Tottenham Hotspur

SPURSPLAY

Signe Gaupset got us off to the perfect start to net the opener after just 12 minutes at Brisbane Road and that was then followed by a sensational strike from Olivia Holdt, around 25 yards out and into the top corner, to double our advantage by the half hour mark.

We had a number of opportunities to further extend our lead but were unable to find th breakthrough once again before former Spur Alanna Kennedy struck in the 90th-minute to pull one back for the visitors.

That ultimately created a nervy ending in front of our Lilywhite fanbase, but we dug deep to ensure we came away with three points and sees us break our record points tally (33) in a single season in the competition.

“From start to finish, I thought we were good,” Martin told us, reflecting on the win with SPURSPLAY. “I thought we had large moments where we were very good and we had some lapses in concentration, where I felt we let them back in at times. But overall, I'm really, really pleased.

“We've taken big steps, not just as a team, but individually. I think that's a big part of football, how you develop individually as staff and players, and we've come together and really pushed as much as we can.

“Today, we were the deserved winners of the game, overall. We maybe should have capitalised on a few more chances that we had, but then we showed the different sides of us when we had to defend.

“We'll be disappointed to concede that goal because I think we were in good control, but you know good sides are going to have chances. We just have to make sure moving forward that we try and take those goals away.”

On the ruthless opening 30 minutes to get ahead in the contest…

“When you get into those positions, you want your players to be brave enough to take the shots and strike at goal. Siggy had done it really well from really good pressure, and then Olivia, outside the box in terms of working half a yard and shooting - you know those two players are capable of scoring goals if we get them in those positions. There were some other chances we should have capitalised on. Going forward, I'm sure we were better in those areas. We just need now to make sure we keep pushing forward and moving forward.”

On Signe dropping deeper to partner alongside Drew Spence and how that allows her to express herself on the pitch…

“I think if you look at the way we play with the ball and how we progress the ball, it's really, really good. Some of our build-up was very good. I think what that allows is Drew and Siggy to be more flexible in that build-up phase. With them in there, it allows Siggy to go free up and play slightly higher, knowing you've got the experience and the quality of Drew behind her.”

On playing at home for the final time this campaign and the supporters throughout the game…

“They've come out every single home game we've had here. We've made it difficult for teams and they've played a huge part in that, making sure that their noise is loud, their energy is good - through good and bad parts of the games, they push us through and they let us know when they want more from us. I can't thank them anymore.

“Home or away this year, they've been outstanding. I want to make sure that they get a lot of the applauders for what we've achieved this year in terms of the points tally being the highest. We've had some really good performances at home and have one of the best records, so I want to make sure that continues next year, but we have to give them a lot of thanks because everything we do is for them.”

On making sure the focus remains fully on the final game despite the achievements reached this afternoon…

“One more game to go and we want to make sure that we keep pushing in those games to make sure that we get over the line and no game at any point, whether we think we're in a position where we can't move from, we have to really push forward into next year and you want to continue that momentum going to Brighton - and that gives you confidence and belief going into next season.”

Player of the Match | Spurs vs London City Lionesses

The Denmark international collected Julie Blakstad’s pass and let fly from 25 yards, picking out the top corner and sending the crowd wild just before the half-hour mark at Brisbane Road.

It was a truly cracking strike, one which doubled our lead after Signe Gaupset pounced on a mistake at the back to give us an early advantage and helped us on the way to a victory which took us to 33 points – our highest-ever tally in a single WSL season. It also meant we’ve hit double figures for league wins in a single top-flight campaign for the first time.

Ex-Spur Alanna Kennedy pulled one back for the visitors in the last few seconds of normal time, but we retained the upper hand throughout eight additional minutes to make sure of the victory, with the final whistle followed by an emotional post-match ceremony as we thanked the players who will be leaving us this summer.

Gaupset picked the pocket of defender Malou Marcetto in the visitors’ penalty area and drilled inside the near post to give us a 13th-minute lead while Maika Hamano later threatened on the right as we started brightly. Holdt then put us in firm control with 28 minutes gone, collecting Blakstad’s pass as the latter roamed in from the left before turning and firing superbly into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Elene Lete with no chance.

The Lionesses had a spell of pressure at the end of the first half, Kennedy’s sweetly-struck volley somehow claimed by Lize Kop who then kept out Isobel Goodwin’s header, but we could have added a third on the restart when Holdt’s shot was charged down in the box and Lete saved Cathinka Tandberg’s header as we kept the attack alive.

Hamano then hit the crossbar after a short corner routine but once again, as the half went on, the visitors came into it and began to threaten with efforts from Freya Godfrey and Isa Kardinaal landing on the roof of the net before Dephine Cascarino forced a smart save from Kop at her near post in the wake of a dazzling solo run. Kop was there again a few minutes later to deny Jana Fernandez from a tight angle, but in the 90th minute her resistance was finally broken as Kennedy scored on the half-volley from Cascarino’s corner.

Godfrey’s subsequent volley was blocked in the six-yard box as the visitors threatened to level, while substitute Lenna Gunning-Williams could have made the game safe for us when she raced through at the other end, but her early shot was repelled by Lete. Kop was needed for one last save from Nikita Parris, but the final whistle sounded soon afterwards as we deservedly secured maximum points.

Player of the Match | Spurs vs London City Lionesses

Line-ups

Spurs (4-3-3): Kop, Morris (Dennis 88), Koga, A Nilden, Blakstad, Spence (c), Gaupset (Gunning-Williams 88), Holdt (Ahtinen 71), Hamano, Tandberg (England 71), Vinberg. Substitutes (not used): Heeps, Grant, Bartrip, Rybrink, M Nilden.

London City Lionesses (4-2-3-1): Lete, Fernandez, Kardinaal, Sangare (Kennedy 31), Pattinson (Godfrey 60), Geyoro (Parris 80), Kumagai (c), Cascarino, Marcetto (Perez 80), Corrales, Goodwin (Franssi 60). Substitutes (not used): Orman, Goldie, Partido, Linari.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Gaupset 13, Holdt 28; London City Lionesses – Kennedy 90.

Yellow card: London City Lionesses – Kennedy 49.

Referee: Megan Wilson.

Venue: Brisbane Road, Leyton.

Weather: Sunny, gentle breeze, 18 degrees.

Attendance: 1,809.

The midfielder has been ruled out with a shoulder injury picked up in the 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland on our Head Coach's first match in charge on 12 April.

Sidelined for subsequent league games against Brighton (2-2) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0), Pape returned to full training on Friday and is available for selection as we travel to Villa Park seeking a consecutive victory in the West Midlands.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Roberto said: "Today was the first day with the group but he worked very well. He's available, yes. I have not decided yet the starting XI."

We will be without Xavi Simons following his knee injury and Dominic Solanke remains a doubt with a hamstring issue, although there was positive news on full-back Destiny Udogie.

We're back in Barclays Women's Super League action this afternoon (12noon UK) as we face London City Lionesses at Brisbane Road in our final home game of the campaign.

Watch the game below via WSL's Official YouTube Channel...

Martin Ho has made no changes to the side which began last weekend’s stalemate with Manchester United.

Bethany England returns to the matchday squad in place of Eveliina Summanen, taking a place amongst the substitutes.

Here's how we line-up...

Starting XI: Kop, Morris, A. Nilden, Gaupset, Holdt, Vinberg, Tandberg, Hamano, Spence (c), Koga, Blakstad.

Substitutes: Heeps, Grant, Bartrip, Rybrink, Ahtinen, Dennis, M. Nilden, Gunning-Williams, England.

Here's how the visitors line-up...

Starting XI: Lete, Fernandez, Pattinson, Kardinaal, Corrales, Kumagai (c), Cascarino, Goodwin, Sangare, Marcetto, Geyoro.

Substitutes: Orman, Goldie, Perez, Partido, Linari, Godfrey, Franssi, Parris, Kennedy.

Midfielder Tyrese came off the bench in the second half for Notts County – who, like Alfie’s Salford City, started the day with a chance of securing automatic promotion – as they drew 1-1 at home to Yusuf Akhamrich’s Bristol Rovers.

As it transpired, not even a win would have been enough for County to go up from League Two in the end, their fifth-place finish instead seeing them tee up a play-off clash with Chesterfield. Attacking midfielder Yusuf also featured for Rovers in the second half at Meadow Lane.

Defender Alfie appeared as a second-half substitute for Salford as well, whose 0-0 draw at Crawley also saw them miss out on automatic promotion. They finished fourth overall and will now face Grimsby Town in the play-offs.

Damola Ajayi’s Bromley, meanwhile, clinched the League Two title with a 3-1 win over Walsall on Saturday. Bromley had already secured promotion to the third tier, but rounded off their campaign in style, although Damola did not feature in their final day outing.

Elsewhere, forward Oli netted for the second consecutive weekend for Mansfield Town as they rounded off their League One campaign by winning a nine-goal thriller at home to Cardiff City. Just three minutes after his introduction, Oli cut inside and drilled home the Stags’ fifth goal to make it 5-2, although two late strikes for the visitors made for a frantic ending. Mansfield finished their campaign in 10th spot, with Oli having scored four goals in 18 appearances for them.

Here’s everything you need to know...

What time does the match start?

Proceedings begin at 7pm UK time at Villa Park.

How can I watch the game?

Supporters in the UK can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1.

Our all-new Match Centre also features all the latest build-up and live in-match updates with both text and audio commentary options available, meaning you won’t miss any of the action, wherever you are in the world.

Video highlights will be available from two hours after the game across club channels, with a full match replay on SPURSPLAY from midnight.

What is the team news?

Dominic Solanke has been ruled out of the trip to Villa with a hamstring injury sustained in last weekend’s win at Wolves.

Xavi Simons picked up an ACL injury in that game and is now sidelined, while Guglielmo Vicario is not yet ready to return following a hernia operation.

There’s good news on Destiny Udogie, though, who is expected to be available to play some part at Villa Park after missing the trip to Molineux.

Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies and Wilson Odobert remain out, while it remains to be seen whether James Maddison can feature after being back around the squad of late.

Amadou Onana misses out for Aston Villa, as does Boubacar Kamara.

Who is the referee?

Sam Barrott will be in charge on Sunday evening, assisted by James Mainwaring and Wade Smith.

The fourth official will be Paul Tierney.

VAR duties will be handled by Tony Harrington and assistant Nick Hopton.

Which kit colours will the teams be wearing?

Hosts Aston Villa will don their usual claret and blue shirts with white shorts and blue socks.

Their goalkeeper will wear an all-black uniform.

We’ll be in our all-yellow third kit, with our keeper in orange.

What will the weather be like?

Rain showers are forecast on Sunday evening. Temperatures should be around 14 degrees.

What is the travel information?

After we’d led through Phoenix Offiah’s first-half penalty, hosts Fulham turned the match around via a hat-trick from Kayden Sessegnon, but we mounted a superb charge to regain control and push on to taste glory in the West London sunshine.

Courtney Coffi-Smith and Harry Hughes sent the game to extra time and after Olabanji Odumosu’s dismissal for a second bookable offence, late strikes from substitutes Melvyn Kabongolo and Ashiah Haughton-Sinclair secured a 5-3 triumph.

With many of the players having also tasted success in the JSSL Singapore 7s tournament recently, coach Tom was thrilled to see his young charges pass another big test in front of nearly 1,700 fans on a high-profile stage across the capital.

“Everyone is delighted for the boys,” he smiled. “We had to work really hard – Fulham were very good in the first half in particular and we found it difficult at times. Perhaps there were some nerves because of the occasion and we were quite frustrated in the first period, we came out okay after half-time but then gifted them a third and at 3-1 down we were thinking it might not be our day.

“But the lads got better and better, our subs improved us and had a big impact when they came on, the timing of Blake’s goal to make it 3-2 was crucial and at that stage, the momentum was in our favour and we went and got the third. Going into the latter stages and into extra time, we looked more likely to win it, Fulham then had a sending-off and we were able to score a really good goal to take the lead and then got a fifth. Fulham are a really good team, they made it very difficult for us but our subs made a big impact and it’s a really pleasing moment – it makes it really sweet to win in that fashion after coming back from 3-1 down, so we’re all thrilled for the boys.”

Offiah, one of a handful of Under-16s players to have tasted game time in the Under-18 Premier League this term, drilled in from the spot to give us the lead after Coffi-Smith was brought down, but Sessegnon – nephew of our former player Ryan Sessegnon – netted twice following attacks down the right to give the Cottagers a 2-1 lead at the break, before completing his hat-trick shortly after the restart after we gave the ball away at the back.

Philogene curled home a beauty from distance to get us back in it before Offiah poked through for the hard-working Hughes to turn home the equaliser. With both sides pushing to win it, nobody was able to find another goal in regulation time so extra time ensued, but Fulham’s task was made harder four minutes in when Odumosu was sent off. With tired legs on both sides, we fashioned a superb move down the left just a few minutes from the end, Kabongolo arriving at the back post to smash home and give us the lead once more. Haughton-Sinclair then made sure in stoppage time to wrap up a memorable day.

The victory continued our Academy’s recent success in Premier League Cups, having won the Under-17 version last season and the Under-17 and Under-18 double in 2022/23.

On 10 March, the goalkeeper went through the pain of making a couple of mistakes and being substituted early in our UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Atletico Madrid.

Fast-forward to last weekend, and he was very much the hero with a full-length save to secure three vital points at Wolves. Leading 1-0 as we counted down the final few second of added time, Antonin launched to his left to keep out Joao Gomes’ free-kick, destined for the top corner. It could just be one of the biggest moments of the season.

Antonin sat down with presenter Ben Haines at Hotspur Way on Friday to talk Molineux, the road back from Madrid, routine, the goalkeeper’s union and life under Roberto De Zerbi…

Ben: How did it feel after the win at Wolves last week?

Antonin: “For us, it was exactly what we went for, not just in this game, but throughout the whole games. Eventually, last week, we finally made it. So, of course, it's a nice feeling. It's a game that now we just have to carry on.”

I know you're someone that always thinks team first, but for you personally, to make a save that helps the team at such a key moment, what was that like?

Antonin: “Yeah, very nice moment, especially with the spell of games before which I didn't play at all. Now, I finally got back to goal in three consecutive games. Of course, the feeling now for me is completely different. I'm just happy I could show it and prove that I feel well and that I'm prepared.”

Just in terms of the full-time feeling, once the whistle goes, I'm trying to remember, I think you see a massive hug with a load of the guys and then over to the fans. Did you feel that connection with the fans there?

Antonin: “Yeah, I think everyone is aware how important this moment is. Not just for us, it's for the club, it's for everyone. Of course, we got ourselves into this position. We definitely don't want to be in this (position). Now we are here and we need to get ourselves out of it. I think you understand what I mean by this. Don't look at it, just put in the effort and take the three points.”

You've had a good run of games now, but you had a really tough night in Madrid. Can you just talk to us about the process that you followed after that to get yourself in the right headspace again?

Antonin: “The process was the same after every mistake you make, of course. This was a bit different. It was a big stage. It was an important part of the season where it was a knock-off stage. It's very important because when it happens in a group stage, you still have seven games to play and to do again in the league as well, but here it's just two games. Of course, it had a big influence, which I'm aware of. That's the thing. If you always prepare the best you can and you do your best, then there is never any regret. This is what I did. After, I just kept going like I always do. It doesn't matter if it goes well or it goes bad like this. It's always just some period which will eventually end, and some better things will come back after. The important thing is just to be ready for what comes. Since I came, it wasn't going the way I wanted. This wasn't the first time, I don't mean in a game, but generally in life or in these things behind that would be not nice, but I think every person that has some difficulty, it's about not hiding but going through, take the lesson and carry on the same way.”

Fans won't get the chance to see this, but the grind that you put in week to week - is that the process you're talking about? Just going back to the things that you do every single day to make sure that you're in the right headspace to go out and give your best?

Antonin: “Yeah, it's one of those things. I think for me to then come back to the goal, even if something like this happens, and to have the confidence, for me it comes from the work that I put in. If I know that every day I do the maximum I can, which means if there is a game that I don't play, okay, after the game, which I didn't play, so in the morning I do some warm-up, after the game I have a lot of energy and it's another day to use wisely and get the most out of it. So, this kicking and then some kind of gym is part of it. For me, exactly these moments are the important pieces that when I come back again on the pitch in the game, then inside it's not like words of that I'm confident, that I feel well, that I'm calm, inside I'm calm and then the actions, everything, it's related to the inner feeling. As I say again, that comes from these moments.”

What is your group like in terms of the goalkeeping group, but also Fabian and Dean? It feels like you have a quite close group there…

Antonin: “I would say really, really close. I have to say that I've been through some clubs, had some coaches and to have this connection, not every coach is open to go after a game, that for example you lose or you draw, so they are on their feet the whole day, they make the warm-up, they do everything and then after a game they still go with me and they do these 30-40 minute sessions just kicking. I don't say that they are old or something, that they wouldn't have the energy to do it, but of course it takes a bit of this extra work, which I really, really appreciate. I'm grateful to have this kind of support behind because it's part of it.”

I know for you this is the job, right? The way that you see it is that you go out and you do this amount of work because you think it's the right thing and lots of players put in this amount of work and they want to go the extra mile, but what does it do to know that you've put that much preparation into what you do?

Antonin: “For me, I think there are two things behind. One is that, as I said before, I do my best every day. For every day there is a certain energy and a certain time that you can spend by training and all these things behind. Now I speak about the physical load, like on the pitch, in the gym and these things. I think one thing is the more repetitions you do, the more quality you're going to get. At the moment, you need it. It's not about hitting 95 out of 100. No, it's about trying to hit 100 out of 100. I think at these moments, that's the difference. For example, I have the ball on my feet and I can put it behind. For example, I put an assist or start a good attack. What if this is the one that I put properly because of the hours of training? These details are exactly the decisive thing at this level. This is, for me, the reason behind it. That's one. The second is, as I said, when you go out on the pitch in front of the fans, an important phase of the season, like for example we have now. I wasn't playing the whole season, but I just simply know that I did everything I could, and I feel so well.”

How have the fans been with you?

Antonin: “I'm not the type of guy who would read so much, but generally the energy that you feel is around me. I speak to my friends or to my parents or someone and they tell me that the fans support you. It looks very nice. Of course, I appreciate it, but if we speak about fans, what I really feel is that when you step on the pitch, like in the last game, 60,000, I didn't experience for a while to be out on the pitch, but when I was there, I felt we are not alone. It's like a big army going for the one goal that we have.”

Another thing that I noticed, matchday routine, you have a little bit of time before games where you'll just go and sit and be on your own. What are you doing to get ready then and what are you listening to ahead of games?

Antonin: “This is what I really like, not just before the games, but also during all the sessions in the gym and during the long drives in the car sometimes. A lot of music. For me especially, it's Czech music. It doesn't matter if it's Czech rap or old Czech songs which give me a good feeling. For example, I spoke to someone in the gym, he said this song sounds very old. I said, ‘yeah, this is the one that I listen to when I come to my grandparents’. This is what they have on the radio. When I hear it now in the gym, it really takes me back to where I come from and it gives me a good feeling. Before games, it's more like intentional music, like some rap to feel well.”

How have thing been under Roberto De Zerbi? We go into a massive game this weekend. How does the group feel at the moment? How much did last week help?

Antonin: “Yeah, I think very well. That's probably all I will say because I think there is no big point to say how much we work, how good we feel, how much we do and how much we care. It's about then eventually stepping on the pitch and those 90 minutes, doing the best we can and to show everyone. I think if we show them, then people are going to see and they're going to appreciate. After, if they ask, we're going to say, yeah, this is because of that work. That's the same like me. If you wouldn't ask me, I wouldn't tell you how much I work or how important it is or something. No, still it's some reason just to then when you get on the pitch to have the quality to show. This is what matters for everyone, not just how much you train or something. Yeah, for me it's important, but no one cares. It's about showing the quality on the pitch. The same is in this situation. We do good stuff. I really believe it because I think we have the team that suits this style a lot and we just need to show.”