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The Barclays Crisis Club heavyweight title is on the line at Old Trafford as Manchester United face Spurs, while Man City face another tough test after the Arsenal battle and Luis Diaz gets the ideal chance to continue his fine goalscoring form.

Game to watch: Manchester United v Tottenham

A game between two teams locked together in mid-table on seven unconvincing points from five unconvincing games, teetering on the crisis club precipice with both managers under severe pressure.

Potentially far more fun for everyone else, then, than the tawdry spectacle served up last weekend when the biggest game of the weekend was between two teams who are really good. How boring. Give us flaws. Give us managers flailing around, trying to assert their credentials by pleading for time to develop younger players or the increasingly passive-aggressive use of the word ‘mate’. That’s Barclays heritage.

The worry for both these teams is that so far this season they have answered precisely none of the questions that existed about them coming into the campaign. United are making all the same mistakes in all the same ways as last season, with little evidence Erik ten Hag is about to hit upon a solution that survives a stress test of more than two or three games, while the inherent vulnerabilities of high-wire Angeball continue to be laid bare, with further questions about whether the ensuing attacking output generated is even really that good or worth it.

Funny thing about Spurs, though: they currently find themselves on a three-game winning run for the first time this year. It is perhaps the least convincing three-game winning run in the history of the sport, but a three-game winning run it nevertheless is.

And while that run may lack for compelling quality, it doesn’t lack for balls. Having scored two late goals to avoid humiliation in the Carabao at Coventry, Spurs were again required to come from a goal down in the Premier League against Brentford. There’s a decent case for saying this was Spurs’ best league performance of 2024, which is itself to damn with faint praise, but there was a purpose and directness to their football in the face of that early setback that had been sorely lacking.

Against Qarabag in the shiny (sh*te) new Europa League they ought to be prioritising, Spurs found themselves not a goal but a man down in the early stages and will have expended more effort and energy than might have been hoped in securing that 3-0 win.

But at least it was a win; United, for their part, could manage only a 1-1 home draw with Twente in the same competition on the back of last weekend’s stalemate against winless Crystal Palace in the league.

It’s a familiar one step forward, two steps back for Ten Hag’s team and this is a huge game now for both sides. Spurs are in urgent need of a result against someone half-decent having lost their last seven ‘big eight’ fixtures in the Premier League. United require some evidence that this season is going to look any different to the last, and a win in a fixture they were lucky to escape with a 2-2 draw last season would be something.

Defeat for either leaves their league season in serious early distress, in all probability already seven points adrift of the top four, and will increase the volume of those already really quite loud questions that have been echoing around since last season.

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Team to watch: Manchester City

It really shouldn’t be forgotten just how ordinary City looked against Arsenal’s 10 men last weekend. The late drama and swirling noise should not distract from how poor it was, and City must get straight back to business with a dangerous trip to a Newcastle side who have yet to truly convince this season but have proved mighty adept at snaffling plenty of points regardless.

City ought to win, of course, because that’s nearly always the case. An uneasy truce may have been declared between dug-out and boardroom at St James’ Park but it’s clear all is not well after a difficult summer, and the 10 points they won from their first four games flattered them long before last weekend’s sound beating at Fulham.

City have little room for error with all of last season’s top four on their tails again and this is a tougher fixture than Pep Guardiola might have liked to see on the itinerary after the stress and effort of last Sunday.

City do at least have the advantage of going first in the Saturday lunchtime slot rather than having to respond to the efforts of their rivals. Given City face Newcastle and Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa face Leicester, Wolves and Ipswich respectively, that may be just as well.

Manager to watch: Kieran McKenna

It’s been an interesting start to life back in the Premier League for Ipswich. And despite still searching for a first win five games into the season, a largely encouraging one. The only defeats have come against Liverpool and Man City, neither of them humiliating, followed by draws against Fulham, Brighton and Southampton.

There has been nothing to suggest Ipswich are going to be unable to compete in this division under their impressive young manager, but at some point it would be lovely to see that first win ticked off to prove it can be a season of more than just avoiding embarrassment.

The visit of Aston Villa gives McKenna and his side another chance to test themselves against the division’s current elite before a sequence of games around the interlull that look far more likely to provide opportunities for that first win with West Ham, Everton, Brentford and Leicester a run rich with potential if this weekend can be negotiated without too much unpleasantness.

Player to watch: Luis Diaz

A Liverpool team in rich goalscoring form head this weekend to a Wolves side that has already shipped six at home to Chelsea and must fear a repeat dose.

Liverpool, with one notable and costly exception, have made an excellent start to life under Arne Slot and the sheer depth of their attacking talent was in evidence as a much-changed side sauntered to a familiar-sounding 5-1 Carabao victory over poor old West Ham this week.

Slot’s first seven games haven’t perhaps been the toughest set of fixtures imaginable, but they have yielded 18 goals with the obvious prospect of more to come against what is currently the division’s joint-leakiest defence.

And one player in particular who appears to be enjoying the new regime is Luis Diaz. He’s always been an eye-catching part of Liverpool’s attack, but one for whom the numbers haven’t quite matched the visuals.

That’s all changed this season. After scoring 16 goals in 67 Premier League appearances under Jurgen Klopp, it’s currently five in five for the Colombian under Slot. Sure, that may only be half as much as Erling Haaland, but it’s more than anyone else and that feels rather more relevant.

Diaz is in the finest goalscoring form of his Liverpool career, and there’s not many teams you’d rather face while in that form than Wolves right now.

Football League game to watch: Sheffield Wednesday v West Brom

It’s Sky Sports+ for the pick of the weekend’s Championship games as surprise leaders West Brom take their unbeaten record north to Sheffield and a Wednesday team once again deeply embroiled in the relegation picture despite starting the season with a thumping 4-0 win over Plymouth.

It’s been just one point from five subsequent games for Danny Rohl’s side, who finished last season so impressively to beat the drop. West Brom, on the other hand, go from strength to strength. They finished fifth last season but a full 12 points behind fourth-place Southampton and lost in the play-off semi-finals.

They appear to be a different beast this season, though, dropping only two points in six games via a draw with Leeds and boasting the league’s top scorer in Josh Maja.

This is the Baggies’ fourth year in the Championship, their longest such stint since their first relegation from the Premier League back in 2003. They’ve always found yo-yoing back into the top flight relatively straightforward when it’s previously been required, never taking more than two seasons about it and finishing no lower than fourth.

It’s been harder graft this time, but the trend is at least in the right direction after finishes of 10th, ninth and fifth. Early signs suggest a team capable of avoiding any more play-off unpleasantness.

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European game to watch: Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen

There are two European must-watches really this weekend, with the Madrid derby on Sunday. But that’s already starting to look like a scramble for the minor placings in La Liga given the form of Barcelona, so forced to choose one we’ll take what looks like a crucial early title clash in Germany.

It’s the perennial champs against last season’s upstarts and a game that feels like it carries a similar early yet potentially season-defining heft as last week’s Premier League clash between Man City and Arsenal.

Having, to their eternal shame, lost a domestic game of football already this season, Bayer are on the back foot heading to Munich to face the leaders, who have four wins from four and appear in no mood for f***ing about this time.

A win for Bayern opens up a six-point lead that even this early in the season would appear to be a formidable one, but it’s never quite as straightforward as that with this odds-defying Leverkusen outfit.

Tottenham begin their latest Europa League campaign tonight. It is a tournament in which Spurs, even by well-established Spursy standards, have a miserable record.

The Europa League occupies a uniquely singular spot in Spurs’ trophy-dodging efforts of the last 16 years. It is a competition they consider beneath them, yet one which has also often proved quite significantly above them.

Since the UEFA Cup was rebranded in 2009, Spurs have had seven goes at it along with six in the Champions League. It’s close enough to an even split, and in stupid yet on-brand fashion they have a far better record in the latter.

As well as the 2019 final, Spurs have reached a Champions League quarter-final and the last 16 three further times. Only once have they failed to get out of the group.

In their seven sniffy attempts at the Europa League they have made it as far as the last eight only once, and then no further. Three last-16 exits match their Big Cup efforts, while there’s also a pair of last-32 exits – one of which represented the first Europa hurdle after dropping down from the Champions League.

Their last crack at this tournament in 2020/21 was perhaps the most ignominious of all, ending in last-16 humiliation for Jose Mourinho’s side against Dinamo Zagreb. Having won the first leg 2-0 in London, Spurs were stunned by a 3-0 defeat in the return against a side whose manager had recently been sentenced to prison.

It’s a part of the story Mourinho always leaves out, for some reason, when complaining that he was denied his God-given right to lead Spurs out in the Carabao Cup final against Man City shortly afterwards.

There is surely no club of Spurs’ size to have had more goes at the rebadged Europa League and do so little with them, and all while viewing the competition with a uniquely arrogant and unjustified disdain.

It is a tournament that, in the time Spurs have been turning their noses up at it while winning sod all else, has been won multiple times by Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, as well as Porto and Manchester United. Arsenal have been beaten in the final, as have United, Liverpool, Ajax, Inter, Roma and Bayer Leverkusen.

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Spurs, frankly, have no right to be as sniffy as they historically have been about a tournament that offers a plausible – often their most plausible – route to notable silverware at a club in urgent need of such a thing.

This year’s collision between Spurs and the Europa is thus a particularly fascinating one. We’re genuinely intrigued as to how they’ll approach it.

There are reasons to suppose the answer is ‘properly, for once’. It certainly should be. For one, there’s Ange Postecoglou’s self-constructed petard about always winning things in his second season. Already, the options there are pretty bare. The Premier League title is out of the question, obviously, the Carabao could have gone once again at the very first hurdle but now requires clearing the most significant of all in the last 16, and the FA Cup is a long and unpredictable road the navigating of which requires both luck and skill.

Spurs have, it must also be noted, displayed desperately little of either in that tournament recently as well, having failed to go beyond the last 16 in their last six attempts.

The Europa League, then, offers both the biggest and most realistic route to success for Postecoglou and his team. They have absolutely no excuse not to give it their full attention.

Well, almost no excuse. Because here’s the other thing, of course, that makes Spurs’ approach here so tricky to unpick: the format. We’ve covered this in quite some detail already, with all the same problems with this set-up from the Champions League applying to the Europa League, but with knobs on because the standard of opponent is patchier still.

There is, if anything, even less peril about the ‘league phase’ here, and no matter what Spurs do they should still find themselves by hook or by crook in the top 24 when the music stops.

The fact the league stage extends into January also gives clubs even more opportunity to take stock and assess the lay of the land and prioritise accordingly. We can help Spurs out here; this is their priority. They do not and have not for really quite a long time now appear a side equipped to challenge for a Champions League spot via the league. They are absolutely a side that could, with a sprinkling of luck and a following wind, pick a path through Europe’s second-tier opponents. And there are no Champions League dropouts to worry about in the knockouts now.

Such are the tension-free, low-stakes nature of the early rounds, Spurs could be forgiven for treating tonight’s game roughly the way they did the Carabao trip to Coventry, with near-disastrous consequences. They also have a league game at Manchester United this weekend to consider.

But even with this format and other upcoming tasks, we’d love to see Spurs take this very seriously from very early on. From tonight.

It’s not just that it’s a chance to lay down a marker for how they see this competition in general, it’s also just sensible use of resources. The very nature of this tournament means the eight-match fixture list will vary significantly in standard. Spurs have a gentle start, with Qarabag followed by Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar before things step up a notch with Galatasaray away and Roma at home giving things more of a ‘Champions League group stage’ vibe.

Yet the chance is there for Spurs to make those games the ones they needn’t worry about. It’s not Spurs’ fault the format is cooked and that making a decent start in what are on paper some of the easier challenges will go a long way to securing a place in the knockout rounds. They must take that chance.

Some rotation is inevitable and understandable. But these are not nights where we want to see Postecoglou doing the eight or nine changes dance. We want to see Spurs show some proper respect to a tournament they have treated shabbily in the past.

Who knows, they might even surprise themselves and actually do quite well. And at least this way if they still make a big ol’ bollocks of it then it’ll be even funnier for everyone else. Win-win.

Can you name the Tottenham XI that turned over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2018?

Spurs go to United on Sunday having enjoyed some big wins at Old Trafford in recent years.

In 2020, under Mourinho, they rattled six past the Red Devils. But two years prior to that, Mourinho was in charge of the hosts, who went down 3-0 to Pochettino’s side, which went all the way to the Champions League final.

Can you recall the XI that piled the pressure on Mourinho as United boss?

As ever, leave your scores on the leaderboard or Below The Line.

If you enjoyed that and need more reasons to dodge work, we’ve got plenty more quizzes here. And our friends at Planet Football have even more.

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Manchester City will travel to face Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Holders Liverpool have been given an away tie against Brighton, while Manchester United are at home against Premier League strugglers Leicester City.

Championship outfit Preston’s reward for seeing off top-flight Fulham in a dramatic penalty shoot-out last week is a home game with Arsenal.

Fellow second-tier sides Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke go to Brentford and Southampton respectively.

There is another all-Premier League tie as Aston Villa host Crystal Palace, and a potential one if Newcastle get past League Two AFC Wimbledon, with the winners of that game to face Chelsea at home.

The AFC Wimbledon-Newcastle contest was due to be played at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday night but was switched to St James’ Park next Tuesday after the former was affected by flooding.

The fourth-round games are scheduled to take place in the week commencing October 28.

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Arsenal beat Bolton 5-1 at the Emirates on Wednesday night to advance in the competition. 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri had a night to remember as he netted a brace for the Gunners.

Speaking post-match, Mikel Arteta admitted the teenager is “ahead” of schedule and “will have the minutes”.

“You can tell he is playing with a confidence and belief and an understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch,” Arteta said.

“In his journey with the first team he is always ahead of what everybody expected and I expected, too. He deserves that and he is part of us so he will have the minutes.”

On starting 16-year-old Jack Porter, he added: “We told him yesterday and he was over the moon.

“He spoke straightaway to his family and they were not prepared for that.

“It is a big step, a big occasion for them and I think they were nervous about it. But he reacted really well, he was really composed in training and his team-mates helped him, too. What an experience and what a way to break a record.”

On a night filled with positives for Arteta, on-loan Chelsea attacker Sterling also broke his duck as he extended Arsenal’s lead around the hour mark.

“It was very good performance by Raheem,” continued Arteta.

“He is getting better and better and you can tell physically he is making steps. He was involved in a few goals so it was a very strong night for him.”

Son Heung-min has expressed his “love” for Tottenham teammate Rodrigo Bentancur, despite him making an alleged racist remark about the South Korea star.

The former Juventus midfielder was charged last Thursday with an alleged misconduct breach by the Football Association in relation to a media interview in the summer.

In the clip, which surfaced in June, the host of a Canal 10 show asked Bentancur to show the shirt of a Spurs player, with the 27-year-old allegedly replying: “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

While an apology from Bentancur was swiftly forthcoming, due to this being an “aggravated breach”, if an independent regulatory commission panel upholds the FA charge, he could be suspended for six to 12 domestic matches, the PA news agency understands.

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Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League home tie against Qarabag, Son said: “At the moment, because of the FA process, I can’t say much about it.

“But I love Rodrigo, I love him. We’ve a lot of good memories, we started playing together when he joined (in January 2022).

“He knew. He apologised straight afterwards when we had holiday. I was at home. I didn’t even realise what was going on. He sent me a long message and you could feel it was coming from his heart.

“When we came back for pre-season, he felt really sorry and he almost cried when he apologised publicly and personally as well. He felt like he was really sorry. We are all human and all make mistakes and we learn from it.

“I love Rodrigo. I love him, I love him. He knows he made a mistake but I’ve no problem at all with him. We move on as a team-mate and friend and as a brother. We move on together.”

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Son is one of only two players along with Ben Davies left at Tottenham from the squad which reached the Champions League final in 2019.

Defeat in Madrid to Liverpool extended the club’s trophy drought and it now stands at 16 years, but Son is determined to end the wait for silverware this season.

“Yeah, it’s a dream. There is no hiding this. That’s what we work for,” Son insisted.

“Obviously, we are looking for another big competition that everybody wants to win. It’s going to be tough, a tough competition, a lot of games and a lot of travelling, which makes it even harder.

“We’ve just got to be ready and take it seriously the competition, because it’s a massive competition.”

Son also reflected on his contract situation after he entered the final 12 months of his Tottenham deal.

Spurs hold the option to extend his terms by a further year and plan to activate it, PA understands, but Son added: “We haven’t talked (about) anything yet. It was very clear for me, I’m very focused for this season.

“At this age, every second is like a goal, especially this season, we are in a lot of competitions, it feels like I’m taking even more care about this. I’m just fully focused on this situation and this year.

“I just want to win something that everybody in this club and these players and all around deserves. That’s what I’m working for.

“In the future, you never know what’s going to happen, but I will make sure I give everything for this club. It’s almost 10 years that I give everything. We’ll see what happens.”

Son also talked up 17-year-old Mikey Moore, who is expected to get more minutes on Thursday night.

“If I can help him a little bit with advice, then I’m always open to it,” Son revealed.

“I enjoy talking to him. He’s a fantastic boy and then I’m definitely sure that he can be a fantastic player. There’s no doubt because he has such amazing quality.”

Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Brentford should have been more convincing but insists “life’s good” after Brennan Johnson’s second goal of the week.

Johnson was criticised by Tottenham fans on social media after the 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal and bounced back with a crucial goal away to Coventry City in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

He made it two in two to help Postecoglou’s side beat Brentford at home on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs went a goal down inside a minute thanks to Bryan Mbeumo but bounced back quickly through Dominic Solanke, who netted his first goal for the club.

Johnson then put Spurs in front and the points were secured when James Maddison scored with five minutes remaining.

Spurs boss Postecoglou said after the match: “It was a good win, a good performance.

“Our performances have been good all year but today we got the result as well which is the most pleasing but. We should have won by a fair bit more but we still got the job done.

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“You’re always keeping the opposition in the game [at 2-1] and it’s been the story of our season so far. It was a quality goal from three of our four captains, who I think got involved in it. It was important to finish the game off.

“Dom [Solanke] worked his socks off.

“He was gone at the end. He is still getting back to match fitness, but I know he is going to provide so much for us in that central position.

“All strikers love goals so it will be a great moment for him, especially at home.

“We’ve got a Europa game in the week so that will be our focus and then we’ll look at Man United. It’s a big game.”

On Johnson, Postecoglou added: “He’s had a top week, he’s scored two goals, he’s won us a game to get through in the cup.

“Life’s good. Sometimes going through tough moments gives you perspective of what’s important.”

Goalscorer Solanke added: “[It feels] fantastic. To get the win here meant a lot to all of us.

“We have had some great performances to start the season but haven’t managed to get the to match that so today we wanted to mix them both together. Today we did that.

“We have been playing well all season but sometimes you don’t get the results you deserve, but if you keep going, keep sticking at it and playing the way we want to play it’s going to happen.

“As a striker it’s always important to get that first goal and I managed to get that today which I’m happy with so hopefully I can continue in this way.

“It’s magnificent and Brennan is a great player,” Solanke added when asked about Johnson.

“In the last two games he has had two great finishes and helped the team massively so great credit to him. We’re all happy for him.

“Everyone in the team loves and helps each other so it’s a great spirit.”

Ange Postecoglou confirms Tottenham “did look” at Ivan Toney as a potential signing before they bought Dominic Solanke from AFC Bournemouth.

Spurs spent £65million to bring in Solanke from Premier League rivals Bournemouth last month, but his start to life at the club has been hampered by an ankle injury picked up on his debut at Leicester City.

Toney was another high-profile English forward on the market, but he eventually joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in a surprise move. This means Spurs will not face him on Saturday when Brentford make the trip to play their London rivals.

Postecoglou briefly touched upon Toney’s summer availability before launching a staunch defence of Solanke, who produced good moments against Leicester and Arsenal but is without a goal after three appearances.

“We did look at him (Toney) but I have said, Dom was the one I wanted and it took pretty much the whole summer to get him in because he was the one who fitted the profile of what we were looking for at the time,” Postecoglou explained.

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“People are just so quick to judge, mate. It’s a small sample. The guy has played less than two games for us.

“If he has gone 15 games without a goal then I can answer that question or 15 games where he hasn’t contributed, but I just think take a breath. Do a bit of yoga. Think about the world for a second and make an assessment after that.

“We don’t have to rush to make judgement all the time because the alternative is he may have got off to a great start, he is fit, scored in all four games, is flying and then he goes through a patch like all strikers where he doesn’t score.

“What I look at is he has come in, fitted really well and quite logically has picked up an injury that has disrupted the way he wanted to start his career, but he’s still got plenty of time for that.

“I haven’t sensed (anxiety). I don’t sense that. In his mind, I think he just wants to be in a good physical condition so he can contribute. That is where he is at and the space we want him in.

“Hopefully he gets a bit of confidence out of the game time he got during the week and builds on that tomorrow. I’m sure as the season goes on he will be a real strong contributor for us.”

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Solanke will start again against Brentford after Postecoglou delivered a mixed update on injuries.

Wilson Odobert (hamstring) is definitely out, but Yves Bissouma (groin) and Timo Werner are available.

Richarlison remains “a fair way off” with a calf issue.

Postecoglou added: “Wilson doesn’t look good, we are still waiting for it to settle down and get all the information but he will definitely be out for the next period.

“Bissouma trained today so he should be available for tomorrow. Timo is okay.

“(Richarlison) has still not trained with the first team so he is still a bit off.”

Ange Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham is currently “game to game” after their poor start to the new Premier League season, according to one journalist.

Spurs have taken just four points from their opening four matches of the new Premier League season with one win, one draw and two losses from their first fixtures.

And it was looking like they would follow up their disappointing 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Arsenal with another loss after Brandon Thomas-Asante fired Championship side Coventry City into the lead in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

It would have put Postecoglou’s post-match comments last weekend about always winning silverware in his second season into sharp focus, but Djed Spence spared his blushes when he levelled with two minutes left.

Spot-kicks were still on the cards until Rodrigo Bentancur played through to Brennan Johnson, who chipped home in the 92nd minute to send Tottenham through with a 2-1 win and leave their travelling support singing about Wembley.

But it was another below-par display from Spurs and it didn’t ease the pressure on Postecoglou with Daily Mirror journalist John Cross insisting that defeat against Brentford in their upcoming fixture this weekend could really increase the unease at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Cross said on the Sky Sports Back Pages podcast: “I do think that Spurs fans, who loved him last season, and loved the style of football, gave him a wonderful start. They tailed off badly.

“I do think it’s testing times, because the biggest thing about that was the positive energy that the fans had. They really appreciated Postecoglou. They loved singing the songs.

“At the moment, it just feels quite flat. They were three minutes away from going out at Coventry, which would have been a devastating result.

“I don’t think that he would have immediately been sacked or anything like that, but I tell you what, they’ve got Brentford at home on Saturday. If they’d had that upset, it feels like you are going game to game a little bit.”

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Dominic Solanke was Tottenham’s biggest purchase of the summer transfer market from Bournemouth with the one-cap England international failing to provide a goal or assist in his first three matches in all competitions.

Solanke played 62 minutes against Coventry as Tottenham struggled to create with the 27-year-old failing to register a shot during the match and O’Hara was unhappy that he didn’t do more.

O’Hara said on talkSPORT: “Solanke comes off after 60 minutes again, that’s got to be a talking point. It’s not happening. Come on, for £60 million. I know price tags mean nothing. Like, come on. You have to make something happen for yourself.

“If you are staying on a football pitch for 60 minutes and you don’t have a shot. Surely, you have to look at yourself and go ‘I have got to do more’. I would be demanding the ball anywhere and having a shot from somewhere. He’s a striker and you haven’t had a shot.”

Ange Postecoglou acknowledged Tottenham had to hang in there to avoid a Carabao Cup upset at Coventry, and riled at questions about the fans booing his substitutions.

Spurs were set to follow up Sunday’s painful derby defeat to Arsenal with another loss after Brandon Thomas-Asante fired the Sky Bet Championship club into a deserved lead after 63 minutes.

It would have put Postecoglou’s post-match comments last weekend about always winning silverware in his second season into sharp focus, but Djed Spence spared his blushes when he levelled with two minutes left.

Spot-kicks were still on the cards until Rodrigo Bentancur played through to Brennan Johnson, who chipped home in the 92nd minute to send Tottenham through and leave their travelling support singing about Wembley.

“We had to hang in there. We had to work really, really hard just to stay in the game and obviously going a goal behind makes it even more challenging,” Postecoglou said.

“At the end there, we showed some real spirit and character, which is probably what’s been missing in the first four games.

“We’ve had the performance, but we haven’t had that relentlessness to get a result. You sense that in the last 10 minutes, we got real belief out of that and hopefully that’s a good sign moving forward.”

It could end up being a pivotal victory for Postecoglou, but it was an overall poor night for a much-changed Spurs team.

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Coventry almost scored inside 60 seconds but Fraser Forster atoned for a misplaced pass with a fine save to deny Jack Rudoni.

Tottenham dominated possession but failed to create chances and Rudoni had another effort blocked by Destiny Udogie before Norman Bassette fired over.

After no first half shot and a smattering of boos at the break, Postecoglou sent on Spence and Johnson did have a shot deflected wide but Forster had to deny Bassette before Coventry called for a penalty.

Jake Bidwell collided with Forster and as play continued Ben Davies had to slide in to thwart Haji Wright’s goalbound effort.

Boos greeted Postecoglou’s decision to take off the lively Lucas Bergvall in the 62nd minute before seconds later Thomas-Asante slotted home from a sumptuous Bassette cross.

Further chances were fashioned for the hosts as Ephron Mason-Clark failed to get a sufficient touch at the back post.

The Sky Blues would pay the price for their profligacy as Dejan Kulusevski combined brilliantly with fellow substitute Spence, who prodded home with two minutes left.

It was Spurs who scented blood and Bentancur threaded a pass through to Johnson, who dinked past Wilson to spark wild away celebrations half an hour after they booed the decision to take off Bergvall.

Postecoglou added: “I don’t make substitutions by poll, mate.

“I’m sure the fans have got their own opinions, but yeah, Lucas, like I said that’s his first sort of significant game time for quite a while.”

Coventry boss Mark Robins said: “Life presents you with chances and we seem to not take them in this moment in time.

“I look back to the (2023) play-off final, the game against Manchester United and it was there. The game was there tonight and we just didn’t manage to take it.

“There is the disappointment, but there were so many positives.”

Fabio Paratici’s ban is far from over but he’s working in the shadows as an advisor for Tottenham Hotspur, who have benefited from his transfer expertise.

Having joined Spurs to become their managing director in the summer of 2021, Paratici was forced to resign in April 2023 after being embroiled in the capital gains investigation that marred former club Juventus and Italian football in general.

Paratici is barred from taking on an official role at a football club until his 30-month worldwide ban ends, but this has not stopped him from reportedly “exchanging messages or calls” with Ange Postecoglou as Spurs tap into his knowhow for astute transfers.

And on the evidence of this list of additions, Paratici has been a great help. Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few duds along the way. But no one’s perfect and a significant portion of Tottenham Hotspur’s 29 signings (fees taken from transfermarkt) since the Italian’s arrival in 2021 have been successful. Below I have ranked them from worst to best…

Speaking of duds, Spence was signed during Antonio Conte’s reign after a single break-out year while on loan at Nottingham Forest during their promotion season in 2010/11. However, it quickly became obvious that the bullish Italian did not fancy the right-back.

Spence has been reintegrated into Tottenham’s squad after fruitless loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United and Genoa but is way down the pecking order under Postecoglou. Or at least he was until he scored the equaliser in a narrow Carabao Cup win over Coventry City.

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Like Spence, Gil’s career at Spurs is yet to get off the ground as the fifth Beatle has failed to win over several managers.

Loveable Aussie Postecoglou gifted Gil a fresh start last season but the 22-year-old did not make the most of this opportunity and he joined La Liga side Genoa on loan in the summer.

The Danjuma transfer saga of January 2023 was weirdly enjoyable as the former Bournemouth man looked set for Everton until those pesky Spurs pulled off a late hijack. Unfortunately, he wasn’t worth the effort as he made just one Premier League start during that miserable 2022/23 run-in.

Having impressed with Fulham, Solomon felt like a pretty astute addition last year. But he missed most of the 2023/24 campaign with a knee injury and is currently getting some games in the Championship with loan club Leeds United.

The one-time Italy international made just ten appearances (zero in the Premier League) during his 2021/22 loan season as deputy to the declining Hugo Lloris. Next…

The first #OneForTheFuture in this list, 21-year-old Veliz has made a bright start to his loan spell at Espanyol this season, but please get back to us on this one.

I foolishly backed Richarlison to be Tottenham’s Harry Kane solution during his purple patch last season, but – amid injury and personal problems – he’s reverted to type and Daniel Levy seemed keen to offload him to the Saudi Pro League in the summer.

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One of few notable signings of this year’s particularly dull winter transfer window, Werner has stuttered after making a bright start at Spurs. He’s been a handy squad player for Postecoglou, but he’s currently not doing enough to warrant a more prominent role in the Premier League.

The veteran goalkeeper replaced Gollini before the 2022/23 campaign and made 20 appearances that season as Lloris’ farewell year proved to be miserable. He’s now in the cushy pre-retirement back-up goalkeeper role behind Tottenham’s number one (more on him later).

Tottenham’s decision to spunk £47m on Johnson when they needed to replace Kane was a puzzling one and he has work to do if he’s going to eventually live up to his high price tag.

Not great, not terrible. Tottenham did not see enough from Lenglet during his 2022/23 loan spell to keep him long-term and given who they replaced him with last season, they were right not to make his deal permanent.

The 2023/24 campaign was comfortably Royal’s best in a Spurs shirt as his versatility proved useful. This enabled the Premier League club to get around £13m back on the defender, who joined AC Milan following an unusually prolonged saga in the summer.

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This signing had Conte’s paws all over it, but the 34-year-old was never going to be at the forefront of Postecoglou’s mind for his fresh-faced Spurs side. It would have been great if he joined the Premier League five years earlier but he was past his peak.

The jury is very much still out on Kane’s replacement. While he’s yet to find the net for Spurs, his general play has been impressive and his presence will eventually give a much-needed boost to his supporting cast.

Thank you Spurs, Dragusin and his agent. The dramatic transfer saga concerning the defender was a rare highlight in last season’s January window. Sadly, he has not followed up his noisy arrival with much of note on the pitch as he’s currently one of Postecoglou’s back-ups.

Another #OneForTheFuture. The 18-year-old has been shining for England at youth level and if he reaches his potential, he could prove to be a huge bargain.

The 28-year-old midfielder has fared much better under Postecoglou as he was like a new signing for Spurs last season. Angeball has afforded him the freedom to express himself without the Conte-enforced restraints.

Scott Parker was furious in the summer as his Burnley squad was torn apart and their most expensive sale saw them lose Odobert to Tottenham. The 19-year-old was one of their better performers last season and has made a decent start at Spurs.

Gray is regarded as one of the best young English talents around and was one of the stand-out players in the Championship last season. He’s on the periphery at Tottenham at the moment, but it would be a surprise if he’s not a fully-fledged starter and is higher on this list by the end of this campaign.

Another statement Spurs signing saw them fend off competition from elite European clubs to sign 18-year-old Bergvall. Like Gray, he’s only been used sparingly so far this season, but this is likely to change as this campaign progresses.

When Conte demanded signings ahead of the 2022 January transfer window, Spurs came up trumps when they landed Bentancur and another player from Juventus. The classy midfielder has been dogged by injuries in recent years but has still been a great buy for the Premier League club.

Kulusevski’s attacking output has gradually declined during his time at Spurs, but him and Bentancur can be considered snips after the club profited from Juventus’ charitable nature. It’s only a matter of time before he starts assisting Solanke with his devilish left foot.

The talented Italy international swiftly elbowed Ben Davies out of the way to become Spurs’ first-choice left-back last season. He is one of six disappointments this season, struggling in both boxes, and has been outshone by his teammate on the right, but his potential is still enormous.

The all-action midfielder was a surprise package in the Premier League last season as he – a la Micah Richards – broke onto the scene. A perfect fit for Postecoglou’s system, Sarr should be vital to Spurs for many years.

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Arsenal exposed Vicario’s flaws in last weekend’s North London derby defeat, but he has still proven to be an excellent signing as the superb shot-stopper is ranked among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Much of Paratici’s work over the past couple of years has centred around rebuilding Tottenham’s defence and he’s done a bloody good job of it. Spurs secured a major coup as they leapfrogged Liverpool in the race to sign left-sided centre-back Van de Ven, who is already the real deal.

Van de Ven’s transition into life as a Premier League player has been made easier by playing alongside World Cup winner Romero. The defensive sh*thouse is excellent at everything he does and he’s also emerged as an important leader of this new-look Spurs. They will be desperate to keep him amid interest from Real Madrid.

Porro is fast becoming a complete wing-back and has earned a place in the Premier League team of the season so far.