Tottenham’s Under-21s have lost for the first time in Premier League 2 this season, beaten 3-1 by Chelsea at Stevenage on Sunday, with long balls over a high defensive line causing most of the damage.
Wayne Burnett’s side went into the London derby unbeaten in six league games, with five wins and a draw. Chelsea scored twice in the first half, James Rowswell gave Spurs hope late on, and Chizaram Ezenwata settled it in stoppage time.
There was a small sting in the tale for Tyrese Hall too. The midfielder, in excellent form all season, set up the Spurs goal, but Chelsea’s opener was created by Reggie Watson, the man who beat him to September’s Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.
Tottenham U21 1-3 Chelsea: how the goals went in
Spurs were caught out early. Goalkeeper Samual Archer did brilliantly to deny Sol Gordon one-on-one after three minutes, but the same kind of pass over the top undid them four minutes later. Watson found space in midfield and picked out Harrison McMahon, who rounded Archer and finished.
Plans had already changed before kick-off: Malachi Hardy was hurt in the warm-up, so centre-back Alfie Dorrington came into the side. He was soon involved at the other end, intercepting and getting in behind before squaring for Callum Olusesi, who shot straight at Chelsea goalkeeper Freddy Bernal.
Maeson King needed a sliding goal-line clearance to stop Gordon, and Archer saved Leo Cardoso’s rebound. Spurs’ best first-half chance came from a Chelsea mistake, when Bernal passed straight to Harry Byrne 25 yards out and had to tip his left-footed drive over the bar.
Then, three minutes before the break, another long ball hurt them. Ezenwata ran onto a punt from his goalkeeper and finished low at the near post for 2-0.
Rowswell’s lifeline, then a late sucker punch
Spurs were much better after half-time. Within a minute, Hall’s cross was cleared off Byrne’s toes by Justin Osagie, and the Chelsea defender had to clear Rowswell’s low ball into the six-yard box soon after.
Burnett made a triple change on 67 minutes, bringing on George Feeney, Ellis Lehane and Max McFadden. Feeney won the corner that brought the goal: Hall swung it out and captain Rowswell swept a first-time finish into the far corner on 76 minutes.
McFadden should have equalised seven minutes later when Lehane’s blocked shot fell to him unmarked, but he volleyed wide. As Spurs pushed, Harrison Bettoni intercepted a quick free-kick near the corner flag, Archer saved, and Ezenwata scored his second in stoppage time.
How Tottenham’s Under-21s lined up
Spurs: Archer, Rowswell (c), King, Byfield (Feeney 67), Dorrington, Byrne, Sowunmi (Lehane 67), Tye Hall, Tyrese Hall, Olusesi (McFadden 67), Elliott-Paris (Ramsey 72). Subs not used: Doran, Moncur, Adedeji.
Goals: Rowswell 76; McMahon 7, Ezenwata 42, 90+1.
Is Tyrese Hall still the one to watch?
Yes. Going into Sunday he had five goals in six Premier League 2 games, and he is on the shortlist for October’s Player of the Month award, the second month running he has been nominated. His delivery made the Spurs goal, and he was behind their best spell early in the second half.
He isn’t the only young player pushing on at Hotspur Way. England Under-18 captain Oscar Sandiford has just signed his first professional contract, and Luca Williams-Barnett has already made the jump to De Zerbi’s first team, as our Luca Williams-Barnett scouting report explains.
What’s next for Spurs Under-21s?
After the international break, Burnett’s side go to League One side Oxford United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 24 November.
One defeat in seven isn’t a crisis, and there was plenty to like in the second-half response. But the lesson from Stevenage is clear enough: two of Chelsea’s goals came from simple balls over the top, and a high line needs better protection than that. Fix that, and this group can go straight back to winning.
