Tottenham Hotspur

SPURSPLAY

SPURSPLAY

Lining up alongside fellow arrival Sandro Tonali and Conor Gallagher in midfield, our summer capture from West Ham made his mark in superb style on his first appearance in Lilywhite.

Mathys Tel swung in a corner, goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray punched high and clear only for Mateus to thunder back a volley that pinged home off the inside of the post. It was a goal worthy of winning any game - in this case, it was enough to beat a well-organised, competitive MK side.

There was a welcome return to action for Ben Davies - out since January - with Kota Takai and Manor Solomon also back in Lilywhite after loan spells last season as we took on the League One side in our pre-season opener - exactly a month away from the big kick-off in the Premier League at Brentford.

As expected, we controlled possession and territory although clear-cut chances were at a premium against MK's 5-4-1 system. MacGillivray had already denied Dominic Solanke from close range before Fernandes' wonder strike and he was there again to save with his feet from Solomon after a one-two with Gallagher.

As we probed away, using Tel and Solomon wide, Archie Gray looking to push on from right-back, a couple of deliveries fizzed across goal but the closest we came was when Tonali threaded through to Tel and Gallagher was inches away from the cross.

Martin Dubravka joined Fernandes and Tonali in making their first appearances as Robert De Zerbi switched 11 players for the second half.

Richarlison was unlucky to see a clever finish ruled out by an offside flag, Mikey Moore's goalbound strike was blocked and at the other end, Craig Patterson's drive from the angle was straight at Dubravka.

Our final chances of note arrived in quick succession as Richarlison went for power one-on-one against MacGillivray, who parried away and Yang Min-Hyeok looked to have done it all right when he took in Luca Williams-Barnett's pass only to miss the target. MK had the last opportunity as Dubravka reacted brilliantly to tip over Ben Wiles header from 10 yards.

The players will now fly out to Auckland, New Zealand for the the first part of our pre-season tour, taking on Auckland at Eden Park in the early hours of Sunday morning (4am UK).

Line-ups

Spurs: First half: Kinsky, Gray, Takai, Davies, Kyerematen, Tonali, Fernandes, Gallagher, Solomon, Tel, Solanke.

Second half: Dubravka, Tye Hall, Hardy, Byrne, Kyerematen, Donley, Williams-Barnett, Moore, Yang, Scarlett, Richarlison.

Starting XI: MacGillivray (Stacey 80), Barlaser (Matete 46), Bramall (Kazungu 66), Crowley (Lewis-Burgess 56; Silver 80), Goode (Perniskie 66), Hepburn-Murphy (Boateng 66), Jones (Wiles 56), Paterson (Ekpiteta 66), Sanders (Burke 66), Waller (Nelson 46), Wintle (Kelly 46).

Match data

Goal: Spurs - Fernandes 4.

Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis.

Venue: Hotspur Way, Enfield.

Weather: Cloudy, warm, 26 degrees at kick-off.

SPURSPLAY

Having joined us this summer following the expiration of his contract at Burnley, the goalkeeper has been assigned the number 39 shirt.

Replica goalkeeper shirts with Dubravka 39 personalisation are now available from our Spurs Shops and online.

Here’s all you need to know...

What time does the match start?

The game begins at 5pm UK time.

How can I watch the game?

Although the match is behind closed doors at our Training Centre, you’ll be able to watch the action live and in full on SPURSPLAY, as will be the case for all of our men’s first team friendlies this summer.

Find out more about SPURSPLAY

We’ll also be bringing supporters live text updates via our Match Centre here on our official app and website.

What is the team news?

Some of our new signings could feature in a Spurs shirt for the first time today, alongside many of the returning players following their summer break.

Players who progressed into the latter stages of the World Cup have not yet returned to the club and will therefore not feature today.

Roberto De Zerbi could also hand opportunities to some of our Academy starlets as players of all ages look to get important match minutes into their legs at this stage of the year.

Which kit will the team be wearing?

Our men’s first team will don the all-new 2026/27 home kit for the first time today.

The strip was first seen on the pitch during our Under-21s’ pre-season trip to Ebbsfleet United at the weekend, but today represents the first time our senior stars will make use of the new attire.

What will the weather be like?

It’s set to stay warm and bright in Enfield, with temperatures at around 24 degrees.

In Profile: Alice Sombath  Tottenham Hotspur

The striker joined our Academy from Sheffield United in August, 2022.

He was top scorer in our Under-21s’ Premier League 2 title-winning season of 2023/24, earning recognition as the Premier League 2 Player of the Season.

Making his first team debut from the start against Ferencvaros in the UEFA Europa League in October, 2024, Will made six senior appearances for us, scoring once against Galatasaray in the Europa League in November, 2024. His Premier League debut followed against Fulham in December, 2024.

From there, Will spent time on loan in the Championship, first with West Brom for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign, then with Oxford United last term, where he scored 12 goals in 46 appearances, including 11 in 43 league games.

We wish Will all the best for the future.

Having taken the lead arguably against the run of play in a fiercely-contested first period when Mason Melia slid past Luca Gunter, our goalkeeper finding himself in the unusual position of playing against us after recently joining the home side on loan, we conceded to Lewis Richardson just 14 seconds after the restart before substitute Luke Norris completed the turnaround 20 minutes from time.

In a somewhat fragmented second half with both sides making a raft of changes, we struggled to carve out much in the way of clear-cut chances and had Carey Bloedorn and substitute goalkeeper Sam Archer to thank for a couple of sharp saves to prevent the hosts from extending their lead.

The outcome was a second successive 2-1 defeat after Saturday’s reverse at Ebbsfleet United, although the test against last season’s National League play-off finalists was another useful one as preparations for the new campaign continued.

Boreham Wood pressed from the off and it needed two smart stops from Bloedorn to deny the lively Abdul Abdulmalik, while we had to wait until the 19th minute for our first attempt at goal, Oli Irow seeing his angled shot parried by Gunter with nobody able to capitalise on the rebound.

We took the lead out of the blue on 33 minutes when Damola Ajayi’s low delivery caused problems for Gunter at his near post with Melia on hand to slot home but after Bloedorn tipped Richardson’s shot-on-the-turn over the bar at the end of the first period, it took the hosts just a few seconds after the resumption to restore parity, the same player finishing off an attack down the right with a looping shot from inside the area.

Richardson and Zak Brunt went close for the hosts while substitute Reiss Russell-Denny and Miracle Adewole fired straight at Gunter for us but after Archer brilliantly tipped away Norris’ effort moments after coming on, he was powerless to prevent the Boreham Wood substitute from putting his side in front after we missed a defensive header from the resulting corner with 70 minutes on the watch.

Archer made another good stop from Marley Marshall-Miranda in a central position in the box while Tarryn Allarakhia saw his effort hit the base of the post and Norris fired straight at Archer as Boreham Wood tried without success to increase their advantage in the closing stages, our night ultimately ending in defeat.

Line-ups

Boreham Wood: Gunter, Clarke (Bainbridge 60), White (c), Bush (Allarakhia 60), O'Connell, Richardson (Reynolds), Brunt (Norris 60), Abdulmalik, Golden, Booty (Marshall-Miranda 60), Rush (Kensdale 60).

Spurs: Bloedorn (Archer 68), Feeney (Sowunmi 46), Adewole, Adedeji (Tingey 46), Dorrington (c), Tyrese Hall (Moncur 65), O Irow (Thomas 77), Russell-Denny (McFadden 65), Melia (Lehane 61), Ramsey (Elliott-Parris 46), Ajayi (Boast 65).

Match data

Goals: Boreham Wood – Richardson 46, Norris 70; Spurs – Melia 33.

Referee: Matthew Norton.

Venue: Meadow Park, Borehamwood.

Weather: Sunny, light winds, 23 degrees.

After steering us to Premier League safety following his arrival with seven games to go last term, our Head Coach is now getting stuck into his first pre-season at Hotspur Way with a number of fresh additions to the playing squad.

All six summer recruits so far – Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali – bring personality, quality and, importantly, proven experience in the English top-flight division and Roberto has been very encouraged by the activity in the transfer market – which he says is not over yet.

“I feel very good because we are working well,” the Italian told SPURSPLAY.

“I think we are building a very good team, with some very important new players, and we starting the project in another part of the history of the club.

“I spent a lot of time (understanding the club) before joining in April and I knew very well the ideas of the owner of the club and the plan was clear before the Everton game.

“Now we are inside (the project), we are excited with the idea to build a very strong team. Now we have to finish as it's not finished yet, our transfer market, in and out, but at the moment I’m very happy, very proud and very positive.

“To build a soul, to build a new team with the qualities for sure but with soul, with passion, with all the values we have. Football now is not just on the pitch, it's not just with the ball, it's before in the private life, it's how many hours during the day you think you’re doing your job and they have to be happy and proud to stay in Tottenham.

Watch all of our pre-season matches on SPURSPLAY

“Of course, Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Senesi, Robertson, JP van Hecke, all of them are very important as qualities of the players, for sure, but first of all as a quality and level of the person.”

Joining the club on a long-term contract on 31 March, Roberto believed in the club’s project and future ambition despite the precarious league position at the time and helped retain our Premier League status with 11 points from the remaining seven games.

Focusing more on the psychological aspects - togetherness, character and fight – rather than principles of play to turn things around, the league run-in showed the spirit is there within the group – and the fanbase – and now our Head Coach feels a big responsibility to improve the quality of play in order to compete at the other end of the table to make our supporters proud.

“Last season, I think we reached the target showing character, showing the right spirit,” he explained. “Now we have to push in the style of play, the quality of the play and the organisation.

“It was totally different because the seven games at the end of the season you have no time. It’s not the right way to push too much the principles of play.

“Now we have time, we have everything in the right way, right place and the right position to work and to become better and better and better in the quality of play.

“I think Tottenham deserve to compete for the top of the Premier League. I know very well the Premier League is very tough but if you have a good motivation inside of the players, a good organisation on the pitch and outside of the pitch, I think you work well and at the end you reach your target.

“I feel a big responsibility because they (the fans) loved me at the beginning in my time at Tottenham and it is a pleasure to be Tottenham coach. At the same time, I feel responsibility to give results, to give pride when they are in the stands and when we are on the pitch and to build a great Tottenham.”