Premier U-21 League 2014-15
                  Hotspur Way, Enfield
             Monday 26th January 2015, 12 noon

                 SPURS     v   LEICESTER CITY
              (White/Blue)      (Blue/White)
                 4-3-3             4-3-3

                  0(0)              0(0)

            Jordan Archer  1  John Maddison
             Alex McQueen  2  James Pearson(C)
       Kyle Walker-Peters  3   Ben Chilwell
               Grant Ward  4   Alie Sesay
           Connor Ogilvie  5   Elliott Moore
        Bongani Khumalo(C) 6   Matthew Upson
          Emmanuel Sonupe  7  Joe Dodoo
              Harry Winks  8  Jak McCourt
           Ruben Lameiras  9  Simonas Stankevicius
            Joshua Onomah 10  Harry Panayiotou
             Nathan Oduwa 11  Brandon Fox

            Filip Lesniak 12  Joe Davies
                (4)86Mins
           Jonathan Miles 13  Max Smith-Varnham
           William Miller 14  Hamza Choudhury
                (8)79Mins     (11)46Mins
        Daniel Akindayini 15  Deaniel Rowe
                (9)67Mins
                          16  Layton Ndukwu

Booked:- 
    Sonupe 72(Simulation)

Coach:-
    U. Ehiogo                 S. Beaglehole

Referee:– A. Degnarain
Assistants:– K.Howick & E. Moore

It was a cold windy morning for the Spurs Development side match against Leicester City at Hotspur Way. With the defeat of the senior side on Saturday it was a chance for the U-21 side to regain some honour and move clear at the top of the table. The "Foxes" came to this match having beaten Everton in their last outing and Spurs had won at West Ham.

Spurs lined up with Archer in goal behind Khumalo and Ogilvie with McQueen at right back and Walker-Peters on the left. Ward anchored the midfield with Winks and Onomah while Lameiras acted as a false nine with Sonupe on his right and Odwua on the left. Leicester had former England international Matt Upson marshalling their defence.

Spurs kicked off attacking the West end with the wind somewhat behind them blowing across the pitch. With both defences organised by experienced defenders it became a tight game played mainly in the middle third. Both sides used the width of the pitch as they sought to play the game at pace.

Spurs forced a number of early corners of which Khumalo's deflected header from Lameiras was the best. Panayiotou fired wide when a free kick came out to him before a good run by Walker-Peters ended with a shot over by Ward. Pan was played through the right channel and went round the advancing Archer but Ogilvie got back to clear. Lameiras had an effort over the bar and had a shot hit the bar having run onto a great through ball from Onomah.

Good work by Oduwa on the right to provide a cross for Lameiras only won a corner when the Portugese midfielder's effort was deflected wide. Walker-Peters sent Sonupe away down the left to get behind the defence but his shot hit the crossbar from a tight angle. Archer made a save from a weak effort by Fox before Winks had the last chance of the half which was well off target.

Leicester made one change at the break as they switched to 4-4-2. This allowed them to press higher up the pitch and prevent Spurs using their right side to attack but not the left.

McCourt hit a free kick wide early on as Spurs were ajusting to the new "Foxes" formation. Walker-Peters sent Oduwa away to draw a save from Maddison who also saved from Sonupe when he was played in by Onomah. Archer saved from Panayiotou when Spurs lost the ball in midfield.

Spurs made their first change when Akindayini replaced Lameiras up front. Sonupe was booked for diving having got round the back past two defenders. Leicester quickly took the ball up the other end where Choudhury fired wide. Choudhury forced a save from Archer with a snap shot on the edge of the area and got to the rebound first to win a corner. They took a short corner and drove the ball in low which Walker-Peters cleared off the line at the far post.

The game became more end to end with Oduwa attacking down the right and firing wide with Choudhury playing in Pearson on the right to shoot over. Winks was replaced by Miller to provide fresh legs. Miller conceded a free kick which McCourt hit wide. Oduwa cut inside to win a corner when Maddison turned his low drive around the post. Before the corner was taken Lesniak replaced Ward. Deep into added time Miller drew a save from Maddison.

The conditions did not help the game which saw both defences on top. Spurs had the better of the play with attacks down both flanks although the visitors stemmed the flow down the right side in the second half. Leicester got into the game more in the second half mainly down their right side and Choudhury pulled the strings from the middle but Archer had less to do then Maddison and Spurs will look at this game as points dropped.

The point gained today took Spurs above Chelsea and Southampton who had the same number of points but better goal difference. That lasted just two hours as Southampton beat West Ham 2-0 to go two points clear.

Chelsea and Southampton play each other next week before Spurs entertain Sunderland the following week when all three teams have a game by which time both Manchester clubs may be in the mix.

Ray

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