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 18 side faced Wolverhampton Wanderers, at Molineux on Saturday afternoon, in a fifth round FA Youth Cup tie. Spurs lost the match 3-0 to Wolves, who were much the better team, and they wouldn’t let Spurs settle, right from the start of the game. Luca Gunter started in goal for Spurs, while a back four of Maxwell McKnight, Alfie Dorrington, Charlie Sayers and Brandon Bryan-Waugh lined-up in front of him. Han Willhoft-King and Rio Kyerematen started in central-midfield, and Jamie Donley and Thomas Bloxham started out on the flanks, either side of CAM and captain Alfie Devine. Jaden Williams led the line for Spurs. Early on in the game, Alfie Dorrington cleared away a good free-kick from Aaron Keto-Diyawa. After receiving Kam Kandola’s pass down the right side of the Spurs penalty area, Nathan Fraser hit a low effort across Luca Gunter’s goal. Maxwell McKnight cleared Dexter Lembikisa’s promising cross into the Spurs box, as Wolves started the game really well. A couple of minutes later Nathan Fraser hit another low effort across Luca Gunter’s goal, from almost the same place inside the Spurs box, as before.

Alfie Devine hit a free-kick effort from distance into the Wolves wall, before Wolves took the lead a couple of moments later. Dexter Lembikisa’s good cross towards the back post, inside the Spurs box, was headed across Luca Gunter’s goal and into the left side of his goal, by Aaron Keto-Diyawa, 0-1. Oliver Tipton curled a Wolves free-kick over the Spurs goal, before Alfie Dorrington made an important headed clearance to deal with another really good cross from Dexter Lembikisa. Spurs’ first real chance that they managed to create, came about a couple of minutes later. Devine passed the ball to Jamie Donley, out on the right flank. The England Under 17 international then brought the ball into the Wolves box, before passing the ball out to Rio Kyerematen, who had made a forward run. However, Kyerematen’s first time effort was saved by Wolves goalkeeper Palmi Arinbjornsson, although the effort was straight at the Wolves goalkeeper. Harry Birtwistle saw his effort inside the Spurs box deflect just wide of the Spurs goal, off of Charlie Sayers. At the other end of the pitch Alfie Dorrington volleyed an effort over the Wolves goal, although he was off balance.

After Luca Gunter came rushing out of his box to try and clear the ball, Nathan Fraser tried to score with a lofted effort towards the open Spurs goal, but Alfie Dorrington managed to get back to head clear his effort. Tyler Roberts curled an effort wide inside the Spurs box, and then Nathan Fraser volleyed over a cross from Tyler Roberts, inside the Spurs penalty area. Alfie Devine was shown a yellow card, following a challenge on Dexter Lembikisa, before the former Wigan Athletic player hit over an effort a couple of moments later, inside the Wolves half. The referee sounded his whistle for half-time shortly after. Spurs got the second half underway. It started very much like the first half, with Wolves in full control of the game, for the most part. Centre-forward Nathan Fraser managed to meet Aaron Keto-Diyawa’s cross at the back post of Luca Gunter’s goal. And Fraser’s resulting headed effort was well saved by Gunter, even though it was straight at him, he managed to show really good reflexes. After Nathan Fraser played a one-two pass with Tyler Roberts, he saw his low effort towards the middle of the Spurs goal, from inside the Spurs penalty area, saved by Gunter.

After receiving a pass and turning inside the Spurs box, Tyler Roberts had an effort saved well by Luca Gunter. After going on a good run down the right side of the Spurs box, Dexter Lembikisa hit an effort against Luca Gunter’s left hand post, before Maxwell McKnight blocked Nathan Fraser’s following effort well. Charlie Sayers managed to block Harry Birtwistle’s effort inside the Spurs box, before Alfie Dorrington made a good defensive intervention shortly after. Spurs’ first change of the game saw Renaldo Torraj replace Thomas Bloxham out on the left flank. Gunter managed to save Nathan Fraser’s effort inside the Spurs penalty area, and then moments later Harry Birtwistle went past Brandon Bryan-Waugh inside the Spurs box. Birtwistle’s low cross was met by Tyler Roberts, whose low effort managed to go past Gunter in the goal, 0-2. Spurs tried to respond, as Rio Kyerematen hit a free-kick effort from the left flank wide, and then Spurs had some more defending to do inside their box. Dorrington managed to block Nathan Fraser’s effort, before Luca Gunter saved another effort a couple of seconds later. 

Jahziah Linton replaced Brandon Bryan-Waugh at left-back, and then Wolves managed to get their third goal of the game, a couple of moments later. Tyler Roberts managed to go on a good run into the Spurs box, before finishing into the bottom left corner of the goal, 0-3. Luca Gunter managed to tip over an effort from Mason Rees, before Harry Birtwistle managed to latch onto a through-ball pass, before then having an effort saved by Gunter, who then also saved Nathan Fraser’s effort well. Spurs exit the FA Youth Cup for the second season running at the fifth round stage. Spurs’ next game at this level, is away to Leicester City next Saturday, in the Premier League South. 

Player reviews: 

• Luca Gunter: My man of the match, see below.
• Maxwell McKnight: Starting at right-back for the first time in a good while, rather than as a winger, first year scholar Maxwell McKnight had a lot more defending to do today, than he has in recent weeks. McKnight did see more of the ball in the second half, then he did during the first half.
• Alfie Dorrington: The right sided centre-half, like teammate Charlie Sayers had a lot of defending to do, against Wolves.
• Charlie Sayers: The former Southend United player, like Alfie Dorrington, really did have a lot to do in central-defence. Wolves were just very good going forward, and they liked to put the ball into the Spurs box.
• Brandon Bryan-Waugh: Playing out of position at left-back, defender Brandon Bryan-Waugh had a lot to do defensively, today. Wolves focused a lot of their attention to the flanks, during todays FA Youth Cup tie.
• Han Willhoft-King: The defensive-midfielder had to deal with Wolves centre-forward Nathan Fraser dropping deep, to try and stop Willhoft-King from having time and space on the ball. 
• Rio Kyerematen: The first year scholar and England Under 17 international played in central-midfield, alongside Han Willhoft-King. He completed the whole of the game, and managed Spurs’ only effort on target of the match.
• Jamie Donley: Starting the game out on the right flank, as a winger, Jamie Donley later switched with Jaden Williams, to play at centre-forward.
• Alfie Devine: You couldn’t say that the Spurs captain didn’t work really hard for the team, against Wolves. However, he was obviously frustrated at times during the game, because of the way that the match went.
• Thomas Bloxham: Always trying to be inventive out on the left flank, winger Thomas Bloxham unfortunately didn’t see a lot of the ball. However, he worked hard off the ball. 
• Jade Williams: Jaden Williams started the game as a centre-forward, before later switching with Jamie Donley, and going out onto the right flank.
• Renaldo Torraj: The second half substitute took up a position on the left flank, as a winger.
• Jahziah Linton: The defender went to left-back after replacing Brandon Bryan-Waugh, quite late on in the game.

My man of the match: Luca Gunter. The Spurs goalkeeper and first year scholar, was without doubt Spurs’ best player today, in my opinion. The England youth international made a number of good saves, to stop Wolves from winning the FA Youth Cup match by more than they did.