2 hours ago
45
It took a little bit of Portuguese magic to light up the start of Tottenham's Carabao Cup journey as they eased past League One side Doncaster Rovers with a 3-0 win and here are our player ratings.
Spurs reached the semi-finals of the league cup last season and with the north London club looking for Thomas Frank to compete across all competitions this time around the Dane took the first steps on that mission with a victory against a stubborn visiting side. The game was won with an acrobatic strike from Joao Palhinha and an own goal from Doncaster defender Jay McGrath before a late Brennan Johnson strike.
Within a tough fixture schedule Frank had made seven changes to the Tottenham team that came back to draw 2-2 at Brighton on Saturday with only Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert and Pedro Porro remaining on the team sheet, and Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus rested from the squad entirely.
Porro captained the side for the first time with Palhinha moved back into central defence to allow 19-year-old Archie Gray to start in the centre of midfield.
Rovers, who came into the game sitting seventh in League One, were given permission by their hosts to play on-loan Tottenham youngster Damola Ajayi.
The game offered Mathys Tel a chance to get some minutes under his belt after being left out of Frank's Champions League squad. The £30million summer signing mostly fluffed his lines though. He began the game with a couple of missed chances while the lower league visitors caused some early problems, with Toyosi Olusanya heading wide from a great position from Ajayi's volley.
However, Spurs grabbed control of the encounter just 14 minutes in. Despite his defensive role on the night, Palhinha showed his ability at the other end of the pitch with an acrobatic overhead kick after a Xavi Simons corner was only partially cleared to the Portuguese eight yards out.
Within three minutes the hosts had doubled their tally as Odobert burst down the left flank and into the box and his low cross struck Doncaster defender McGrath and deflected into the net for an own goal.
Tottenham continued to carve out chances but the best one before the break fell to Rovers skipper Owen Bailey when his volley was pushed on to the left-hand post by Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky.
The hosts spluttered in the early stages of the second half and struggled to find a way back towards the League One side's goal.
Chances were few and far between in a mostly dull second 45 minutes aside from a Glenn Middleton free-kick that curled inches wide of the right-hand post after foul given against Kevin Danso despite the ball cleanly being won.
Johnson was Tottenham's most dangerous player though at the other end teeing up opportunities for both Tel and substitute Richarlison and the Wales international duly rounded off the victory himself by running on to Lucas Bergvall's pass and chipping over the onrushing goalkeeper in added time.
There had also been time late on for Spurs to introduce highly-rated 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett to the 42,473 fans for his debut as the 900th player to have taken to the pitch for the north London club.
Here's are our Tottenham player ratings after the win.
Antonin Kinsky
Made a terrific save from Bailey's volley before the break. Had very little else to do. 7
Pedro Porro
Captain for the first time. Spurs kept getting him the ball outside the box from set pieces and he kept shooting, forcing Lawlor into one save in the first half. Had more to do defensively in the second half. 7
Joao Palhinha
Played as a centre-back but opened the scoring with an acrobatic overheard kick just 14 minutes in. Did well in a position that's not natural to him. 8
Kevin Danso
Cut his head in an aerial challenge that needed lengthy treatment off the pitch to stop the bleeding. Defended well in and around that. 7
Djed Spence
Made a great early tackle in the game in his own box before launching into a 50-yard run. Otherwise a solid showing. 7
Rodrigo Bentancur
Had a headed effort from a corner touched away from goal even though a goal kick was given. Reasonable enough 90 minutes in the middle of the pitch without shining. 7
Archie Gray
Started brightly with strong runs and had a shot pushed wide by the keeper after the half hour mark. A really positive display overall from the 19-year-old who looks more and more like he could become a good number eight. 8
Xavi Simons
Creative from the off and involved in early chances including his own shot over. Waned in influence as the game wore on especially in the second half and came off at the hour mark. 6
Brennan Johnson
Could have had an early assist for a low ball to Tel and another midway through the second half. Set up Richarlison for a late chance and then got on the scoresheet himself with a dinked finish over the onrushing goalkeeper. On another day he gets a goal and three assists. 8
Mathys Tel
Sent a shot over early on before missing a Johnson low ball that he didn't expect to reach him. Powered a shot at goal before the half hour mark. Fluffed another chance from Johnson in the 67th minute and just didn't take his opportunity. Could have had a hat-trick. 5
Wilson Odobert
Set up Tel for an early chance with a low ball and then powered in the low cross that McGrath could only deflected into his own net. Came off after an hour following a quieter start to the second half. 7
Subs
Richarlison
Didn't offer much but could have scored from a Johnson cross with a bit more effort. 5
Lucas Bergvall
Got the late assist with a lovely ball for Johnson's added time strike. 7
Destiny Udogie
Replaced Spence for the final stages. N/A
Luca Williams-Barnett
The 16-year-old became Spurs' 900th player to take to the pitch and looked at home. Hopefully plenty more to come. N/A
English (US) ·