FRIENDLY FIXTURE
WEDNESDAY 17TH JULY, 2024
(7PM)
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 1(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 5(1)

Hearts scorer:-
Shankland, 46

Spurs scorers:-
Johnson, 39
Lankshear, 55
Moore, 66
Spence, 62
Neilson (o.g.), 85

Attendance:- 15,646

Referee:- Matthew MacDermid
Assistants:- David Roome, Calum Spence
Fourth official:- Michael McCart

Teams:-
Hearts (4-2-3-1):- Gordon (Capt.) (sub Clark, 46); Taylor (sub Tait, 62), Kent (sub Halkett, 34), Oyegoke (sub Neilson, 70), Rowles (sub Dall, 70); Devlin (sub Wilson, 62), Grant (sub Denholm, 62); Oda (sub McKay, 46), Dhanda (sub Spittal, 62), Forrest (sub Musa Drammeh, 62); Tagawa (sub Shankland, 46)
(Shankland took captain's armband)

Subs not used:- Fulton, Gillies, Sandilands

No bookings

Spurs (4-1-2-3):- Austin (sub Whiteman, 46) (sub Gunter, 84); Pedro Porro (sub Spence, 46), Gray (sub Werner, 46), Skipp (sub Lankshear, 46) (sub Veliz, 67) (sub Scarlett, 82), Donley (sub Emerson Royal, 46); Bissouma (sub Robson, 46); Kulusevski (sub Bergvall, 46), Maddison (sub Phillips, 46); Johnson (sub Devine, 46), Son (Capt.) (sub Moore, 46), Solomon (sub Hall, 46)

Subs not used:- John, Santiago

No bookings.

Spurs youngsters prove to be aces of Hearts!

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

Spurs' 24/25 season is up and running. In an entertaining friendly, played as part of Hearts 150th anniversary celebrations the senior players secured a one-goal first half lead before our youngsters blitzed the home side who played experienced men for most of the game.

The two teams have one major player in common, the legendary Dave Mackay, who was commemorated before kick-off. Spurs have seven players absent due to their involvement in the latter stages of Euro 24 and Copa America (Vicario, Romero, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Lo Celso, Bentancur, Hojbjerg). There was also no sign of Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Pape Sarr or Bryan Gil. 14 of our 16 named substitutes were used.

Ange Postecoglou's makeshift defence featured 18-year-old Archie Gray, recently signed from Leeds. Gray usually plays at right back or in midfield, but today impressed at centre-back where he showed excellent timing, confidence, and touch from the outset. Oliver Skipp in the other central defensive spot was less able to deal with the unfamiliar role.

Jamie Donley covered at left back and also played well. Bissouma played behind Kulusevski and Maddison, who in turn supported Johnson, Son and Manor Solomon, who had not played since last September. Indeed, most of Spurs' early attacks were down the left side, giving Solomon plenty of touches.

Spurs kicked off but after their bright start Hearts broke forward down the left through Dhanda (signed from Ross County) who passed inside to Devlin, who fired over the target. More slick Spurs passing led to a first corner on the left, won by Donley.

James Maddison (ejected by Gareth Southgate from his Euro 24 training squad) was in good form and after he teed up Pedro Porro a deep cross was aimed for Solomon, but Hearts defended to concede another corner. Maddison subsequently hit a right-footed curler wide across the goalmouth.

Hearts had a second corner after which the ball was crossed from the right and Austin made a brilliant reaction save from Japanese International Tagawa, who had probably been offside. The referee was not giving many fouls and let play flow, which probably worked in our favour in the second half.

Skipp struggled out towards Hearts' right flank against Taylor, who crossed from near the bye-line giving Tagawa another chance which was spurned.

Maddison soon needed treatment after a tough challenge in midfield by Devlin. Johnson won a corner after being put in by another good pass by Pedro Porro. Son was fed by Kulusevski's clever pass. His shot was half-blocked, and 41-year-old Scottish international goalkeeper Craig Gordon made a great reaction save.

Devlin fouled Maddison again. James took the free kick but hit Kent in the wall, who soon had to be replaced through injury. Johnson had a shot blocked after another clever Kulusevski pass. Tagawa reached a cross by Taylor but fired wide. Again, he might have been offside.

After a short corner, Donley hit a good pass to Solomon, but he was blocked. Spurs then took the lead when Brennan Johnson met Maddison's accurate cross with a solid right-footed shot.

Pedro Porro made a great saving tackle when Forrest threatened deep inside the Spurs box and at the other end Son pushed a shot side after good approach play by Maddison and Solomon. Pedro Porro was over the target after Maddison and Son's passes.

Devlin headed wide from Forrest's cross, and the first half ended.

Postecoglou changed his team completely which read Whiteman; Spence, Royal, Phillips, Max Robson; Tyrese Hall; Lucas Bergvall, Devine; Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear and Timo Werner.

I couldn't see who took the captain's armband, but I suspect it was Emerson Royal (being linked with AC Milan), who dropped an early clanger to present Hearts with an easy goal scored by their captain (who did play for Scotland in the Euros) Lawrence Shankland.

We've all been looking forward to seeing Bergvall play (easily recognised by his blond hair), and he did play well, but there were a number of very good performances by some of his team-mates, who had such a successful season last term with the Under 21 side, or even the under 18s.

It wasn't long before we regained the lead through Lankshear, who is celebrating a new 5-year contract. He scored with a right-foot effort after Djed Spence's attack and pass through the middle. Werner had an excellent chance after poor Hearts defensive play, but that was blocked. Mikey Moore (still under 17) hit a sharp-angled right foot shot just high.

Now Hearts manager Steven Naismith (known to us in his playing days with Everton and Norwich) made more wholesale changes. To be honest, his team now offered little threat against our predominantly young side. 13 years ago, Spurs had won a Europa League game here 5-0. A certain young man - Harry Kane made his senior debut in the second leg which was drawn 0-0. I wonder how many of this second half side will become household names too.

Lucas Bergvall claimed the assist for Mikey Moore's 66th minute goal, which after a clever touch or two, was another right-footed shot across the keeper. Djed Spence made it 4-1 when he converted Timo Werner's excellent low cross into the danger zone. Another Werner cross led to more chances for Spurs, but those were blocked. Veliz had replaced Lankshear, and he fired high after a Spence cross. Veliz suffered a nose bleed, and he was also replaced by Dane Scarlett. Spurs also used a third goalkeeper with Gunter taking over from Whiteman.

Our final goal was as a result of a short corner and an excellent cross by Bergvall. Scarlett met the cross with a powerful header, but goalkeeper Clark saved only to see the ball hit the net after Ashley Phillips close range effort hit Neilson. Scarlett had one more chance and rounded the keeper but put his shot wide.

I imagine today's personnel will be divided on Saturday when the first team face QPR and the Spurs XI travel to St. Albans.

The 2,000 travelling fans were well-rewarded today with a performance that was much more fun than watching Gareth Southgate's Euro 24 finalists.

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