Thomas Frank is preparing to oversee his first cup tie as Spurs manager, facing League One side Doncaster Rovers.
Spurs will be confident going into this tie, but as we have seen in this season’s edition of the Carabao Cup, you can’t write off the lower-league sides.
Chelsea were unconvincing in their 2-1 win against Lincoln City on Tuesday night, and we all remember the fate that befell Manchester United in the previous round, losing to League Two’s Grimsby Town.
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There can be no complacency from the Spurs players. Thomas Frank is all too familiar with an early exit from this competition, going out to Gillingham and Plymouth during his time at Brentford.
The Spurs News has three predictions for Wednesday night’s clash, starting with a new signing getting off the mark.
Randal Kolo Muani will open his Spurs account
Spurs aren’t short on attacking options this season. Kolo Muani is likely to start against Doncaster, with Dominic Solanke just coming back from injury.
We are yet to see the best of the Frenchman, but if he gets the chance to feature, he could have a fruitful night.
Kolo Muani is a top talent, and his pace should be a difficult proposition for the opposing back line.
If he gets the chance to stretch his legs and someone can find the space to release him, he should be able to register a first goal at his new club.
Archie Gray will stake his claim for a midfield spot
19-year-old Archie Gray had a peculiar debut season at Spurs.
He was signed from Leeds with a reputation as one of England’s best young midfield prospects, but due to an injury crisis that spanned almost the entire season, he spent most of his playing time in the defensive line.
Gray did well considering the circumstances, covering for the absent Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, but it was a new role and not one he likely wants to go back to.
He would rather be deployed in his natural position, and he should get that opportunity against Doncaster. Gray has reams of quality, and it will be exciting to see him operating in the middle of the park.
Spurs will win convincingly
Simple. Spurs should dominate this fixture and score plenty of goals.
We discussed the challenges Chelsea and United faced against opponents from the lower leagues, and complacency is indeed a risk.
But unlike those two, Spurs have home advantage. A big factor in the struggles we have seen in this competition has been Premier League sides travelling to a completely different environment from what they are used to, and facing a passionate, somewhat hostile crowd.
With the strength of the home support behind them, Spurs should have too much for Doncaster.
We predict a handful of goals, and a performance that will go some way to redeeming the weekend’s dropped points.
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