CARABAO CUP THIRD ROUND
WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2024
(8pm)
COVENTRY CITY 1(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)

Coventry scorer:-
Thomas-Asante, 63

Spurs scorers:-
Spence, 88
Johnson, 90+2

Attendance:- 24,616

Referee:- Darren England
Assistants:- Nick Greenhalgh and Akil Howson
Fourth Official:- Stephen Martin

Teams:-
Coventry (4-2-3-1):- 13. Wilson; 27. Van Ewijk, 4. Thomas, 2. Binks, 21. Bidwell; 8. Allen, 28. Eccles (Capt.) (sub 14. Sheaf, 71); 23. Thomas-Asante, 5. Rudoni (sub 29. Torp, 78), 11. Wright (sub 10. Mason-Clarke, 71); 37. Bassette (sub 9. Simms, 70)
(Armband to Sheaf)

Subs not used:- 40. Collins; 15. Kitching; 7. Sakamoto, 51. Broad; 54. Andrews

Booked:- Binks (foul on Gray), Allen (delaying restart), Kitching (delaying throw from sidelines), Thomas-Asante (foul on Maddison)

Spurs (4-3-3):- 20. Forster; 14. Gray, 6. Dragusin, 33. Davies (Capt.), 13. Udogie (sub 24. Spence, 46); 29. Sarr, 30. Bentancur, 15. Bergvall (sub 10. Maddison, 62); 28. Odobert (sub 22. Johnson, 18), 19. Solanke (sub 7. Son, 62), 16. Werner (sub 21. Kulusevski, 74)

Subs not used:- 1. Vicario; 3. Reguilon, 23. Pedro Porro; 47. Moore

Booked:- Maddison (Dissent)

Spurs play two late "get out of jail" cards

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for capturing this image

Just as I prepared to write a headline "Second season trophy, you're having a laugh" up popped substitutes Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson to score two very late goals, thus giving Spurs a surprising, hardly deserved, but most welcome win. Ange Postecoglou understandably looked sheepish when commiserating with Coventry manager Mark Robins.

Spurs, for whom Postecoglou made 8 changes, did not muster one shot on goal in the first half and had only 5 touches in the opposition box, despite enjoying 76% possession. The travelling fans did not enjoy that possession and booed their side off at half-time.

Robins also made changes to his team, and his players, who scared Manchester United in last season's FA Cup semi-final, gave Spurs plenty to worry about.

Fraser Forster was making his first appearance since last year's second round Carabao Cup exit and had several worrying moments, the first of which came after only 45 seconds when he hit a poor short play-out pass too hard to Bergvall, who could not control the ball. It ran to Rudoni and Forster redeemed himself with a sharp save to his left, conceding a corner.

There followed a period of little excitement. Bentancur and Bergvall shared a sharp passing move while Werner and Sarr combined on the left. Spurs' advances were going down cul-de-sacs though and Coventry soon showed there is a place for more direct (and physical) football. Spurs looked lightweight in the tackle. Odobert suffered an early injury (which Ange says looks worrying) and had to be replaced by Johnson.

Bergvall was our dead-ball kicker and took a corner won by Werner, but this came to nought.

Former Spurs Academy product Luis Binks was booked for halting Archie Gray in his tracks. Gray, along with Bergvall, was making his first senior start. Bergvall's free kick led to a corner, after which Werner's deep cross was held by Wilson. Forster managed to punch clear a Coventry corner after they countered.

Udogie was fouled on the left of the area after Solanke had come deep to deliver the pass. Bergvall's free kick was headed clear. Spurs had still to register a shot on goal with half an hour on the clock. Solanke was getting no delivery.

Spurs came under pressure after Werner lost the ball after advancing down the left wing. After a cross from the left, Udogie made a great block of a goal-bound shot by Rudoni. Bassette latched onto a long ball and his shot was tipped over by Forster, but referee Darren England awarded a goal-kick. There was more danger for Spurs as Thomas-Asante crossed from the right, but the ball passed the far post just too far in front of his team-mate.

Wilson's biggest test of the half was to hold a long cross/shot by Gray.

Spence took over from Udogie at half-time. Usually seen on the right, Spence was used as left back during the pre-season. Solanke carried the ball from left to right before feeding Johnson, whose shot was blocked. Werner lost the ball again when over-running in the Coventry half. The home side nearly took advantage with Forster having to dive low to his left to deny Bassette.

Forster had a nightmare minute or two when he failed to hold a corner then raced out of his area and collided with Dragusin. Ben Davies (making his first appearance of the season and wearing the captain's armband) saved the day when blocking Wright's shot. A shot by Thomas-Asante passed just over the target. The game at this stage looked as if it had one possible winner, and that was not Spurs.

Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson had his first save to make with a fine reaction stop of Ben Davies' powerful header following a corner. Ange made a double change with Son and Maddison replacing Solanke and Bergvall, respectively. I did not see Son take the armband off Davies.

Spurs immediately went one down as "The Sky Blues" broke out down the left flank. Bassette delivered the cross and Thomas-Asante scored low inside Forster's right post with Spence raising his arm for a non-existent offside rather than tracking the run. Whilst not filling their ground, the home fans sniffed glory and raised the roof.

Spence had a long-range effort go wide. Werner needed treatment after being blocked near the left corner. He was replaced by Spurs' last sub Kulusevski who changed the game.

Coventry threatened again when substitute Simms headed across goal and Mason-Clarke pushed the ball wide. Simms had been offside anyway.

Spurs now became more direct (at last), and Maddison hit a 20-yard right-footed shot just wide. Coventry were not finished though, and Simms hit a shot which was deflected and passed just in front of Mason-Clark. Wilson had another sharp save to make after Spence cut the ball back to Kulusevski whose first effort was well saved by the keeper. "Deki"'s follow-up was blocked by Binks.

In another move, Kulusevski moved into the box from the right but passed behind Johnson. Johnson did subsequently win a corner on the right. Spurs equalised with less than two minutes of normal time remaining. Kulusevski was the creator with a deft touch into the box where Spence advanced and connected with a firm touch to score.

Sarr drove wide from 25 yards and a penalty shoot-out loomed. However, Brennan Johnson (who has been the subject of much fan criticism and abuse) made a run to the right and received a good pass from Bentancur before beating Wilson with a fine dinked touch just out of the keeper's reach and inside his right post.

Spurs could hardly believe it themselves, but they had reached the fourth round, the draw for which will be made next week when the second phase of games are completed. Phew!

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