Tottenham youngsters make disappointing start to Under-18 Premier League campaign
While the club’s Under-21s made an impressive start to their Premier League Two campaign, the new-look Tottenham Under-18s were unable to do the same.
It was a trip to Aston Villa for coach Stuart Lewis and his players to get their Under-18 Premier League campaign up and running, but the squad returned to London from Birmingham with zero points and a goal difference of minus four.
All the damage was done in the first half as Villa put three past their visitors before the half-time break. Spurs’ Under-18s looked very different, both in personnel and performance, to the side that travelled to Villa Park at the backend of last season to achieve Premier League Cup final glory.
One to forget.
James Rosswell almost gave Tottenham the lead when he hit Villa’s crossbar inside the opening 20 minutes before Luka Fynch was also denied by the woodwork at the opposite end for the hosts.
Villa’s opener came from nowhere when Charlie Pavey rifled a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out after 21 minutes. Spurs had a chance to get on the scoresheet once again when Oliver Irow shot wide and they were punished for that miss.
Skipper Rory Wilson made a run from inside his own half and fired past Elliot Krasniqi, who tried to close him down, in the 34th minute to double the home side’s lead. It was the first of a hattrick for the captain, which he completed by the 55th minute.
Four minutes before the break, Wilson converted Lynch’s cross to put the game well out of Spurs’ reach. Yusuf Akhamrich did have a chance to give his side some hope but, just like Irow earlier on, rolled the ball wide.
Wilson completed his hattrick nine minutes after the break, latching onto Mikey Moore’s loose backpass, slotting past Krasniqi and putting the contest beyond all reasonable doubt.
Tyrese Hall had chances to grab a consolation but, in the end, it was too little too late and the club’s Under-18s will clearly need some more time to gel as they look to bounce back from opening day defeat.
In other Tottenham News, John Wenham believes the ‘outstanding’ James Maddison offers more than just goals and assists to the club.