teden Mengi volleyed over Amad Diallo’s corner-kick, as Manchester United continued to play well. Lyons-Foster then made a good challenge on Anthony Elanga inside the Spurs box, before at the other end of the pitch John had an effort blocked, before then testing Matej Kovar in the Manchester United goal, in what was the final effort of the half. Spurs got the second half underway, and early on in the half Lo-Tutala saved well from Hansen-Aarøen’s effort, before Dane Scarlett headed wide from Harvey White’s corner-kick. Shortly afterwards Markanday received a pass from Harvey White inside the away team’s box, but his effort was well saved by the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Charlie Wellens volleyed an effort wide from distance, before Amad Diallo saw his effort on goal take a deflection off of Harvey White, before being saved by Lo-Tutala. Nile John hit an effort narrowly wide of the Manchester United goal, before at the other end of the pitch the newly introduced Charlie McNeill hit the side-netting of the Spurs goal. Yago Santiago came on for Jack Clarke, in what was Spurs’ first change of the game. After receiving Markanday’s pass, John had an effort saved from Kovar, before the Manchester United goalkeeper tipped over an effort from Harvey White. Romaine Mundle made his return from injury to replace Tobi Omole, and then a couple of minutes later Markanday won a free-kick on the edge of the Manchester United box, which Harvey White hit over the goal. Michael Craig then came on to replace Nile John in midfield, before Scarlett headed over Mundle’s cross. Then in the 92nd minute of the game Spurs took a deserved lead through their best player on the day – Dilan Markanday. Santiago’s low pass tried to be cleared by a Manchester United defender, but the ball came nicely to Markanday inside the away team’s box. Markanday showed good composure to powerfully hit a low effort past Kovar, and into the back of the goal, 1-0.

Björn Hardley headed over Amad Diallo’s corner-kick, before Yago Santiago had an effort blocked inside the Manchester United box, in what was the final piece of action of the game. This was another very good and deserve win for Spurs, who will play Brighton away in their next and final league game before the upcoming international break.

Player reviews:

• Thimothée Lo-Tutala: The Spurs goalkeeper made a number of good saves for Spurs on Saturday, in what was a good performance from the France Under 19 international. 
• Kallum Cesay: I thought that the right-back defended well against the talented Anthony Elanga, down Spurs’ right flank.
• Malachi Fagan-Walcott: The right sided centre-half made an important block in the first half, and overall I thought that he defended solidly alongside Tobi Omole in central defence.
• Tobi Omole: The left sided centre-half had a strong game alongside Malachi Fagan-Walcott, during his time on the pitch against Manchester United.
• Marcel Lavinier: I thought that the full-back defended solidly on Saturday and also got forward well on occasions as well.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster had a difficult job to do in midfield, as Manchester United focused a lot on trying to build from midfield, and also trying to be better and more influential than us in that area of the pitch. However, I thought that Harvey White and Brooklyn Lyons-Foster more than held their own in the centre of the pitch, and they complimented each other well. 
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: Making some good challenges and interceptions in midfield alongside Harvey White, Brooklyn Lyons-Foster’s overall reading of the game was good.
• Jack Clarke: The winger who switched flanks with Dilan Markanday during the second half was very direct with the ball out in the wide positions.
• Nile John: The CAM tried his luck on goal on numerous occasions, and he was very direct with the ball when going forward with it, and showed good skill as well. 
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Dane Scarlett: The second year scholar led the line well for Spurs and worked very hard off the ball. His movement off the ball was as good as always.
• Yago Santiago: The second half substitute helped to set-up Dilan Markanday’s winner, and he made a good impression on the game after he came on.
• Romaine Mundle: The winger made his return from injury as he came on to play the final 12 minutes of normal time of the game.
• Michael Craig: N/A.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. The 20 year old winger really grew into Saturday’s game, and after switching flanks with Jack Clarke he really started to cause Manchester United a lot of problems (he was good before switching flanks). Markanday took his goal really well again, and his directness and excellent skill on the ball was very impressive. He really liked to cut inside onto his favoured left foot after switching onto the right flank during the second half.

Spurs’ Under 23 side returned to Premier League 2 action on Monday evening, when Wayne Burnett’s side played West Ham United, at Stevenage’s Lamex Stadium. Spurs lost what was a very lively match 4-3. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal, while a back four consisting of Marcel Lavinier, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Kallum Cesay started in front of him. Matthew Craig and Spurs’ captain Harvey White started in midfield, and Jack Clarke and Dilan Markanday started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Nile John. Alfie Devine led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway, but it was the visitors who started the game better. After Tobi Omole cleared Armstrong Okoflex’s cross early on in the game, West Ham managed their first goal attempt. Pierre Ekwah headed behind Harrison Ashby’s corner-kick, with it taking a deflection on the way. After initially saving well from Okoflex’s low effort, Oluwayemi could do nothing to stop Pierre Ekwah from finding the top left hand corner of the goal in emphatic fashion from distance, moments later, 0-1. Spurs tried to respond. Harvey White’s through-ball pass allowed Jack Clarke to run forward with the ball towards the edge of the West Ham box. Clarke was dispossessed by a West Ham defender, but the ball came to Nile John, who powerfully found the inside netting of the bottom left hand corner of the West Ham goal, 1-1.

In the 16th minute of the game Spurs managed to take the lead, as Alfie Devine latched onto Nile John’s well weighted through-ball pass, before continuing forward, striking the inside left post, with the ball then rebounding into the goal, 2-1. Harvey White then blocked a low effort on goal from inside the Spurs box, before Dilan Markanday hit over a Harvey White corner-kick from close range inside the West Ham box. The lively start to the game continued, and after Daniel Chesters received Keenan Forson’s pass, the winger continued forward before powerfully finding the back of the Spurs goal, with a low effort. Things got even better for West Ham not long afterwards, as Spurs defender Marqes Muir accidentally turned Harrison Ashby’s cross from the right flank, into his own goal, 2-3. After cutting inside from the left flank onto his right foot, Kallum Cesay tried his luck on goal, but West Ham goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi made a good save. Armstrong Okoflex’s side-footed effort from distance went narrowly wide, before at the other end of the pitch Markanday had an effort blocked. Jack Clarke hit a promising effort across the face of the West Ham goal, before the same Spurs player ended up being fouled inside the West Ham penalty area a couple of moments later, resulting in a penalty kick. Nile John stepped up to powerfully find the back of the net, 3-3.

Okoflex put a low cross just behind at Oluwayemi’s back post, and then a couple of minutes later Harvey White had an effort saved by Hegyi, in what was the final action from the first half. West Ham got the second half underway, and an early chance for Sonny Perkins ended in the centre-forward hitting an effort just wide of the Spurs goal. Lavinier managed to cut out a promising West Ham pass inside the Spurs box, and then Tobi Omole was adjudged by the referee to have fouled Keenan Forson inside the penalty area. Up stepped Armstrong Okoflex to powerfully side-foot the ball past Oluwayemi in the Spurs goal, 3-4. Oluwayemi gathered an effort on goal before Spurs made a double substitution, as Matthew Craig and Alfie Devine were replaced by Yago Santiago and Michael Craig. Keenan Forson struck the Spurs crossbar with an effort, and then Brooklyn Lyons-Foster came onto replace Marcel Lavinier at right-back. Nile John hit two efforts wide in quick succession, before Kallum Cesay became the first Spurs player to receive a yellow card during the game. Harvey White hit a free-kick into the West Ham wall, and then at the other end of the pitch substitute Thierry Nevers hit a bicycle-kick just over Oluwayemi’s goal. Dilan Markanday tried to get an equaliser for Spurs in second half additional time, but he couldn’t keep his effort on target. The final score was Spurs 3-4 West Ham. Spurs will travel up to Manchester to play Manchester City in their next Premier League 2 game, which is on Saturday.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent any of West Ham’s four goals from going in. Oluwayemi made a couple of good saves during the match. 
• Marcel Lavinier: The right-back cut out two good and promising chances for West Ham, during his time on the pitch. 
• Marqes Muir: The right-sided centre-half started alongside Tobi Omole in central defence, and Marqes Muir was good in the air throughout the match.
• Tobi Omole: The central-defender started as a left-sided centre-half against West Ham. Omole went down injured during the second half, but was fine to continue afterwards.
• Kallum Cesay: Going on some good runs down the left flank, full-back Kallum Cesay had a good effort saved during the first half.
• Matthew Craig: The deepest of the two central midfielders patrolled the midfield alongside Harvey White.
• Harvey White: Delivering some good corner-kicks into the West Ham box, midfielder Harvey White also made some good forward runs off the ball.
• Jack Clarke: The winger started the match out on the right flank, but later switched flanks with Dilan Markanday during the second half. Clarke won the first half penalty which Nile John scored.
• Nile John: My man of the match, see below.
• Dilan Markanday: The winger may not have had a lot of the ball against West Ham, but on another day he could have had a goal or two. He grew into the game as it went on.
• Alfie Devine: Playing as a centre-forward Alfie Devine had in my opinion another good game. Making some good runs off the ball, Devine took his first half goal really well – it was his sixth league goal of the season.
• Michael Craig: The midfielder and second half substitute often got forward during his time on the pitch.
• Yago Santiago: The second half substitute played as a centre-forward.
• Brooklyn Lyons-Foster: The late substitute replaced Marcel Lavinier at right-back.

My man of the match: Nile John. Always looking to receive the ball, CAM Nile John was without doubt Spurs’ most influential player against West Ham. John scored two well taken goals, and also registered an assist. The midfielder was always looking to play the ball forward and take players on.

Spurs’ Under 23 side were involved in a thrilling match against Crystal Palace, at the South London club’s training ground on Friday afternoon. Wayne Burnett’s side lost the match 4-3, although they had fought back from being 3-0 down, to get back to 3-3 during the second half. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal for Spurs, while a back four consisting of Matthew Craig, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Kallum Cesay lined up in front of him. Captain Harvey White and Nile John started in central midfield, and Jack Clarke and Dilan Markanday started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Yago Santiago led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game underway, but it didn’t start well for Spurs. Crystal Palace took the lead after just five minutes, through defender Jay Rich-Baghuelou. After a corner kick came to Jesuran Rak-Sakyi just inside the Spurs box, he looped it back into the centre of the penalty area, where he found Rich-Baghuelou, who got up well to head the ball past Oluwayemi, who managed to get a hand on the ball and into the back of the net, 0-1. Kallum Cesay had an effort from the edge of the Crystal Palace box saved, before the home side doubled their advantage. After receiving the ball on the right flank Jesuran Rak-Sakyi went into the Spurs box before going to the byline and then cutting back inside and finding the inside left hand corner of the goal, 0-2.

A powerful effort from Markanday inside the Crystal Palace box was well saved by Crystal Palace goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, before the ball came to Clarke, whose effort was cleared onto the post by defender Jack Wells-Morrison. Oluwayemi did well to tip over Jesuran Rak-Sakyi’s effort over his goal, before Rob Street headed over a corner kick from Scott Banks, and then a couple of minutes later Devine tracked back to make an excellent challenge on Street inside the Spurs box. Crystal Palace made it 3-0 in the 24th minute of the game. After winning the ball off of Marqes Muir in defence Rob Street took the ball into the Spurs box before then curling the ball in off the post, and into the the right hand corner of the goal. David Omilabu whipped a promising ball across the face of the Spurs goal, but Spurs tried to respond. After Clarke had won a free-kick in a promising position, Harvey White had a curling effort saved by Joe Whitworth. Then Kallum Cesay had a headed effort blocked by Sean Robertson inside the Crystal Palace box. Harvey White had a free-kick from the the right flank gathered by Joe Whitworth, before at the other end of the pitch Joshua Oluwayemi saved really well with his feet from a low effort from Scott Banks inside the Spurs box. Markanday was beginning to really grow into the game, and he had an effort saved by Whitworth, before helping to start the move which led to Spurs getting a goal back.

Markanday passed the ball to Santiago on the left flank, he then entered the Crystal Palace box, and showed some great skill before seeing his cross dropped by Whitworth. Then Devine managed to just get a foot on the ball and direct it into the goal, although Crystal Palace defender Reece Hannam may well have got the final touch on the ball. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time soon afterwards. Crystal Palace got the second half underway and it was the home team who had the first chance of the goal. Jake O’Brien’s header from a corner kick was saved by Oluwayemi. Nile John then had an effort blocked, before Alfie Devine’s deflected effort from just outside the Crystal Palace box went just wide of the goal. Hannam blocked behind Markanday’s shot inside the Crystal Palace box, and then as Spurs continued to play well Devine headed Harvey White’s corner kick towards goal, but Whitworth was able to save. Nile John’s effort on goal was saved before Dilan Markanday got Spurs’ second goal of the game. The Spurs winger had a shot blocked before managing to latch onto the loose ball inside the Crystal Palace box. He then powerfully hit the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 2-3. Less than two minutes later Spurs got an equaliser. Santiago passed the ball to Markanday out on the right flank, he then skilfully worked his way into the Crystal Palace box, before cutting the ball back for Kallum Cesay on the edge of the box. Cesay’s side footed first time effort on his right foot found the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 3-3.

After receiving Santiago’s pass inside the Crystal Palace box Nile John had a low effort saved by Whitworth. A Crystal Palace free-kick in a really promising position on the edge of the Spurs box, resulted in Scott Banks stepping up to take it. The midfielder curled a really good effort up and over the Spurs wall and into the top right hand corner of Oluwayemi’s goal, 3-4. An excellent challenge by Jay Rich-Baghuelou on Markanday inside the Crystal Palace box stopped Spurs from drawing level again. At the other end of the pitch Markanday cleared well from a Crystal Palace cross. John was shown a yellow card for stopping a Crystal Palace counter attack, and then Michael Craig came on to replace Jack Clarke. After latching onto a through-ball from Scott Banks, Rob Street hit the ball over the Spurs goal, after having been through on goal. Markanday had a shot blocked inside the Crystal Palace box, before Crystal Palace had a chance to extend their lead. A headed effort was cleared off the line, after Oluwayemi was unable to gather a corner kick. Yago Santiago then won a free-kick on the edge of the Crystal Palace box, which Harvey White curled narrowly over. Maksim Paskotši came on to replace Yago Santiago for the latter stages of the game. Markanday had another shot blocked inside the Crystal Palace box, before Cesay headed wide from a cross from the 20 year old. The referee then sounded his whistle a couple of minutes later. Spurs’ next game at this level is on the 18th of October, against West Ham United in the Premier League 2.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: The Spurs goalkeeper made a decent number of saves, including a very good and impressive one with his feet during the first half.
• Matthew Craig: The right-back often stayed deep to help out the defence, and he didn’t often get forward too much during the game.
• Marqes Muir: The 18 year old centre-half played as a right sided centre-half against Crystal Palace. Muir liked to bring the ball out of defence, alongside Tobi Omole.
• Tobi Omole: The left sided centre-half made some good forward passes, and like Marqes Muir he liked to bring the ball out from the defence.
• Kallum Cesay: The left-back for this game took his goal really well, and he also went on some fine runs both with and without the ball down the left flank.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain was playing as the deepest of the two midfielders against Crystal Palace, and I thought that his passing was good.
• Nile John: Trying his luck on goal on occasions, the central midfielder got into some good positions both inside and around the Crystal Palace box.
• Jack Clarke: Starting the game really well and having a strong first half, where he liked to try and take on players for pace and skill, Jack Clarke later switched flanks with Dilan Markanday in the second half.
• Alfie Devine: Once again playing as a CAM, Alfie Devine’s tremendous work rate helped the team out a lot. Devine got another goal for Spurs, to get Spurs back into the game, and he also came quite close to getting a second in the second half.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Yago Santiago: The Spurs centre-forward led the line well I thought. He showed good skill and also pressed the defence well. He played a big part in helping to create our opening goal of the game.
• Michael Craig: The second half substitute played in midfield after being introduced to the game. 
• Maksim Paskotši: The Estonia international slotted into the back four after he came on late on in the game.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. Without doubt Spurs’ most influential player against Crystal Palace, winger Dilan Markanday got a goal and assist for the second game this week. He played well in the first half, but during the second half the 20 year old really helped to get Spurs back into the game. Creating and scoring our second goal of the game by himself after switching flanks with Jack Clarke, Dilan then created Kallum Cesay’s goal to make it 3-3, after taking the ball into the Crystal Palace box and then passing the ball to Cesay.

Spurs’ Under 23 side played their latest Premier League 2 match on Monday night, when they faced Derby County at the Lamex Stadium, in Stevenage. Wayne Burnett’s side won 3-1 against Derby County, and it was a deserved win for Spurs despite Derby improving in the second half. Joshua Oluwayemi started in goal, while a back four consisting of Kallum Cesay, Marqes Muir, Tobi Omole and Marcel Lavinier lined up in front of him. Captain Harvey White and Nile John started in central midfield. Dilan Markanday and Jack Clarke started out on the flanks, either side of CAM Alfie Devine. Dane Scarlett led the line for Spurs. Spurs got the game started and it was from their first real attack of the game that they took the lead. After Nile John received the ball quite far out from the Derby penalty area he went on a surging forward run. He eventually took the ball to edge of the Derby box before hitting the ball well and into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Tobi Omole cleared a promising cross into the Spurs box shortly after the game got started again, before Max Bardell headed the ball onto the Spurs crossbar a couple of minutes later from a corner. Jack Clarke hit a free-kick over the Derby goal, just before Spurs doubled their lead in the 20th minute of the game. Jack Clarke’s good lofted pass managed to find Dilan Markanday out on the right flank. He travelled forward with the ball towards the edge of the Derby box, before finding the bottom right hand corner of the goal with a powerful low effort, 2-0.

A low cross/shot from Devine on the left was gathered by Derby goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes, before a Harvey White free-kick found Jack Clarke inside the Derby box. Clarke’s resulting effort was cleared off the line, before the ball came to Marqes Muir, but his powerful effort was then saved by Foulkes. Derby got a goal back in the 27th minute of the game. A ball over the top to Connor Dixon resulted in him entering the Spurs box before squaring the ball for Luke Plange, who finished past Oluwayemi and into the goal from a first time effort, 2-1. Nile John had an effort saved by Foulkes inside the Derby box, and then a couple of moments later he had an effort blocked. After receiving Marcel Lavinier’s low cross Devine had a low effort saved by Foulkes, in what was the final piece of action from the first half. Derby got the second half underway but Spurs had made a half-time change as Dane Scarlett had been replaced by Yago Santiago. A Derby player had an effort blocked before another Derby forward then hit an effort just wide of Oluwayemi’s goal. Dilan Markanday’s cross from the right flank was met well by Yago Santiago inside the centre of the Derby box, but his first time effort was well saved by Harrison Foulkes. At the other end of the pitch and after latching onto the ball down the left side of the Spurs box Reece Hutchinson hit an effort just wide of the Spurs goal. 

Tobi Omole received a yellow card before Jordan Brown hit the resulting free-kick wide of the Spurs goal. Luke Plange had an effort well saved by Oluwayemi, and then at the other end of the pitch John hit Devine’s cross from the right flank wide. Harvey White had a volleyed effort cleared behind, while a couple of minutes later Connor Dixon hit a free-kick into the Spurs wall. Dilan Markanday had an effort well blocked inside the Derby box as the game continued to be open. Oluwayemi dealt very well with a good Derby cross into the Spurs box, and then Spurs went forward – with Lavinier finding Markanday in the Derby box, but his powerful low effort was well saved by Foulkes. However, Spurs secured all three points through Alfie Devine. Jack Clarke had a cross into the Derby box cleared, but only to Santiago, who passed the ball to Markanday. He went past a Derby defender really well before squaring the ball to Devine, who controlled the ball well before finishing into the back of the net, 3-1. Matthew Craig replaced Jack Clarke, before Spurs came close to getting a fourth goal. Santiago received Lavinier’s pass inside the Derby box, he then gave it to Harvey White, who had made a really good run, but his effort was saved by Foulkes. Harvey White then had a late effort blocked by Max Bardell, in what was the final piece of action from the game. Spurs’ next game at this level is on Friday, when they face Crystal Palace at their training ground in the Premier League 2.

Player reviews:

• Joshua Oluwayemi: Commanding his penalty area well once again, Joshua Oluwayemi didn’t have too many saves to make, but he dealt well with crosses and set-pieces.
• Kallum Cesay: Once again going on some good and skilful runs, Kallum Cesay played at right-back against Derby.
• Marqes Muir: Strong in the air and working well alongside Tobi Omole again in central defence, Marqes Muir worked very hard again against Derby, and he was tested a lot more in the second half of the match.
• Tobi Omole: The left sided centre-half showed good experience in situations against Derby. 
• Marcel Lavinier: Playing at left-back for this match, Marcel Lavinier wasn’t afraid to go forward to support Jack Clarke in the final third.
• Harvey White: The Spurs captain played as the most deep-lying midfielder, but he made some good and ambitious forward passes. The 20 year old also made one good late run into the box to receive the ball, but was unlucky not to score.
• Nile John: Taking his early goal really well and showing good skill on the ball throughout. This was another good and direct performance from the first year professional.
• Dilan Markanday: My man of the match, see below.
• Alfie Devine: The CAM’s work-rate and desire to press the defence was very impressive. Devine was never stood still and he was always looking to receive the ball, but he once again drifted out wide and made some clever runs into the Derby box. Devine took his late goal well.
• Jack Clarke: Setting up Dilan Markanday for his goal by making a good lofted pass, throughout the game whenever Clarke received the ball he was always very direct and enthusiastic.
• Dane Scarlett: The centre-forward led the line well, held the ball up well and also worked hard inside the Derby half.
• Yago Santiago: During the second half the substitute made some clever runs off the ball and he also came close to scoring early on in the half.
• Matthew Craig: The late substitute played in central midfield and showed good enthusiasm on the pitch, and was always looking to pass the ball forward.

My man of the match: Dilan Markanday. While the winger was once again very good going forward, I was very impressed again with his tireless tracking back and also the good challenges that he made. Markanday took his goal really well and also went past a Derby defender with great skill to set-up Alfie Devine for his goal. Unlucky not to extend his goal tally during the game, this was yet another very good performance from the player from Barnet. I really do hope that he starts for Spurs’ first team on Thursday night against NŠ Mura.