Tottenham player ratings vs Coventry - Djed Spence, Brennan Johnson and Kulusevski save Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur managed to grab a 2-1 win at Coventry City on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup third round and here are our Spurs player ratings.
Ange Postecoglou made eight changes to his team for their trip to the Coventry Building Society Arena as Spurs looked to put the pain of Sunday's north London derby defeat to Arsenal behind them. The game against Mark Robins' Championship side was a potential banana skin for Tottenham in the days after Postecoglou made it clear that he is aiming to continue his career theme of second season silverware.
He left both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven out of his squad with Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies partnering up in the centre of defence. Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were both given their first competitive starts for Tottenham, the latter at right-back, and left-back Sergio Reguilon was on the bench for the first time under Postecoglou after failing to secure a move away from the club in the summer.
Tottenham were flat for much of the game and didn't manage a single shot on goal until the second half. Coventry caused them problems and scored after the hour mark when Norman Bassette got down the right and whipped the ball across to Brandon Thomas-Asante to slot home.
Spurs did find a late equaliser when Dejan Kulusevski held up the ball well and knocked it into his path of the sprinting Djed Spence and he touched the ball home on the slide.
Tottenham were not done though and Brennan Johnson scored a second in added time. Rodrigo Bentancur played a perfect pass into his path and the Wales international ran through and lifted his shot over the sprawling goalkeeper and into the net.
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Here are our Tottenham player ratings:
Fraser Forster
Played an iffy pass meant for Bergvall early on that got intercepted but he saved the resulting shot. Made a save eight minutes before the break which was given as a goal kick. Made a low save early in the second half to deny Bassette. Made an absolute mess of coming out to claim a ball in the second half, collided with Dragusin and was fortunate that Davies made a sliding block in front of the Spurs goal. Was beaten easily by Thomas-Asante soon after. A really shaky performance with a number of crosses dropped. 3
Archie Gray
A busy game at right-back and Coventry gave him plenty of problems down that flank with their pace including finding that space behind him for the goal. 5
Radu Dragusin
A solid showing on the whole but did play Thomas-Asante onside for the goal. 6
Ben Davies
After a couple of early shaky moments he made an important sliding block to stop a goal in the second half but Thomas-Asante got between him and Spence for the goal. 6
Destiny Udogie
One of Spurs' better defenders in the first half and came off at the break for Spence. 7
Pape Matar Sarr
A mixed bag from the young midfielder with some good moments and some sloppy ones. 5
Rodrigo Bentancur
Made plenty of covering runs in the first half to help his defenders in the first half and then was there to play the perfect assist in added time after winning the ball back himself. 7
Lucas Bergvall
Put in trouble early on but a wayward Forster pass. Was one of Spurs' brighter players though and tried to make things happen before being taken off for Maddison before Coventry scored. 7
Wilson Odobert
Lasted only 17 minutes or so before needing to come off. He'd lost the ball and sprinted back trying to recover it before going down. 4
Dominic Solanke
Barely seemed to touch the ball. No service at all and when he has the ball he didn't do much with it. 4
Timo Werner
Made a good sliding block in his own box before the half hour mark. Going forward though he was dreadful and offered nothing. He went off injured in the second half and had Spurs played on with 10 men his absence probably wouldn't have been noticed. 2
Subs
Brennan Johnson
Called into the action only 17 minutes in after Odobert's injury. Tried to make things happen and did with a last-gasp winner with a delicate shot past Wilson. 7
Djed Spence
Came on for the second half and made a good interception in his own box. Was one of Spurs' best players and deserved his goal, which came after showing real desire to run through and prod the ball home. Crazy that he can't play in Europe in the months ahead. 8
James Maddison
Made a difference when he came on against his old club and stretched them with his movement and passing. Played in Kulusevski with a quick one touch pass for the equaliser. 7
Son Heung-min
Brought some energy in his cameo. 6
Dejan Kulusevski
Another big performance from the Swede up front and he held the ball up well before playing in Spence to score with a nutmeg pass. 8
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