Tottenham Brush Aside Doncaster to Reach Carabao Cup Fourth Round | OneFootball

Tottenham ease past Doncaster to progress in Carabao Cup

Tottenham’s new era under Thomas Frank gathered further momentum with a comfortable Carabao Cup win over Doncaster, securing their place in the fourth round and underlining the depth at the manager’s disposal.

Frank’s rotation pays off

With four competitions to juggle, rotation was inevitable. Frank made seven changes from the weekend draw at Brighton, yet his team remained fluid and purposeful. Bayern Munich loanee Joao Palhinha provided the breakthrough, meeting a half-cleared corner with a spectacular overhead finish. Moments later, Doncaster’s Jay McGrath turned Wilson Odobert’s cross into his own net, doubling Tottenham’s advantage.

The Premier League side could have been out of sight by half-time. Rodrigo Bentancur’s header drifted narrowly wide and Archie Gray’s strike drew a sharp save. Doncaster’s captain, Owen Bailey, offered a flicker of resistance when his volley forced Antonin Kinsky into tipping the ball onto the post, but the gap in quality was clear.

Doncaster’s brief fightback

Grant McCann’s side, who had already stunned Middlesbrough earlier in the competition, showed spirit after the interval. Glenn Middleton’s free-kick brushed the side-netting and briefly stirred the away support. Yet sustained pressure never followed, and Tottenham’s defensive organisation ensured their fifth clean sheet of the campaign.

Johnson seals the win

A late flurry summed up the contest. Lucas Bergvall thought he had added a third, only for an offside flag to intervene. Brennan Johnson, however, made no mistake with the final kick of the game, racing clear to secure a 3–0 win. Frank also fulfilled his promise of offering opportunities, handing 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett his senior debut in the closing minutes — a gesture that spoke to both confidence and planning.

Strength in depth becomes clear

What was most striking was not the scoreline but the assurance. Without Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven or Mohammed Kudus, Spurs still dictated tempo and territory. Johnson and Odobert stretched Doncaster’s defence wide, while Xavi Simons drove relentlessly through midfield.

Tottenham’s schedule intensifies with three games in ten days, including a Champions League trip to Bodo/Glimt, but Frank has already demonstrated the resources to cope. Doncaster, meanwhile, return to League One action at Luton, their focus shifting back to domestic survival rather than cup adventure.