Premier U-21 League, First Division, 2015-16
             Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage
                 Wednesday 6th April 2016, 7pm

                    SPURS     v   MIDDLESBROUGH
                 (White/Blue)       (All Red)
                   4-2-3-1           4-2-3-1

                     1(0)              2(1)

                  Luke McGee  1 Joe Fryer
            Joseph Pritchard  2 Callum Johnson
           Zevon Stylianides  3 Jonny Burn(C)
             Filip Lesniak(C) 4 Bryn Morris
           Christian Maghoma  5 Nathan McGinley
                Anton Walkes  6 Robbie Tinkler
             Emmanuel Sonupe  7 Callum Cooke
                 Harry Winks  8 Joe Wheatley
             Shayon Harrison  9 Amel Jakupovic
               Joshua Onomah 10 Tom McAloon
              William Miller 11 Mark Kitching

                  Cy Goddard 12 Lewis Maloney
                   (2)77Mins
            Thomas McDermott 13 Marcus Tavernier
                Nathan Oduwa 14 Mitch Curry
              Marcus Edwards 15 Jordan Jowers
                   (3)57Mins
                             16 Aynsley Pears(GK)

Scorers:-
              Miller 58         Kitching 8
                                Wheatley 48

Booked:-
         Winks 64(Foul)         Tinkler 50(Foul)

Coach:-
              U. Ehiogo         P. Jenkins

Referee:– A. Serrango
Assistants:– S. Bates & D. Simpson
Fourth Official:– L. Jessup

It was a cool evening for Spurs' last game at Stevenage this season where the visitors were Middlesbrough. The visitors came having won their last game 3-1 over Manchester City as they looked to escape the threat of relegation. Spurs were on a high having beat Leicester 3-0 in their last game ending a run of games without a win. Spurs beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Rockcliffe Park earlier in the season thanks to Coulthirst and Walkes.

Spurs lined up with McGee in goal behind Maghoma and Walkes with Pritchard at right back and Stylianides on the left. Lesniak anchored the midfield with Winks while Onomah was ahead of them flanked by Sonupe on the right and Miller on the left in support of Harrison up front. Pritchard was filling in for Walker-Peters who was suspended as a result of the red card he received in the game against Norwich City.

Spurs kicked off attacking the South End in the first half but found it difficult to settle against a well organised defence. They won a free kick in the second minute in the left corner which was not cleared falling to Walkes who volleyed it just wide of the left post. Middlesbrough looked to counter at pace and got down the left for Kitching to fire wide.

Spurs lost the ball in midfield and Cooke played it through the right channel to McAloon who crossed for Kitching to score at the far post.

Spurs were not passing the ball well but Onomah tried a shot from the left which flew wide of the far post. McGee saved a header by Burn from a free kick while Jakupovic fired over as the visitors broke through again. Winks had a weak effort saved from the right but Middlesbrough were creating the better chances.

Jakupovic fired over before Spurs had their first real chance. Having worked the ball down the right Sonupe crossed for Harrison to hit a great volley that produced a good save from Fryer in the visitors' goal. His defenders cleared the loose ball from Winks. Jakupovic hit a free kick over before the break.

There were no changes for the second half which saw Spurs push forward more. The result of that was for the visitors to break with Cooke on the right who crossed for Wheatley to drive home from the edge of the area to double their lead.

Spurs continued to press and Onomah had his effort from the left deflected over for a corner from which Maghoma hit the ball over the bar from close in. When Miller looked to get away down the left he was tripped and then prevented from getting up quickly which saw Tinkler booked. Winks' long range effort was saved before Spurs made their first change with Edwards coming on for Stylianides.

Pritchard moved to left back and Sonupe dropped to right back to allow Edwards play on the right side of midfield. Spurs attacked down the left through Pritchard. Onomah slipped the ball through for Miller to fire into the far side to pull a goal back.

Middlesbrough were now dropping deep, defending in numbers but keeping one or two up for quick breaks. As an example of this strategy Cooke got forward to fire wide. They were also keen to belt the ball out of play with at least half a dozen balls kicked clean out of the ground.

Onomah headed over as Spurs pushed men forward leaving space at the back for "Boro" to counter leading to Winks being booked for a foul on McAloon. McGee saved the free kick taken by Cooke low to his right.

Edwards running was causing the visitors' defence problems and he crossed for Miller to draw a good save with his header. Jakupovic missed the chance to kill off the game when he mis-hit his effort from a good cross by Cooke. Winks fired wide before Spurs made another change bringing on Goddard for Pritchard in midfield. Lesniak dropped into the back four with Walkes moving to left back. Another effort from Miller was deflected wide for a corner and Winks drew a save from Fryer before McAloon had the last chance that was saved by McGee.

After the resounding victory over Leicester Spurs were poor tonight with little pressing and poor passing. Middlesbrough were solid at the back and pressed in midfield moving the ball quickly forward especially wide for Cooke to get behind the full back. It was the same tactic they used in the Youth Cup victory earlier when their U-18's beat Spurs so convincingly. Pritchard was poor at right back but better when on the left getting forward to great effect. Spurs stay in eighth while Middlesbrough move out of the bottom two. Spurs play their last two games, both at home and at White Hart Lane. The first of these will be next Monday evening when Sunderland are the visitors.

Ray

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