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A likely well-rotated Tottenham Hotspur side host League One outfit Doncaster Rovers in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
After just beginning midweek matches last week, where Tottenham beat Villarreal 1-0 in the opening game of their Champions League campaign, Spurs are handed another midweek outing straight after. This one, though, should be far more straightforward as they face a side two divisions below them in a far less important competition.
It has been an excellent start under Thomas Frank, with Tottenham now sitting 3rd in the Premier League table on 10 points, joint with Arsenal but only behind on goal difference. Their last outing was a 2-2 draw against Brighton last Saturday, where they came from two goals down to take a point at the AMEX.
Doncaster Rovers, meanwhile, began their League One campaign well and were strongly competing for promotion, but back-to-back defeats in recent weeks have dropped them down to 7th place, just outside the play-off spots.
Their EFL Cup run has been more impressive, however, thrashing current Championship leaders Middlesbrough 4-0 in the first round before easing past 10-man Accrington 2-0 in round two.
What time does Tottenham vs Doncaster kick off?
Location: London, England
Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Date: Wednesday, 24th September 2025
Kick-off time: 7:45 pm BST
Referee: Andy Madley
Tottenham vs Doncaster: Head-to-head record
The only meeting between these two sides this century came in this same competition back in 2009, when Spurs ran out 5-1 winners.
Going further back, they faced each other a few times in the 1900s, with Tottenham winning all eight encounters since 1935, aside from a draw and a defeat. Safe to say, history holds little relevance going into this one.
Tottenham team news
No changes to the Spurs’ longer-term injury list, as James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined.
Thomas Frank has ruled Randal Kolo Muani out after missing the Brighton clash due to a dead leg, while recent footage showed both Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai back in training.
Doncaster team news
Doncaster have the advantage of a fully fit squad, with no fresh injuries reported ahead of their trip to North London. Manager Grant McCann is expected to provide further details in his pre-match press conference, but all signs point to him having his strongest side available.
Predicted Tottenham line-up
Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence; Sarr, Gray, Bentancur; Johnson, Tel, Simons.
While Spurs will almost certainly rotate, Frank is unlikely to strip the XI of all regulars. Pedro Porro could retain his spot after being the only defender subbed off in the Brighton draw.
In midfield, Rodrigo Bentancur is tipped to start again alongside youngster Archie Gray, who could be handed his first start under Frank and also Pape Sarr, who didn’t start for the first time under Frank at the weekend.
There is a fair chance Dane Scarlett features if Kolo Muani is not deemed fully fit, while academy talents Luca Williams Barnett and Junai Byfield could both be named among the substitutes.
Our prediction
Tottenham supporters have long been desperate for domestic silverware, and the Carabao Cup offers one of the more realistic routes for the new manager to bring silverware this season. Frank will be well aware that his tenure will be judged in part on how seriously he takes nights like these.
Teenagers Williams Barnett and Byfield are certainly ones to watch, while all eyes will also be on Doncaster’s Damola Ajayi, a Spurs loanee who has not had the smoothest of spells with limited game time so far.
Doncaster will no doubt throw everything at the tie, but their defensive vulnerability should prove costly against a Spurs side with far too much quality. This should be comfortable progress for Frank’s men.
Predicted score: Tottenham 4-0 Doncaster
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