CARABAO CUP THIRD ROUND
WEDNESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2025
(7.45PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3(2) DONCASTER ROVERS 0(0)

Scorers:-
Palhinha, 14
McGrath (o.g.), 17
Johnson, 90+4

Attendance:- 42,473

Referee:- Andrew Madley
Assistants:- Nick Hopton and Craig Taylor
Fourth Official:- Farai Hallam

Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-3):- 31. Kinsky; 23. Pedro Porro (Capt.), 6. Palhinha, 4. Danso, 24. Spence (sub 13. Udogie, 75); 14. Gray, 30. Bentancur, 7. Simons (sub 15. Bergvall, 61); 22. Johnson, 11. Tel (sub 68. Williams-Barnett, 87), 28. Odobert (sub 9. Richarlison, 61)

Subs not used:- 40. Austin; 37. Van de Ven, 67. Byfield; 44. Scarlett, 54. Thompson

Booked:- Pedro Porro (simulation)

Doncaster Rovers (4-3-3):- 1. Lawlor; 16. Nixon, 27. Grehan, 66. McGrath, 23. Senior; 4. Bailey (Capt.), 10. Sbarra (sub 18. Crew, 74), 33. Close (sub 22. Gotts, 75); 19. Ajayi (sub 7. Molyneux, 61), 30. Olusanya (sub 9. Hanlan, 61), 17. Middleton (sub 11. Gibson, 75)

Subs not used:- 29. Lo-Tutala; 3. Maxwell, 12. O'Riordan; 24. Westbrooke

Booked:- Bailey (foul on Simons)

Spurs cruise to victory - now for Newcastle

Despite our long term injured absentees, Thomas Frank was able to make seven changes to his team and also to give complete rests to Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Sarr, and Kudus. Of those, only Micky van de Ven was on the bench, along with three young players, one of whom - Luca Williams-Barnett - was given a late debut at the age of just 16. Luca has scored 5 goals already this season at under-21 level and also scored for the U-19 side against Villarreal last week. Spurs gained safe passage to the fourth round but now have one of the most difficult ties in the draw, having to travel to Newcastle.

Pedro Porro captained Spurs for the first time. One of the smallest crowds for a first team game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw Spurs gain an early two-goal lead, which was only increased in the last minute of added time. To be honest I think Spurs treated the game like a training match after taking that lead. Grant McCann's Rovers gave their travelling fans plenty to cheer, playing some neat football. Antonin Kinsky was fairly inactive for a lot of the time but proved his sharpness and ability when saving well from Doncaster captain and top scorer Owen Bailey.

"Can't smile without you" roared out before kick-off with Spurs starting the game and playing towards the North Stand. Within the first minute though, Spurs were threatened with Nixon crossing, Olusanya passing and Middleton having a shot blocked and cleared.

Mathys Tel missed the first of several chances to score after good exchange play on the left between Xavi Simons and Odobert, before Odobert crossed. Xavi was playing the number 10 role which he demonstrated so well at Brighton on Saturday. Tel failed to get a touch on a Johnson cross when given another great chance to score. Xavi fired wide after the first of several Kevin Danso long throws.

Spurs loanee Damola Ajayi had been given permission to play against his home side and when he crossed, centre-forward Olusanya headed wide. Johnson crossed again after receiving a quality ball by Djed Spence, but this cross was beyond Tel.

Spurs won a corner after another Danso throw into the box. This was taken by Xavi from the left and only patted out by goalkeeper Lawlor, after which Joao Palhinha (playing centre-back tonight) scored his second club goal with a superbly placed overhead kick! Apart from competent defending, Palhinha got forward quite often and demonstrated excellent passing skills. There is talk of Spurs making his transfer from Bayern permanent in January, which would be a great blessing.

It was 2-0 within three minutes after Odobert's powerful cross from the left into the 6-yard zone was turned in by the unfortunate Jay McGrath.

Tel had a good right-footed shot well saved by Lawlor after Archie Gray had cut the ball back from deep on the right. After another Xavi corner, Rodrigo Bentancur's header seemed to have been deflected wide of the far post, but referee Andy Madley gave a goal kick. Lawlor also saved a decent shot by Gray a few minutes later.

Tel had a half chance after Bentancur flicked on a corner, but that was blocked. Doncaster's Olusanya and Kevin Danso both needed treatment, presumably after a clash of heads. Both were able to continue.

Playing good passing football, Spurs won a couple more corners before Pedro Porro hit a shot from outside the area, which was blocked.

Kinsky's one moment of brilliance came when Bailey's shot was heading for his right corner, but the keeper dived low to his right and was able to touch the ball onto the post after which it was cleared.

Pedro Porro had another long range shot after a corner, but that was saved. Xavi had been denied a penalty just before that, and there was no VAR to review the referee's decision. Bentancur headed wide after another Danso throw.

Early in the second half Spence was quite cynically fouled by Middleton, but there was no card. Spurs were having to defend a bit and were not getting out of their half much in these early stages after the interval. Frank's first changes were to replace Xavi with Bergvall and Odobert with Richarlison.

Spurs seemed happy not to stretch themselves and to comfortably hold their two-goal advantage. Tel had an air kick after a Johnson cross. Kinsky held a cross by Middleton with substitute Hanlan threatening.

Kevin Danso was harshly penalised when hitting the ball first in a challenge just outside the box, but Middleton's free kick hit the side netting. That was about as close as the visitors would come to scoring in the remainder of the game.

More substitutions followed. Bentancur hit a shot just wide after Bergvall had been involved in good build-up play. Johnson got to the bye-line and crossed where Richarlison's effort was deflected wide. Pedro Porro was shown a yellow card for alleged simulation in the box.

Williams-Barnett was given a great ovation when he replaced Tel. Luca became the 900th player to represent the club at senior level and will have that legacy number. He showed great energy and was involved in the move that gave Lucas Bergvall a late "goal," but that was disallowed for offside.

Bergvall had the assist with a great through ball for Johnson to race onto and to competently beat Lawlor with his shot, thus scoring his third goal of this season, despite limited game time. Spurs recorded their fifth clean sheet in just eight games played so far this season and are well set to field their strongest available side against Wolves on Saturday night.

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