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Tottenham coasted into the fourth round of the EFL Cup by beating Doncaster Rovers on Thursday to continue a positive start to life under Thomas Frank.

Tottenham were 3-0 victors over Doncaster in a game where they were seldom troubled at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs also sit fifth in the infant Premier League table through five games and Tottenham won their Champions League opener 1-0 against Villarreal.

Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy were discussing Spurs‘ start to the season with a caller on the Sports Bar on Thursday, when the former was delivered some unwanted news during the discussion.

O’Hara reacts Tottenham’s Carabao Cup draw

Frank saw Tottenham make light work of Doncaster but the next stage of the competition promises to be an altogether different challenge as Tottenham against holders Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

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Spurs fan O’Hara was evidently annoyed by a tricky draw as he reacted live on talkSPORT to the news.

He said: “Michael Brown what are you doing? We’ve got the draw on, I’m fuming with Michael Brown right, he’s pulled Tottenham out of the hat.

“Newcastle away, it’s so annoying. It’s one of the hardest fixtures in the whole draw.”

O’Hara had already sent a cheeky message to Newcastle fans but he was not feeling quite so confident following the fourth-round draw.

Tottenham and Frank have difficult records to overcome

Tottenham’s recent record at St James’ Park is shocking and doesn’t bode well for O’Hara if he hopes to have the last laugh.

The last Spurs manager to leave Tyneside with a victory was Nuno Espirito Santo in 2021 when Steve Bruce was in charge of the Magpies.

While in charge of Brentford, Frank shared a similar record against Howe’s Newcastle to what his new club does, overcoming the North East side just once in the last eight meetings (one win, eight losses).

The Danish manager will hope for a more favourable outcome with his Spurs squad but it is more than fair to say that a midweek trip to Tyneside represents one of the trickier ties that were available.

Still, if you are going to compete for major honours on a regular basis then you have to beat the better teams in the competition to do so and this represents a good test for Frank and his Spurs charges.

Tottenham have a completely different look compared to last season, and Daniel Levy’s departure has only added to the uncertainty.

Levy resigned as Tottenham chairman to the delight of many Spurs fans, as it was news many have been begging for.

In June, Levy decided to sack Ange Postecoglou and replace him with Thomas Frank, despite the former breaking the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy.

Many Spurs fans criticised Levy, but something fans might not want to hear is that Levy would have been the perfect fit for a new Premier League rule change that is coming into play.

Tottenham could now suffer with proposed UEFA-style ‘squad cost rule’

Levy was known for being tightfisted with his cash whilst at Tottenham, and many fans felt their former chairman kept money for himself.

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The Sun has reported in its print edition (25 September, page 47) that Premier League clubs may be asked to vote on whether to switch financial rules or not.

A debate over the planned move from Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to a UEFA-style squad cost ratios (SCR) was held at a shareholders’ meeting on Tuesday night.

SCR would see clubs be restricted to spending a maximum of 85% of their revenue on wages and transfer fees.

According to a Deloitte Football Money League report in 2025, Spurs’ wage bill took just 42 per cent of their annual revenue, while a lower percentage is expected for annual transfer fees.

Levy has always been able to keep Spurs’ spending down so that they stayed as a healthy, profitable club. The rule change would have been perfect for Levy with Tottenham.

Thomas Frank and Spurs may suffer from the Premier League rule change

There’s chaos behind the scenes at Spurs right now as Joe Lewis‘ family is more involved in the Tottenham boardroom.

The Lewis family face an issue with Fabio Paratici, which could already halt any January transfer window plans.

Frank and his side have made a good start this season, and come January they may need a boost of new signings to achieve success this year.

However, with this potential rule change amid the madness happening behind closed doors, it could be a recipe for disaster.

Thomas Frank gave Mathys Tel a rare start in the Carabao Cup as Tottenham took on Doncaster Rovers on home soil.

As expected, it was a straightforward Wednesday evening for the Lilywhites, with Joao Palhinha and Brennan Johnson on the scoresheet in the 3-0 win.

Several fringe players started the encounter, but Tel was unable to grasp his Tottenham chance, spurning several promising opportunities.

Not only did the Tel have a night to forget, but he was also involved in a flashpoint that has come under the microscope.

This article contains the exclusive opinion of former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee Keith Hackett.

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Andy Madley should have given a yellow card for foul on Mathys Tel

Tottenham progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and will face a stern test away to Newcastle United in the next round.

Having been omitted from Frank’s Champions League squad, Tel is set to be limited to domestic cup appearances as well as the odd Premier League start.

The Frenchman attempted to make inroads past the Doncaster backline, but Glenn Middleton’s sliding tackle brought him down near the touchline.

Referee Madley awarded a foul against Donny’s winger, but decided against brandishing a yellow card.

When analysing the incident, Hackett – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes it was a clear bookable offence.

“There is lenient, then there is lenient,” Hackett said.

“Andy Madley not sanctioning this challenge is disappointing. It does not matter if he believes he is comfortably in control.

“Overlooking a challenge of this nature is unacceptable. he should do his job and apply the demands of the law. This is a clear yellow card offence.“

Will Thomas Frank continue to give Mathys Tel chances at Tottenham?

Some Spurs supporters are frustrated by Tel’s performances and are questioning why the North London club decided to sign him.

So far, Frank has opted to play the 20-year-old against weaker opposition, making starts against West Ham and Doncaster.

However, Tel has not done anything of note in either game, meaning that his head coach has a decision to make.

While there will be more favourable games to come, continuing to play the Frenchman is a risk, especially if Spurs don’t deliver results.

Furthermore, with Randal Kolo Muani to come back from injury, chances are surely going to become more sparse.

Indeed, if Tel’s opportunities diminish before the winter window, then that will trigger speculation of a possible January loan move, and rightly so.

Mathys Tel has endured a turbulent time at Tottenham, but his head coach clearly has his back.

The Lilywhites signed the Frenchman for a fee of around £30million from Bayern Munich this summer, turning his loan switch into a permanent one.

Thomas Frank has given Tel opportunities to impress this season, but has struggled to make any kind of impact.

Frank praised the forward after his showing in the Carabao Cup against Doncaster Rovers despite missing several chances.

Here, Tottenham News looks back at all the things the Dane has said about Tel since joining the North London club.

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What Thomas Frank said about Mathys Tel after Tottenham vs Doncaster Rovers

Frank gave his fringe players the chance to impress in the Carabao Cup as Tottenham strolled to a 3-0 win over Doncaster.

Indeed, some of those players impressed, with Archie Gray delivering an inspiring performance, but the same could not be said of Tel.

The 20-year-old could have scored several goals during his 87-minute outing, but was unable to make a notable impact.

“I don’t think he’s had a bad run, if I’m honest,” Frank said on 24 September when asked about the 20-year-old’s display.

“He played striker against West Ham, which I think he did quite well. Worked very hard for him to arrive in the right areas, which I think he did today. In terms of performance, that was a step up.

“Then we can look at the end product to score the goal, but the performance to arrive in the box, I was very happy with. Just close with the first ball from Brennan, ready for the cutback.

“Second half got in there on two other good situations and had a nice shot. I think it was a step up in terms of performance.”

Thomas Frank hails Mathys Tel as a ‘goalscorer’ after Tottenham transfer

Tel did little to convince during his Spurs loan spell, but the Lilywhites still decided to sign him.

Given that he is 20 and a regular for the France under-21s, the North London club certainly see potential in the forward, even if he is misfiring.

When Tottenham signed Tel over the summer, Frank was keen to laud him, highlighting his threat and versatility.

“Very, very excited about Mathys signing with a permanent deal,” he said via Spurs Play in June.

“I think he’s a very talented player who can play across the front four positions.

“He’s a goalscorer that we can develop even further to be more consistent in his all-round game, but also to more consistently land in the right positions in the box. So I’m looking forward to it.”

What Thomas Frank said about Mathys Tel after Champions League omission

Frank left Tel out of his Champions League squad, which was an early blow to the Frenchman’s 2025/26 campaign.

Of course, given the strength in depth that the former Brentford boss has, he was always going to disappoint someone.

“That was an extremely difficult decision,” Frank told Tottenham’s official website in mid-September.

“I also think in many ways it was a bit unfair. The UEFA lists are not big enough. The load is getting more and more on the players. We need a bigger squad. I cannot understand why we need to limit ourselves.

“I needed to name it before I really knew Matty [Tel]. I think the way he handled it was extremely mature. It was really impressive.”

While it feels like a long way back for Tel, his manager is clearly going to back him publicly when it matters.

Thomas Frank could be about to discipline a Tottenham star who has allowed his standards to slip.

The Lilywhites have made a bright start to the new campaign and are flying high in the early-season Premier League table.

Tottenham continued their strong opening in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, when they saw off League One opponents Doncaster Rovers with a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Frank has already overseen hugely positive changes since his appointment in N17, but one star now seems intent on making life difficult for the new boss.

This article includes exclusive comment from former Tottenham scout Bryan King.

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Yves Bissouma to be sent to train with Tottenham youth team

Tottenham failed in their attempts to sell Yves Bissouma in the summer, after a last-minute move to Galatasaray broke down in the final stages of the transfer window.

The midfielder made his intentions clear that he wanted to stay in the Premier League, and his insistence on that is likely to have played a significant role in the final outcome.

The Mali international is yet to make a competitive appearance under Frank, having previously been left out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup final due to persistent lateness.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that Bissouma should be sent to train with the youth team in order to try and force him towards the exit.

“That’s the kind of disruptive influence that you don’t want at your football club,” King said.

“If one person is late for everything, then other people could start to fall into that trap. I think Spurs have got enough midfielders to send him to train with the U21s.

“Then, when January comes along, he’ll be a lot keener to get away. If you do that, he’d end up being happy to accept a move anywhere.

“If I was Frank, I’d make it as uncomfortable for him as he wants to make it uncomfortable for me.

“I think Frank will be looking to get him out of the club as quickly as possible.”

Spurs should take whatever they can get for Yves Bissouma

Tottenham received interest in Bissouma from Fenerbahce in the summer, and they are still in the market for a midfielder in the January window.

That presents Spurs with the perfect opportunity to get him off their hands, but in order to do so, they sacrifice the financial aspect of a potential deal.

The former Brighton man is out of contract at the end of the season, and with that in mind, the North Londoners should be willing to take whatever they can get for him, even if that means sanctioning a sale for next to nothing.

Frank has made it perfectly clear that he will not play any part in his plans, so there is little point in him seeing out the season in N17.

Mathys Tel has continued to cause concern at Tottenham after an underwhelming loan spell last season.

Spurs made Tel’s transfer permanent over the summer, signing him for a fee of around £30million from Bayern Munich.

The Frenchman started in the Carabao Cup against Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday night, but fluffed his lines on several occasions.

Despite positive words from his manager, Thomas Frank, the 20-year-old has it all to do in North London.

Thomas Frank praises Mathys Tel after Doncaster Rovers disaster class

Tel has endured a torrid time at Tottenham, and things have shown no signs of improving anytime soon.

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The forward started in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night in a match that provided him with the opportunities to thrive.

However, the France under-21 international delivered an uninspiring performance and was unable to score against League One opposition.

Indeed, Tel had multiple chances to score against Doncaster and could have had a hat-trick at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I don’t think he’s had a bad run, if I’m honest,” Frank said on 24 September when asked about the 20-year-old’s display.

“He played striker against West Ham, which I think he did quite well. Worked very hard for him to arrive in the right areas, which I think he did today. In terms of performance, that was a step up.

“Then we can look at the end product to score the goal, but the performance to arrive in the box, I was very happy with. Just close with the first ball from Brennan, ready for the cutback.

“Second half got in there on two other good situations and had a nice shot. I think it was a step up in terms of performance.”

Mathys Tel has it all to do at Tottenham

While Tel had his moments in North London last season, the overriding feeling was that he was not up to standard.

However, the vision for the Frenchman is probably that he is a player for the future, although even that looks like a stretch right now.

The 20-year-old’s season got off to the worst possible start against PSG, when he came on as a late substitute, giving away a dangerous free-kick before missing his penalty in the shootout.

Even though his manager has given him further opportunities to impress, he has struggled against weak opposition in West Ham and Doncaster.

Understandably, confidence is low after Frank left Tel out of his Champions League squad, along with Yves Bissouma.

The Dane has backed his player and is certainly trying to protect him rather than dent his confidence, but what he has said is just plain wrong.

Tel is on a bad run; he did not do quite well against the Hammers, and it was not a ‘step up’ in performance against Donny.

With doubts looming over the Frenchman, the most obvious solution would be to loan him out in January.

Thomas Frank has enjoyed a dazzling start to his Tottenham career after taking the leap from Brentford.

The Lilywhites have been battling on all fronts, with three Premier League wins from five and a victory in their opening Champions League tie.

Spurs made easy work of Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, advancing with a 3-0 victory on home soil.

Indeed, one player has flourished under Frank, and now Rio Ferdinand has offered him some encouraging words.

Rio Ferdinand praises Tottenham defender Djed Spence

Frank rotated his Spurs team against League One opposition, but several first-team regulars still started.

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Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha, and Spence were all named in the Dane’s lineup alongside a host of fringe players.

The latter has enjoyed a phenomenal time on the pitch of late and has continued his significant development under Frank.

Spence started at left-back against Doncaster, pitching up against his on-loan team-mate Damola Ajayi, who played as Donny’s right-winger.

Ajayi was eligible to face Tottenham, with Frank describing it as “a great opportunity for him”.

After the game, Spence shared an amusing post on Instagram with several images, including one of Ajayi behind bars.

His post said: “I’m sorry Lil bro. Welcome to the penitentiary. GODSPEED.”

Ferdinand commented, “Confidence on 100,” followed by an applause emoji.

The only way is up for Djed Spence under Thomas Frank

Spence is proving his detractors wrong at Tottenham, having come under intense scrutiny throughout his career.

The defender always had talent, but Neil Warnock and Antonio Conte have been among his harshest critics over the years.

However, the 25-year-old is now living up to his early potential and is deservedly gaining more praise than criticism.

Spence received his first England start in early September against Serbia, becoming the first muslim to represent the Three Lions.

For Spurs, the left-back has been the go-to man and is currently ahead of Destiny Udogie, who has suffered his injury struggles.

If he carries on producing the same level of performances, then Spence can only expect great success in the years to come.

Tottenham marched on under Thomas Frank after claiming victory in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Spurs clinched a straightforward 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers, thanks to goals from Joao Palhinha and Brennan Johnson, as well as an own goal from Jay McGrath.

The clash with the League One side allowed Frank to rotate his team, with Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, and Archie Gray handed rare starts.

Andy Madley refereed the match and has been criticised for a decision that he made against the Lilywhites.

This article contains the exclusive opinion of former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee Keith Hackett.

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Keith Hackett slams Andy Madley for Kevin Danso decision

Madley has come under scrutiny for his Carabao Cup performance, with several decisions questioned.

Xavi Simons went down easily on the edge of the area and should have been booked for simulation by the referee.

At the other end, Danso challenged Doncaster forward Brandon Hanlan and appeared to get the ball, rather than the player.

Indeed, Spurs’ centre-back was baffled at the call, and Hackett believes that Madley made a mistake.

“Poor officiating when a referee is caught so far from play with little or no viewing angle,” Hackett exclusively told Tottenham News.

“It suggests to me that he “guessed” this one and got it wrong. The defender has every right to be disappointed with this incorrect call.

“Not one of Madley’s best performances.”

Andy Madley continues to be involved in controversy with Tottenham

Madley has been involved in Spurs drama before, having sent off Mohammed Kudus for his push on Micky Van de Ven last season.

The referee was also involved in some questionable calls during the Lilywhites’ loss to Fulham in March.

Raul Jiminez thought he should have had a penalty when he was pushed to the ground by Djed Spence, a decision that was criticised by Hackett.

In the same match, Lucas Bergvall claimed a penalty after being pushed by Calvin Bassey, although Madley appeared to make the correct decision.

When he referees the North London club again, his performance is sure to go under the microscope.

‘Mad’ Kevin Danso incident shocks BBC pundit after footage he saw in Tottenham win vs Doncaster

Tottenham continued their emphatic start to the season under Thomas Frank after another convincing victory.

The Lilywhites have delivered some superb results in the Premier League, while also clinching a vital win in the Champions League.

Now, Spurs have progressed in the Carabao Cup, having defeated League One side Doncaster Rovers 3-0 on Wednesday night.

Kevin Danso made a rare start for Thomas Frank’s side and was involved in a flashpoint at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Paul Parker reacts to Kevin Danso incident vs Doncaster Rovers

A clash with weaker opposition allowed Frank to rotate his Tottenham side without any real risk.

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Mathys Tel received a rare start but was unable to grasp his opportunity after spurning a brilliant chance in front of goal.

It did not take the North London club long to get into their swing, with Joao Palhinha and a Jay McGrath own goal giving them a 2-0 lead after 17 minutes.

While Doncaster were always in the game, all hope diminished when Brennan Johnson delivered the killer blow in second-half stoppage time.

However, the away side did benefit from a refereeing decision given against Danso by Andy Madley on the edge of the box, a decision that was criticised.

“The boot was high, but he’s got the ball,” Paul Parker said on 24 September while commentating for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3.

“In that situation, you’ve got to go for it as a defender. Now, if he wants to catch him in the head, then yes, there’ll be repercussions, but he’s won that ball fairly, not great contact on the player either.

“That is so, so poor, you can’t give a foul for that, you can’t do that. Under these kinds of circumstances, he’s got to let it go because otherwise, you’re taking someone away from the game.

“If he doesn’t go for that, and the player heads it down in front and goes bang, it’s a goal… everybody, the fans, his teammates, his manager will go ‘what are you doing? Oh, I was worried about kicking him in the head’, you what?… That was mad.”

How did Kevin Danso and other fringe players perform for Tottenham?

While some of Spurs’ regular starters struggled against Doncaster, it was a mixed bag for those given an audition at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The future certainly looks promising for Archie Gray, who demonstrated his capability in the number eight position with some strong runs and positive attacking play.

Antonin Kinsky did his chances no harm between the sticks, although he had precious little to do all evening.

Elsewhere, Wilson Odobert delivered a respectable display, setting up an early chance for forward Tel.

As with his appearance against West Ham, Tel struggled again in front of goal and should have had a hat trick.

Overall, it was an encouraging evening for Frank as he continues to learn a great deal about his Spurs side.

Xavi Simons was back in Thomas Frank’s starting line-up as Tottenham beat Doncaster in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

Spurs progressed to the last-16 of the competition with a 3-0 victory over the League One side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, thanks to a stunning overhead kick by Joao Palhinha and an own goal by Jay McGrath.

Simons‘ corner led to Palhinha’s goal in a strong playmaker’s performance in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup win over Doncaster, before he was substituted off and replaced by Lucas Bergvall in the 61st minute.

However, according to former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett, some of the talking points about Simons’ performance weren’t ones to be proud of.

This article contains the exclusive opinion of former Premier League and FIFA-listed referee Keith Hackett.

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Xavi Simons guilty of trying to deceive referee in Tottenham win over Doncaster

Simons was a £51million arrival from RB Leipzig in the summer, but that didn’t stop him from trying to buy a penalty against a third-tier side in England.

In the 41st minute, Simons went down on the edge of Doncaster’s penalty area after trying to latch onto a long ball forward from Rodrigo Bentacur.

The 22-year-old Netherlands international could have got himself in on goal from Bentancur’s exquisite pass. However, instead, he allowed the ball to bounce and seemed to feign contact from Doncaster’s Tom Nixon.

Andy Madley ignored Simons’ appeals for a foul and while Hackett agreed with the Huddersfield-born referee’s initial decisions, he believes he should have booked the Dutch ace for simulation.

“Madley is in a good position to make a decision on the coming together of the two players,” Hackett told Tottenham News.

“The forward in possession of the ball fractionally changes pace, causing contact and he then goes to ground.

“Madley waves away appeals for a penalty kick, and I will support his decision. However, he then failed to take any action.

“If it was not a penalty kick, then it had to be an act of simulation and a yellow card should have been shown.

“If referees are going to ignore simulation, then the cancer in the game will continue to grow.”

Xavi Simons guilty of second offence within days

Unfortunately, this is the second time in two games where Hackett has had to talk about Simons’ behaviour on the pitch.

Speaking to Football Insider at the weekend, Hackett hit out at Simons for “cheating” in their 2-2 draw against Brighton when the former Paris Saint-Germain player threw himself to the deck while battling with Diego Coppola.

“I’m surprised that Chris Kavanagh has not cautioned that player for an act of simulation. That’s a clear act of simulation,” said Hackett.

“He’s attempted to win a penalty, and it’s that type of incident where you’ve got clarity, no tangling of legs, and he goes to ground. It’s a yellow card. If referees don’t see these and caution them, players will continue to take advantage of these incidents.

“I’d like to see an addition to VAR intervention on a yellow card. It should be an automatic yellow card. If we want to keep the game on the right footings, sportsmanship needs to come into the foundations.

“Cheating has no place in the game. What is it if it’s not cheating? It’s very clear. It reinforces the referee’s decision not to award a penalty, but we see this a lot.”

Thomas Frank no doubt needs to have a chat with Simons.

He’s an incredible talent and the last thing Tottenham fans will want is to see him get a reputation for himself, accumulate yellow cards through simulation and get suspended for vital games.