Premier League U-18 Cup
    Loughborough University Stadium
     Friday 25th January 2019, 7pm

    DERBY COUNTY   v    SPURS
   (White/Black)      (All Blue)
       4-4-2            3-4-3

        2(1)             0(0)

       Sam French  1  Joshua Oluwayemi
 Callum Minkley(C) 2  Jubril Okedina
     Tyree Wilson  3  Brooklyn Lyons-Foster
     Jordan Brown  4  Jamie Bowden
     Elran Cashin  5  Malachi Walcott
     Lee Buchanan  6  Paris Maghoma
 Kornell McDonald  7  Maurizio Pochettino
     Louie Sibley  8  Harvey White
    Jack Stretton  9  Terrell Whittaker
     Jason Knight 10  Armando Shashoua(C)
 Morgan Whittaker 11  J'Neil Bennett

    Liam Thompson 12  Luis Binks
        (7)74Mins     (3)77Mins
  Bradley 
  Foster-Theniger 13  Kacper Kurylowicz
      Yoann Greco 14  Elliott Thorpe
       Liam Delap 15  Rayan Clarke
       (11)46Mins     (7)60Mins
          Eno Nto 16  Maximus Tainio
      (9)90+1Mins     (10)83Mins

Scorer:-
 Stretton 4, 87

Coaches:-
    Justin Walker     Matt Wells

Referee:– Tom Bowkett
Assistants:– Luis Martin & Simon Lane 

Spurs travelled to Loughborough for the quarter final of the U-18 Premier League Cup. Spurs got here by finishing the group stage as one of the two best second placed teams. Last season they went on to beat Liverpool and Arsenal before losing in the final to Chelsea. The last of the Southern league teams, Spurs arrived as the league leaders to face Derby County who are second in the Northern league. Spurs' last game was the defeat at Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup while the hosts beat Sheffield United 3-0 in the same competition.

Having done so well in the first half of the season Spurs have been hit by injuries recently which saw U-16 striker Terrell Whittaker step up to lead the line. Oluwayemi was in goal behind a back three of Okedina, Walcott and Lyons-Foster. Maghoma and Bowden anchored the midfield with White and Shashoua ahead of them. They were flanked by Pochettino on the right and Bennett on the left in support of Whittaker.

Spurs defended the West end in the first half but looked out of sorts with the new formation. Derby put pressure on Spurs, closing them down quickly and physically which prevented Spurs settling into their passing game. When Spurs lost the ball on the right Sibley got down the line and his cross was laid off by Morgan Whittaker for Stretton to drill low past Oluwayemi for the opening goal. Spurs responded with Terrell Whittaker drawing a save before Bowden put in a cross from the right that Terrell Whittaker headed wide of the near post.

Spurs began to put some passes together without breaking through the two banks of four while the defence still had to work hard. Maghoma fired over and Bennett had an effort saved before Oluwayemi saved a stinging effort by Buchanan. Morgan Whittaker hit a free kick over as the last effort of the first half.

Morgan Whattaker was replaced for the start of the second half by Delap while Spurs re-jigged their midfield. White dropped to support Bowden which allowed Maghoma to move forward in to a more attacking position. This gave Spurs a better balance and they began to ask Derby questions.

Maghoma played in Pochettino for a chance that was saved by French. Pochettino played in Whittaker to fire wide.

Wilson got down the left, pulling the ball back for Buchanan to draw a save from Oluwayemi winning a corner. Spurs made their first change on the hour with Clarke replacing Pochettino. Clarke showed his pace when he got down the right from a lovely pass by Maghoma to draw a save at the near post.

Delap found space on the right on another Derby break but Oluwayemi saved. Lyons-Foster made a strong run from the back and was still upfield when White threaded a ball to him to play in Maghoma for a chance that was saved.

Spurs' second change saw Tainio replace Lyons-Foster going to right back as they went to a back four with White moving to left back. With Spurs pushing forward Derby continued to counter with Cashin firing over from a corner and a powerful strike by Sibley turned away for a corner.

Bowden played in Maghoma to draw a save before Spurs made their last change. Binks replaced Shashoua to go into the back four pushing Walcott up front. Spurs were then hit on the break when a Derby counter down the left saw Delap receive the ball on the far post. His attempt went in off Stretton wrong footing Oluwayemi. As the game went into added time Delap was again free on the right but fired over.

Spurs started poorly under pressure from the home side and could not get their passing game going. They improved in the second half without really having a final product. The loss of Markanday on the right and Parrott and Richards up front has somewhat blunted the attack. It was not the best time to play an in-form Derby who were just too good for Spurs.

Ray

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