Jahmai Simpson-Pusey’s first league goal of the campaign was an important one. He fired City ahead at the start of the second half after a difficult opening 45 minutes.
Divin Mubama quickly made it two for City on 54 minutes after he converted the penalty he won seconds before.
They would prove to be the defining moments in the match as City confirmed all three points to stay at the league summit and record our first clean sheet since November.
WHAT HAPPENED
Another chilly evening under the lights at the Joie Stadium awaited as City welcomed Spurs to Manchester for our 15th game in the Premier League 2.
A slightly different team was prepped and ready to go in the hope of picking up a third successive win after a positive league performance at Blackburn and a penalty shootout triumph at FC Midtjylland.
After an initial stalemate in the opening eight minutes, Spurs’ Rio Kyerematen was unchallenged in the centre of the City box and headed Oliver Irow’s cross but Oliver Whatmuff watched the ball confidently roll wide of the left post.
Almost every attack City tried to carve out, as Wilkinson’s side grew into the game, saw McAidoo unleashed down the right-hand side. But Spurs’ high line made it difficult for City to find space to play with.
After our opponents enjoyed a short spell, a low driving cross from the left by full-back Max Robson was met by a first-time effort from Tyrese Hall but the Spurs forward lent back in the action and sent his strike high over the crossbar on 17 minutes.
AMax Alleyne follow Irow’s movement well to block his close-range shot after a quick counter from our opponents which was orchestrated through the middle of the pitch on 28 minutes as Spurs pushed for an opener.
The chances were sparse for Spurs as we approached the half-hour mark but City struggled more to register shots on target. It seemed it would take something special to break through an organised Spurs defence.
City’s best chance came on 32 minutes when Seb Naylor made a fantastic run forward to collect Lawrence’s throw-in near the corner flag. The left-back fired an effort goal-bound from the byline and the ball almost snuck past Aaron Maguire as it rattled the post to deny City the opener.
Wilkinson’s side began to force Spurs back further into their half as the break approached. Oboavwoduo won a free-kick 25 yards out and Charlie Gray went straight for goal from the set piece. The midfielder was unfortunate to watch his effort curl away from the top left corner.
Quick link-up between Lawrence and Oboavwoduo saw the latter find space on the left after the former drifted inside with the ball. Oboavwoduo crossed the ball into the centre of the box but Mubama’s glancing header went too far right.
The game began to open up for both teams with play moving from one end of the pitch to the other in seconds.
Another City chance saw McAidoo’s goal-bound effort blocked by Tyrell Ashcroft. It was a clean left-footed half-volley after Lawrence’s cross from the left-hand side flew past a sea of bodies around the penalty spot.
Spurs were next to try their hand at breaking the deadlock. Whatmuff spilled Kyerematen’s effort but was quick to react and regain the ball despite a handful of shirts in front of him. Just seconds later the City ‘keeper was called into action again, this time getting low to deny Leo Black to complete a tense and evenly contested opening 45 minutes.
It was the perfect start to the second half with City finding the back of the Spurs net after just 102 seconds.
Gray won a free kick in the attacking third and after receiving the set piece back from McAidoo, the holding midfielder curled the ball towards the back post.
And waiting to nudge the ball into the bottom right corner with a first-time finish was captain Simpson-Pusey who bagged his first league goal of the 2024/25 season.
It was the boost of confidence City needed after a difficult first half. Five minutes later Lawrence looked to tee up Mubama with a low cross but the City striker was brought down in the box with referee Paul Cooper instantly pointing to the penalty spot.
The number nine took his time and converted the spot kick, straight down the middle, to double City’s lead with his third goal in four PL2 games in blue.
Oboavwoduo almost made it three with a composed right-footed effort, from the edge of the box, which curled just wide of the right post after more clinical and quick build-up play by City. He later almost teed up Christian McFarlane, in his PL2 debut, but the former’s cross was just a couple of inches outside of McFarlane’s reach on 70 minutes.
Oboavwoduo, showing his versatility as a number 10 against Spurs, carried the ball confidently before curling a similar effort onto the right post six minutes later as City continued to find a moment to put the game out of reach for our opponents.
Lawrence was next to test Spurs’ shot-stopper Maguire on 83 minutes. After mesmerising trickery in the box, the winger fired a shot goal-bound but saw the effort palmed away by the ‘keeper. His follow-up effort was then deflected out for a corner which Spurs did well to see out of harm’s way.
Mubama almost secured a brace after he was played in behind Spurs’ defence by Naylor. The striker opted to go low but Maguire read the chance well and his outstretched foot denied City a third with less than five to play.
At the other end of the pitch, City’s backline held strong to see out the match and pick up our first clean sheet since November as we maintain our place at the PL2 summit.
HOW WE LINED UP
From Youth League to PL2, Oliver Whatmuff started again for Ben Wilkinson on Monday evening.
In front of Whatmuff, Lakyle Samuel, Max Alleyne, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Seb Naylor were City’s back four.
In the engine room, Charlie Gray, Jaden Heskey and Justin Oboavwoduo made a dynamic trio in the centre of the pitch.
Divin Mubama led City’s attacking line and was joined by Emilio Lawrence and Ryan McAidoo on either flank.
CITY XI | Whatmuff, Samuel, Alleyne, Simpson-Pusey, Naylor, Gray (Okeke 77’), McAidoo (McFarlane 61’), J. Heskey, Mubama (Henderson-Hall 90+3’), Oboavwoduo, Lawrence.
UNUSED SUBS | Hudson, Mfuni.
SPURS XI | Maguire, McKnight (Rowsell 73’), Robson, Ashcroft, King, Russell-Denny (Cassanova 73’), Akhamrich (Williams 61’), Kyerematen (Ajayi 61’), Irow, Hall, Black.
UNUSED SUBS | Bloedorn.
WHAT IT MEANS
City’s EDS stay top of the PL2 table with five games left to play before the knockout stage of the competition.
UP NEXT
A quick turnaround awaits Wilkinson’s squad who travel to Middlesbrough in our next Premier League 2 assignment.
Kick-off in our 16th league game is scheduled for 19:00 (UK) on Friday 21 February.
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