Tottenham Under-21s must show character after setback on Saturday
Tottenham Under-21s must bounce back from defeat against Academy opposition for the first time this season.
It has been a wonderful season for Spurs’ Under-21s, with several young stars making their breakthrough into the first-team picture off the back of their fine form at Hotspur Way.
As a result, players such as Jamie Donley and Alfie Dorrington are quickly becoming household names at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, Donley and Co suffered a rare blip in their most recent fixture.
Up until Saturday 3 February, Spurs had only been beaten by senior sides in EFL Cup action across the current campaign, but that all changed against Peterborough United Under-21s.
In their final Premier League Cup group stage match, Wayne Burnett’s side were beaten 3-0 at Clarence Park, ending the club’s incredible 100 per cent win record against Academy opposition which had spanned a remarkable 16 games.
Tottenham test
Having already qualified for the Round of 16 of the Premier League Cup with a late win over Bristol City Under-21s in midweek, it is clear that the players were perhaps not fully switched on against the Posh.
Spurs were twice robbed of possession as the visitors took a 2-0 first-half lead through Pemi Aderoju’s double against the run of play.
The away side, who were down to ten men after their captain Charlie O’Connell was sent off two minutes into the second half, countered again with four minutes to play and won a corner which Emmanuel Fernandez headed in to add a bit of gloss to the scoreline.
In the grand scheme of things, it means nothing for Spurs, who had already secured top spot in Group E, but they will now be tested by this setback.
Having not yet been beaten by fellow Under-21 opposition this season, they will need to demonstrate that they can respond to such a loss.
They will have the opportunity to do just that when they take on Crystal Palace Under-21s on Friday 9 February, as they look to keep their 100 per cent record in the Premier League 2 intact.
In other Tottenham news, ex-Spurs scout Bryan King believes one “big” Spurs star could be axed after the 2-2 draw with Everton
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