Substitute Will Lankshear shines as Tottenham U21s maintain winning start
Things continue to go from strength to strength for the Tottenham Under-21s as they maintained their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 win over Derby County on Friday 25 August.
Spurs’ youngsters made it three wins on the bounce to kick off their Premier League Two campaign as 733 people watched on at Pride Park in the East Midlands.
It was a double act from Jamie Donley and substitute Will Lankshear as the former assisted the latter on two separate occasions throughout the second half, with the second goal almost a carbon copy of the first.
Winning ugly.
Despite not performing as well as they did in the victories against Manchester City and Aston Villa, the Tottenham academy stars enjoyed the better chances and in the end deservedly put away a determined Rams side.
It was a quick start for the visitors as Jude Soonsup-Bell and Rio Kyerematen had early opportunities to open the scoring, before Donley missed a chance of his own, firing wide. Spurs lost a bit of control throughout the first half as the contest became an end-to-end affair, however, the hosts were unable to create any meaningful chances.
It was Spurs’ Nile John who went closest, forcing a save from Derby shot-stopper Harry Evans five minutes before the break. After the restart, in-form Yago Santiago caused some problems for the Rams’ backline as he looked to continue his red-hot scoring streak, but was denied by the keeper in the 56th minute.
In the 58th minute, it was Wayne Burnett’s double substitution that would change the course of the game, as just one minute after the changes were made, Lankshear would have an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch.
Matthew Craig, who had come on alongside Lankshear, saw his volley charged down on the edge of the box however Donley was able to win it back, whipping in a brilliant delivery to the back post where Lankshear was on hand to covert, opening his scoring account at Under-21 level. And by the end of the match, he would have a second.
Prior to this, Donley had a chance, heading over a cross from midfielder Harvey White, who was returning to Derby after his loan spell last season. Spurs looked more lively in the final stages and created more chances, and after coming close a few times, Lankshear wrapped the contest up in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Once again on hand at the back post to head home another wicked Donley cross.
The Under 21s’ form shows no signs of slowing down, and long may it continue, with the youngsters next in action against Sunderland in the Premier League Cup, at home on Tuesday 29 August.
In other Tottenham news, two of the club’s brightest young stars have been sent out on loan moves.