What Archie Gray said to Luca Williams-Barnett after his debut and Tottenham's fixture nightmare

Tottenham's start under Thomas Frank continues to show that foundations are being built by the Dane.

This latest victory, albeit achieved with an uneven performance, means Frank has overseen five victories and five clean sheets in his seven competitive matches since the Premier League season kicked off with one draw, one defeat and 14 goals scored across all competitions.

You could sling the UEFA Super Cup against PSG in there as well if you wanted to and depending on your outlook you might see that as a defeat, a draw before penalties or five minutes from a victory and a clean sheet. Of course, almost does not mean achieved.

Wednesday night's 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over League One side Doncaster Rovers was played out in front of a crowd of just 42,473, as around 20,000 Spurs supporters decided it wasn't for them, either due to the ticket pricing or simply a late night return from north London.

Those present got to see a small collection of good moments sprinkled across a team performance that dipped heavily in the second half but was enough to see off a visiting team sitting seventh two divisions below.

In essence three moments of real quality showcased the difference in levels between the two sides as Doncaster played well otherwise.

Spurs opened the scoring just 14 minutes in. Despite being selected at centre-back by Frank, Joao 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 Wilson Odobert burst down the left flank and into the box with stepovers galore and his low cross struck Doncaster defender Jay McGrath and deflected into the net for an own goal.

Archie Gray forced Rovers keeper Ian Lawlor into a flying save before the visiting skipper Owen Bailey brought the same result at the other end when his volley was magnificently pushed on to the left-hand post by Spurs stopper Antonin Kinsky.

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 a foul given against Kevin Danso that came despite the ball cleanly being won.

Brennan Johnson was Tottenham's most dangerous player in that second period and after teeing up opportunities for both Mathys Tel and substitute Richarlison, the Wales international duly rounded off the scoring himself by running between defenders on to Lucas Bergvall's perfect pass and chipping over the onrushing goalkeeper in added time.

"First and foremost, happy with the win, happy with the clean sheet and happy that we are through to the next round. That was the aim," Frank told football.london. "I think the first half was good. Controlled the game, created chances that we wanted and needed.

"I think we could have scored more goals in the first half actually. Got some big opportunities to Mathys Tel, Rodri and a few other situations that were dangerous.

"Second half was more disjointed. I think we threw the ball away too easily. The pressure was not top but also praise to Doncaster. They came very brave, very good to stretch us. So if the pressure is not perfect they made it difficult so praise to them as well."

The scoreline was harsh on Rovers, who deserved at least a goal from the game. Spurs had given them permission to use their on-loan Tottenham youngster Damola Ajayi and the 19-year-old right winger had his moments, including a volley that Toyosi Olusanya headed wide in the first half.

However, he and Doncaster were unable to find a way through, which brought the obligatory Djed Spence post on Instagram to his young team-mate: "I’m sorry Lil bro. Welcome to the penitentiary."

That came complete with a mocked up image of Ajayi behind bars with Spence smiling in front of them. Even his team-mate, who took it well in the comments below, could not escape the post-match friendly fire.

Midfield switch

When the team was announced ahead of kick-off, the expectation was that due to injuries to various centre-backs, Archie Gray would be returning to his centre-back role of last season, while Joao Palhinha would line-up in the midfield alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Xavi.

However, Frank soon confirmed it was the other way around in his pre-match interview, meaning a rare outing for the Portuguese in defence with the 19-year-old Gray getting to continue his development in the centre of the pitch.

The idea presumably was that Spurs would have more of the ball so Palhinha would be called upon to pass more than defend. That wasn't actually the case with the possession stats not reflecting the two team's different levels in the football pyramid as the Premier League side only shaded it with 54.9 per cent.

Palhinha had to defend and he contributed six clearances, two tackles and one interception. Of the Spurs players only Kevin Danso bettered that, despite spending a chunk of time off the pitch in the first half getting a cut head glued up, as the Austria international managed seven clearances, four ball recoveries, two blocks and two tackles.

Palhinha did what was asked of him, bringing the ball up the pitch at times and also joining up with the attack, none more so than with his excellent overhead kick.

The 30-year-old is looking like the bargain of the summer window with his loan move from Bayern and if he continues in this vein then that £27million option to buy him will be a no-brainer for Spurs even if it goes against their old transfer ways. It will be a good litmus test for the new regime at the top.

"I'm very happy [with his performance]. He has been very good for us since he joined us," Frank told football.london of Palhinha. "Again, just stepping into that centre-back role and played very well and scored a very good goal. So yeah, pleased.

"I think Archie can play centre-back and right-back, but I see him more as a midfielder and I'd liked to see him today in that position. I was confident and I was happy that I was backed in that feeling about Joao as a centre-back."

Gray took the chance to impress, growing into the game as it progressed and his movement really caught the eye.

The teenager has had to be more patient this season after a previous campaign in which he was thrown into the fray in an unnatural position out of necessity and played 46 times, mostly as an 18-year-old.

This season has brought just the four appearances so far but he has mostly impressed in those games, with the start against Burnley in the opening Premier League game as well as a strong pre-season showing against Newcastle.

This latest performance brought an all-action display that continues to prove that Gray may well end up as an eight rather than a six.

His movement in linking up with the attackers and captain for the day Pedro Porro was terrific and the youngster thought he had opened the scoring with a low curling shot that Lawlor pushed away.

Don't underestimate the fact that Gray has finally been able to train full-time as a midfielder this season at Tottenham and develop that way after spending much of the last campaign being drilled by Matt Wells and the coaching staff alongside the back four to be an emergency centre-back.

Gray has such a high ceiling and he admitted after the match in his club interview that he wants to bring the more attacking elements back into his game when asked what he wants to add to his weaponry.

"I think just getting stuff back from when I was younger, because obviously I didn't play in midfield too much recently, and I think just scoring goals and being more of a creative player further up the pitch, which was always my style of play when I was younger," he said.

"I know people haven't seen it much, because I haven't really played in midfield much, at Leeds at the start of the season when I was there, obviously they saw that. But I just want to show that here, and every minute that I get I just want to try and show that."

There's plenty more to come from Gray and with Bergvall, who produced a top drawer pass for Johnson's added time goal, Spurs have a couple of stars for years to come among their midfield options.

The tale of Tel and Johnson

This was Mathys Tel's chance. You could sense the desperation to impress wafting off the Frenchman because chances may be few and far between from this point, particularly when Randal Kolo Muani's dead leg rises from the grave.

A struggle for opportunities to play sounds crazy when you factor in that he was a £30million signing this summer, but that decision to leave him out of the Champions League and Spurs facing a tough away trip to Newcastle in the next round of the Carabao Cup means the games may dry up for the 20-year-old Frenchman.

Injuries could well change that and the heavy schedule in the coming months, but this felt like a big night for Tel and for everything he did well off the ball, including some clever, quick link-up play, he fluffed his lines in front of goal as chances for a hat-trick went begging.

Brennan Johnson in particular did everything possible to try to set Tel up with low passes into the six-yard box that were begging to be slammed into the net. The first of which may have surprised the France U21 international because it looked like the defender might get there first but the top strikers react and improvise quickly.

Tel sent another strike over from close range and powered an effort from outside the box towards the goal that Lawlor pushed away.

It was a performance that promised plenty but delivered none of the rewards in front of goal.

Frank took umbrage when it was suggested that Tel needed his confidence lifted after a bad run.

"I don’t think he's had a bad run, if I’m honest. He played striker against West Ham which I think he did quite well. Worked very hard for him to arrive in the right areas which I think he did today. In terms of performance that was a step up," he said.

"Then we can look at the end product to score the goal but the performance to arrive in the box I was very happy with. Just close with the first ball from Brennan, ready for the cutback. Second half got in there on two other good situations and had a nice shot. I think it was a step up in terms of performance."

He added: "I think you can see that his ability in this game to arrive in the box and the pace he got to both running behind and also getting into the right areas, I think it's good. I think his pressing ability is very good. I like the way he works in that situation, and then I think his link-up play is something that is a good level, but he can be even better."

While he is scoring goals at U21 international level, Tel just needs something to fly into the net, even if it has to bounce in off his backside.

"Yeah, I think that's fair to say," said Frank. "Of course, he really wanted to score and do well. Unfortunately, as a striker, that you get measured on. Exactly the same as a keeper, you need to get measured. You can't throw it into your own goal, but I think the overall performance was really a step forward. But of course, I really wanted him to score as well, because that would make it an even better story."

Someone who has no problem scoring is Brennan Johnson and this was a performance where you saw a lot of the good things the Wales international brings.

The 24-year-old was drilled by Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff to get those low balls into the six-yard box and on Wednesday night he could have had a hat-trick of assists had Tel and Richarlison buried the chances he put on a plate for them. Another chipped cross to Tel was just tipped away at the last possible moment by the fingertips of Lawlor.

That wing play is trained and it can be better. Johnson has admitted himself he's continuing to work on beating his man in one vs one situations and he should because he's got the pace when he lets himself go.

The ability he has that is more natural is his movement into the box and his finishing. He played more centrally as a youngster, even as a number 10 at times, and many believe he will end up as a support striker.

Johnson's movement for his late goal, with the sprint through the middle and the dinked finish over the onrushing Lawlor was perfect.

He may not have the physicality to play as a lone striker with his back to goal, but if Frank goes with a 4-4-2 at times this season, Johnson could grab goals galore by playing off someone like Richarlison or Dominic Solanke.

People will continue to question him but he was last season's top scorer and so far in this campaign is the joint top scorer again with Richarlison, with three goals from four starts and two of those having to play on the left.

Johnson will be needed in some big moments this season and he's pretty much always delivered when called upon in front of goal, not least with his involvement that night in Bilbao. It's something that Tel can look to and learn from.

Tottenham's 900th player

When Luca Williams-Barnett stepped on to the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he became the 900th player to play for the club.

The 16-year-old has been making plenty of waves in the past year with his spectacular strikes for the U18s last season and this campaign stepping up to the U21s and England U18 level with the goals continuing to flow.

There's a little bit of magic in the teenager's feet and a fearlessness that comes with youth.

Just two or so minutes after coming on in front of the biggest crowd he's ever played in front of, Williams-Barnett was given the ball by Danso. He turned and took on two Doncaster players.

While one got a touch to the ball, it fell back to the youngster. He continued to run with it, getting past one man before sliding a clever pass into the path of Destiny Udogie. The Italian's low cross was touched on by Johnson and smashed into the net by Bergvall only for the flag to be raised for offside against the Wales attacker.

In one moment though it had shown Williams-Barnett felt comfortable in those surroundings.

"I think if he had 10 more minutes, he could have scored," said Gray of the debut boy. "I was saying to him at the end, if he had a few more chances to get at the full back. We've seen him in training, he's so sharp, and it's so exciting to see young players like that come through and do well in games and get given chances. I was once in his position, so I know what it's like, so I'll be helping him all the way. "

There was something amusing about hearing a 19-year-old speaking about a 16-year-old like a wise old professional but Gray has already played 102 senior matches despite his age.

It was a proud night for the academy with Williams-Barnett making his debut and Jun'ai Byfield, also 16, and winger Tynan Thompson, 17, on the bench.

football.london understands Williams-Barnett has agreed terms on his first professional contract with Tottenham but that's not sealed until he can legally sign that deal on his 17th birthday this coming Wednesday.

The youngster certainly looks happy at Spurs and comes from a big Tottenham supporting family who were all sat up above the media area watching on proudly on Wednesday night.

"It's always a pleasure to be part of a young player's debut," said Frank after the game. "So, happy with that.

"Definitely over the last years the focus on the talent development and academies across the world is so big. So the talent pool is bigger. There are these talents coming through that are younger and younger.

"But one thing is the debut when you're 16. The next step, and much more important, is how Luca or other players take those steps forward. It's very tough to keep going and then get into the first team as a really regular player. But the first step is very important."

Williams-Barnett is a big talent and Spurs will look to nurture and develop him over the coming years. For Frank it will be about using him in the right moments to help his development rather than hinder it and not pandering to pressure to throw him in at the wrong times as Mikey Moore, then 17, faced last season.

Even younger than Moore, the 16-year-old Williams-Barnett, is still getting used to playing at the U21s level and admitted last season that first team training sessions had been tough to get used to at first. He then said on Wednesday night in his post-match interview that the game felt so fast when he stepped on to the pitch for those few minutes.

If he keeps working hard and developing in the way he has so far and steers clear of injury, then Luca Williams-Barnett could be a name we're all talking about for a long time to come and he will forever be Spurs' 900th debutant.

Fixture hell

Tottenham want to progress in every competition and that brings with it fixtures galore and sometimes a nasty run of games.

For Spurs, with the away trip to Newcastle to now be played in the week starting October 27 so another tough fixture has been thrust into the schedule.

It all begins after the next international break as Spurs host Aston Villa on October 19 then immediately make the trip to face Monaco in the Champions League three days later. They must quickly return home to travel to Everton and their new stadium on Sunday October 26.

That's just the warm-up though because the run really gets going within a couple of days with that new trip to Newcastle in the cup, followed quickly by a derby against Chelsea on November 1.

Copenhagen arrive for the next Champions League game that midweek before Spurs must take on Manchester United at home and after the November international break, Arsenal away, PSG away and then Fulham at home, before another trip to Newcastle in the Premier League on December 3.

Of course everyone must play everyone in a Premier League season but the order has not been kind to Tottenham.

The pressure is on Frank to compete in all four competitions as that was dictated by the club in sacking Postecoglou, although admittedly the man who said it, Daniel Levy, has since departed from the top table.

Key for the Dane will be what state his squad is in during that big run of matches. Right now he is missing a list of injured players but they are on the brink of returning.

Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai returned to training with the team this week and will be looking to make their first appearances of the season sooner rather later, while Radu Dragusin has been back with the group and building up his strength following all those months out with his anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in January.

Kolo Muani and Ben Davies have both been described as having minor injuries that have resulted in them missing the past two games and Frank explained to football.london why Pape Matar Sarr was missing on Wednesday night despite not coming off the bench at Brighton.

"Pape Matar Sarr just a minor precaution," he said. "A minor, how can you say, a little stretch to the thigh so we didn’t want to take any risks today. There is a good chance that he could be ready for Saturday."

When all of those players come back, and with the big presumption that no more get injured, suddenly it's a strong Spurs squad with players fighting to get on to the bench let alone into the starting XI. That's the kind of competition that will drive Frank's prospects up.

There is also Dejan Kulusevski to return in December as football.london reported earlier this month, although the Swede will be fighting to be back before that as he continues his rehabilitation after his knee surgery.

Things have started well on the whole for Thomas Frank but it only gets tougher from here on out and how he and his players respond to the gruelling schedule in the next couple of months will play a huge role in shaping his first season at Tottenham Hotspur.