10-man EDS and Spurs share PL2 spoils in goalless draw

Jadel Katongo was sent off in the 40th minute for a foul on Romaine Mundle, but we still had chances to win with Carlos Borges firing over late on. 

The draw at the Academy Stadium sees us continue our unbeaten start to the Premier League 2 season.

WHAT HAPPENED 

Brian Barry-Muprhy’s side started the much more lively, and caused Spurs real problems down their right-flank as they struggled to deal with the pacey duo of Oscar Bobb and Borges. 

The former produced the first real chance of the game, skipping past two defenders inside the box and getting a shot away, only for the ball to bounce off the near post and be cleared away. 

But as the first half wore on, the visitors grew into the match and started to create chances, with Mikki van Sas called into action to collect Jamie Donley’s shot. 

The City defence continued to ride the wave of Spurs pressure and we looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Borges and Dire Mebude looking to break through but to no avail. 

Right-back Juan Larios produced an excellent effort from distance, cutting inside onto his left and curling a shot just past the far post before Spurs’ Yago Alonso fired over from inside the area. 

The game changed in the 40th minute, when Jadel Katongo was sent off for bringing down Mundle and denying a goal-scoring opportunity, even though there were other City defenders alongside Katongo when the tackle was made. 

Into the second-half, we felt our numbers disadvantage as Spurs lumped pressure onto our back line, with van Sas having to make a great reactionary save with his foot to deny Donley. 

We, however, did not stop looking for a goal and the speed of Borges and Mebude caused Spurs plenty of issues despite having the extra man. 

A well-worked free-kick saw Shea Charles chip the ball over to substitute Josh Adam who fired at goal but Aaron Maguire reacted well to save, before Mebude’s cutback flashed just in front on the on-rushing Borges with the goal gaping just minutes later. 

Borges had another chance in the last ten minutes after Larios but the ball back into the centre of the box but the winger fired over, seeing us settle for a point in a spirited display. 

HOW WE LINED UP

Barry-Murphy elected to deploy van Sas in goal while there were two changes in the defence, with Katongo and Tomas Galvez coming in alongside Juan Larios and Finley Burns. 

Shea Charles, who captained the side at the Academy Stadium, provided defensive midfield cover alongside Kian Breckin whilst Oscar Bobb was permitted to roam forward and play behind the striker. 

Dire Mebude occupied the right-wing with Carlos Borges on the left, both tasked with providing support to striker Dan Ogwuru. 

Manchester City Elite Development Squad 

Starting XI: van Sas, Larios, Burns, Katongo, Galvez, Charles (C), Mebude, Breckin, Ogwuru, Bobb, Borges.

Substitutes: Adam, McNamara, Dickson, Smith, Agyemang. 

Tottenham Hotspur U21

Starting XI: Maguire, Cesay, Ashcroft, Sayers, Muir, Craig, Munole, John (C), Alonso, Donley, Mathurin. 

Substitutes: Robson, Hayton, Dorrington, Abbott, Williams. 

WHAT IT MEANS

The draw sees us climb to fourth place in Premier League 2, continuing our unbeaten start to the season after three games played. 

We are just two points off current leaders Arsenal. 

UP NEXT 

The EDS will be in action next week as we travel to the capital to take on Chelsea. 

Kick off at Kingsmeadow will be at 19:00 (UK) on Friday 26 August.