The winger was alive to James Rowswell’s low delivery to convert smartly inside the back post shortly before the half-hour mark – and in spite of heightened pressure from the visitors after the break, it remained 1-0 at Stevenage as we marched on into the quarter-finals, where we’ll play away to the winners of Chelsea’s tie with Middlesbrough.
Having taken the lead following a bright start, we were made to dig in and graft for the win as Leicester made life difficult for us in the second period, although they didn’t truly threaten an equaliser, Kirsten Otchere’s off-target header in stoppage time the closest they went to sending the round of 16 tie into extra time.
Defender Rowswell had a couple of early chances for us, seeing his left-footed shot blocked behind by Bobby Amartey and heading the resulting corner over the bar at the near post, while Reiss Russell-Denny – playing in the number 10 role – dragged a shot across the face of goal and later glanced a header off-target as we dominated the opening stages.
Carey Bloedorn made sharp saves from Logan Briggs and Otchere in quick succession as Leicester tried to respond, but we deservedly took the lead on 27 minutes when Rowswell’s low delivery from the right flank went all the way across the 18-yard line and found Thompson on the far side, who outfoxed the visitors by firing a first-time shot inside the back stick.
Ryan Donnelly sent a good chance high over the top for Leicester, but we continued on the front foot, Russell-Denny shooting straight at goalkeeper Freddie Marson after a short free-kick routine and Rio Kyerematen – who frequently stole in to pinch the ball in the opponents’ half – seeing a shot charged down in the area.
Bloedorn saved well from Briggs with Matthew Craig doing just enough to prevent Otchere from converting the rebound in first-half stoppage time, with Leicester imposing themselves on the game a lot more after the restart and preventing us from playing our usual attacking game. Kyerematen did manage a shot from a dangerous area that was again blocked by Amartey, but we found it tough going and had a let-off when Mirsad Ali’s dangerous low delivery from Leicester’s left zipped across the face of goal with nobody in blue on hand in the box to convert it. Thankfully for us, we were able to keep the visitors at bay for the rest of the game, and when Otchere steered his header from an awkward angle wide in the 94th minute, our progress into the last eight was secure.
‘Second half was unlike us’
Under-21s Coach Wayne Burnett felt our display was uncharacteristic in the second period, telling SPURSPLAY: “In the first half we were okay, we had some good opportunities, their goalkeeper made one or two very good saves and I thought we were dominant, but in the second half it was a completely different performance – I thought Leicester were the dominant team, we played too many long balls, didn’t get onto enough second balls and it was very much unlike us. Leicester applied more pressure upon us and played a bit higher up, we found it hard getting up to the front and maintaining possession and the pressure kept coming and coming, it was relentless at times. The scoreline probably made us a little bit nervy, but saying that, we’ve managed to keep a clean sheet and we’ve managed to win. I think the reason behind that is the players’ mentality and the team as a whole. We showed some togetherness, which we needed to do, and managed to get the win.”
Line-ups
Spurs: Bloedorn, Rowswell (c), Hardy, Cassanova, Arganese-McDermott, Craig, Wilson (Logan 87), Kyerematen (McFadden 69), Melia (Lehane 81), Russell-Denny (Black 87), T Thompson. Substitute (not used): Archer.
Leicester City: Marson, Toko, Ali, Gray, Amartey (c), Neale, Carr, Donnelly (Golding 78), Otchere, Hutchinson, Briggs. Substitutes (not used): French, Khela, Owusu, De Lisle.
Match data
Goal: Spurs – T Thompson 27.
Yellow cards: Spurs – Rowswell 57, T Thompson 66, Wilson 84; Leicester City – Ali 36.
Referee: Callum Walchester.
Venue: Stevenage FC Stadium.
Weather: Sunny, light winds, 13 degrees.
Attendance: 355.