EFL CARABAO CUP
THIRD ROUND
TUESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2017
(8pm - at Wembley)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(0) BARNSLEY 0(0)

Spurs scorers:-
Dele, 65

Attendance:- 23,826

Referee:- Tim Robinson
Assistants:- Ian Cooper & Neil Davies
Fourth official:- Gavin Ward

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Vorm; Trippier, Foyth, Vertonghen (Capt.), Walker-Peters; Winks, Dembele (sub Dier, 79); Sissoko, Dele (sub Oakley-Boothe, 90+1), Son; Llorente (sub Nkoudou, 67)

Subs not used:- Gazzaniga; Alderweireld; Eriksen; Kane

No bookings

Barnsley (4-1-4-1):- Davies; McCarthy, Macdonald (Capt.), Lindsay, Fryers; Williams (sub Bradshaw, 79); Barnes (sub Hammill, 71), Potts (sub Moncur, 71), Bird, Hedges; Ugbo

Subs not used:- Townsend; Pearson, Thiam, Jackson

No bookings

Dele's goal enough to decide underwhelming game.

Dele Alli scored the solitary goal in front of a threadbare Wembley crowd of less than 24,000 to send Spurs through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Before the game I tweeted my disappointment at the lack of numbers attending, but maybe those who stayed home made the right decision.

Having said that, the absentees missed the full debuts of 19 year of Juan Foyth, who played at centre back beside captain for the night Jan Vertonghen. Fernando Llorente also made his first start, and did not impress to the same degree as the young defender, who looked full of confidence and had some nice touches to defend successfully and to win challenges.

Llorente was replaced by Nkoudou after Dele's goal. Dele took over as the main man up front, and Georges-Kevin brought some excitement to the game with his pace and successful runs on both sides of the pitch.

Barnsley brought a full contingent of fans with them, and they made plenty of noise, seeing a few glimpses of chances for their players.

Mauricio returned to the 4-2-3-1 formation with Harry Winks making a first start next to Dembele. Kyle Walker-Peters made his second appearance of the season, this time playing at left back. The Barnsley side included former Spur Zeki Fryers at left back, making his first appearance since January.

Barnsley were finding some space on the Spurs flanks, but after their first attack, Spurs made a break with Dele making a good run, trying a pass, which was cleared. Sissoko, who I thought had a decent game overall, exchanged with Llorente, and won a corner. From the corner, Foyth had a good chance with a header which passed outside the goalie's left post.

After 7 minutes, Dele, Son, Llorente and Sissoko were pushing the ball around nicely in the final third before Dele hit a shot wide. Son put a ball outside to Trippier, whose cross reached Harry Winks. Winks hit a low shot, held by goalkeeper Davies. Dele passed to Winks, who chipped into the area, where Dele pushed his shot past the far post.

Even Dembele had a shot, but it took a heavy deflection and was easy for the keeper. After a Spurs corner, Llorente headed wide across the goalmouth.

Son saw a lot of the ball during the game, but often failed to make best or quickest use of it. One such occasion was after he received from Trippier, but hit it straight to the keeper. As first half added time was signalled, Moussa Sissoko had a shot which he hit outside the keeper's left post.

At half-time two time League Cup winner Martin Chivers was wheeled on to encourage the fans, and to spur the team into success. It was Barnsley who started the half brighter though, with Vorm having to make a good save from Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo, who has tested Spurs teams at junior levels in the recent past.

Son ran into a Sissoko pass and his shot was well cleared for a corner by skipper Macdonald. Foyth brought the ball out of defence, feeding Walker-Peters and Son before Dele hit a shot which took a slight deflection to win a corner.

Hedges had a chance for Barnsley inside the box on the left, and had wanted a handball during the process. He got nothing from referee Tim Robinson and hit his shot wide.

Llorente could not quite latch onto Trippier's ball and Dele just over-ran a ball out of play after a good ball by Harry Winks. The game was now opening up a little. Another Trippier cross was headed across the area by a Barnsley defender as far as Winks, whose shot was blocked.

It wasn't long before Spurs broke the deadlock. Sissoko headed a ball forward to the side of the area where Trippier took it on, crossing low where Dele was able to side foot home for a decisive 1-0 lead.

To a certain degree, I felt that Spurs were content to see the game out now, but Nkoudou was entertaining. He had a shot saved after Son had taken advantage of a defensive slip, before Dele received from Son and curled a shot just wide of the far post.

Son had a shot at the near post, similar to one he tried against Swansea, and one which he scored against Dortmund, but this one was held by Davies. After another Trippier cross, Son had a good effort pushed over the bar. In added time, Tashan Oakley-Boothe made a first team debut, replacing Dele Alli, thus becoming the first 21st century born player to represent Spurs at senior level.

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