Progressing to the next round of a cup competition is always the main goal, and Tottenham Hotspur achieved that with a professional 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers.
The win was never really in doubt, with goals from Joao Palhinha and Brennan Johnson, plus an own goal, securing a comfortable evening for manager Thomas Frank.
While the result itself was positive and sets up an exciting tie with Newcastle United, these early-round cup matches are about more than just the final score.
They provide a valuable opportunity for the manager to assess his entire squad, giving playing time to those who have been waiting for a chance and looking for players who can step up when called upon.
For some players, a game like this is a golden opportunity to remind the manager of their qualities.
For others, it can be a frustrating night that highlights the work still needed to break into the Premier League starting lineup. The match against Doncaster revealed a mixed bag of performances.
While the team functioned well as a unit, several individuals failed to make a strong case for themselves.
The challenge for any player coming into a rotated side is to show the same intensity and quality they would in a league game, proving they can be reliable options.
One player who was likely hoping for a more influential game was winger Brennan Johnson. Having found himself on the bench for recent league matches, this was his chance to regain some momentum.
He did manage to score a goal, which is always a positive, but his overall involvement in the game was surprisingly low. In fact, he had the fewest touches of any player who played the full ninety minutes.
He was also caught offside on multiple occasions, which suggests his timing and movement were not quite sharp. Scoring a goal is important, but managers also look for a player who can consistently be part of the game’s flow, and Johnson struggled in that aspect.
Similarly, defender Djed Spence had a night to forget. Playing against opposition from two divisions below, you would expect an attacking full-back to be a constant threat.
However, Spence was unable to complete any of his dribbling attempts and found it difficult to win his individual battles, only succeeding in one out of five duels.
It was a performance that lacked the assertiveness needed to put pressure on the players currently ahead of him in the pecking order.
However, the most disappointing performance of the evening arguably came from young striker Mathys Tel.
With regular starter Richarlison being given a well-earned rest, this was Tel’s big moment to lead the line and show his potential. Unfortunately, he endured a very difficult night.
The statistics from his 87 minutes on the pitch paint a clear picture of a player who was largely ineffective and struggled to make any meaningful impact against the League One defenders.
The table below outlines some of Mathys Tel’s key performance metrics from the match against Doncaster Rovers:
| Performance Metric | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 87 |
| Total Touches | 29 |
| Shots on Target | 1 out of 2 |
| Big Chances Missed | 1 |
| Successful Dribbles | 0 out of 2 |
| Duels Lost | 60% |
| Times Possession Was Lost | 6 |
| Fouls Committed | 2 |
The numbers are telling. He managed only 29 touches, which was even fewer than the team’s goalkeeper. He missed a big scoring chance, failed to complete a dribble, and lost possession on several occasions.
Perhaps most damningly, he lost 60% of his physical duels, which is a concern for a central striker. When a player is outperformed in key areas by lower-league opponents, it raises questions about their readiness for the weekly grind of the Premier League.
His performance was rated a 5 out of 10 by one prominent football journalist, the lowest of any Tottenham starter.
This showing makes the decision for Thomas Frank quite straightforward for the upcoming league game. While the team won comfortably, Tel’s individual performance did not suggest he is ready to displace Richarlison or other attacking options.
It might be best for the young Frenchman to return to the training ground to rebuild his confidence. The recent choice to leave him out of the Champions League squad now looks like a sensible one, as it appears he needs time to adapt and develop without the pressure of immediate expectations.
For Mathys Tel, the journey at Tottenham is still beginning, but this game served as a clear reminder that there is still a significant gap between potential and consistent performance at the highest level.
The manager’s job is to help him bridge that gap, but for now, a place on the sidelines seems the most likely next step.
