FRIENDLY MATCH
FRIDAY 9TH DECEMBER, 2022
(1.04PM – at Hotspur Way)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4(3) MOTHERWELL (0)

Scorers:-
Kulusevski, 3
Doherty,28, 71
Gil,40

Referee:- Darren England

Teams:-
Spurs (3-4-3): Austin (Whiteman 58); Tanganga (Dorrington 75), Sanchez (Fagan-Walcott 75), Sayers (Mundle 75); Spence (Paskotsi 75), Bissouma (John 75), Skipp (Devine 75), Doherty (Capt.); Kulusevski (Lankshear 75), White (Donley 75), Bryan (Santiago 75).

Subs not used: Robson.

Motherwell (4-2-3-1): Kelly (c) (Oxborough 46); O’Donnell (Johnston 58), Lamie, Johansen (Maguire 24), Penney (Wilson 58); Slattery (Speirs 58), Goss (Miller 58); Spittal (Cornelius 58), Van Veen (Morris 58), McKinstry (Tierney 58); Shields (Ross 58).

Subs not used: Connelly.

Spurs cruise in low-key friendly

Spurs played a low-key behind closed doors friendly match on a cold, but bright sunny day against a Motherwell team which is struggling towards the bottom of the Scottish Premier League. Like Spurs, Motherwell’s last game was on 12th November. Unlike Spurs, the Scottish team resume league action on 17th December, so they were no doubt keen to get some match practice.

At the time of play, Spurs had six players still involved in the World Cup quarter-finals and none of our other World Cup squad men have returned to training as yet. Other players such as Fraser Forster, Emerson Royal, Clement Lenglet, and Lucas Moura were also absent. Spurs had a young bench, including Devine, Lankshear and Donley. 17-year-old striker Will Lankshear was signed this summer from Sheffield United and both he and Jamie Donley have been scoring regularly lately for the youth team.

Djed Spence had a welcome start and played at right wing-back with Doherty playing on the left. 18-year-old Charlie Sayers played on the left side of the back three. Sayers was signed from Southend last season.

Spurs kicked off and offered danger in the first minute when Kulusevski fed the ball to Spence on the right and his low cross was cleared. Kulusevski scored an early goal after a mistake at the back when a defender passed into his own area from the right touch line. Kulusevski was able to pick his spot and planted the ball past goalkeeper Liam Kelly. Bissouma skied a free kick opportunity soon after the goal.

Spurs were in charge and after 18 minutes Kulusevski sent Spence away down the inside right channel, but the goalkeeper saved Spence's shot. Kelly also advanced out of his area to clear before Kulusevski could reach an excellent ball through the middle by Bissouma.

There was a mistake by Spurs keeper Brandon Austin, whose attempt to clear rebounded off Shields and went out of play off the outside of his left post. After good play by Gil and Doherty down the left and Doherty's cross, Spence nearly got on the end of the cross with an attempt to head home.

Bissouma needed treatment after a midfield challenge, but he was able to continue. Doherty made it 2-0 and scored from inside the box after a good ball by Bissouma to Kulusevski, whose pass to Bryan Gil was fed to the scorer. Kelly should have done better. Kulusevski soon had a right foot shot blocked after a cross by Spence, before Kelly clawed away a dipping shot by Gil.

Spurs scored a good third goal five minutes before the break as Kulusevski ran onto Skipp’s sharp pass, advanced to the bye-line and cut the ball back for Gil to finish.

The players had a short half-time break. Motherwell kicked off, but Spurs again dominated possession, although Motherwell were marking more tightly, and getting forward more.

After 52 minutes and following good skill by Bissouma despite close attention, the former Brighton man passed to White to his left, whose shot was held by sub goalkeeper Oxborough. Spurs then advanced down the right through Gil, Kulusevski and White. The move ended with a Doherty attempt which passed well wide of keeper's left post.

Motherwell made several changes and Whiteman replaced Austin in the Spurs goal. Another change saw Romaine Mundle replace Sayers, playing at left wing-back. Doherty went to the right of the back three with Tanganga left of Sanchez.

Spence had a shot from a narrow angle which passed just wide of far post, before Doherty scored with a header across goal from a corner taken by Kulusevski.

The 4-0 lead was the cue for multiple Spurs changes, which included Will Lankshear, Yago Santiago, Jamie Donley and Alfie Devine. Inevitably Motherwell had better opportunities with a deflected free kick by Morris hitting the outside of Whiteman's right post.

Lankshear rose high to meet a cross by Mundle, but his downward header lacked strength and was cleared. The Spurs youngsters maintained the clean sheet, which is to their credit.

Spurs have also arranged a match against Nice which will be played at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kicking off at 7pm on Wednesday 21st December. By then some of our World Cup men should be back to face a stronger opponent which could include goalkeeper Kaspar Schmeichel, Ross Barkley, Arsenal loanee Pepe, and ex-Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey.

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