Key events
GOAL! Newcastle United 4-1 Bradford City (Osula 87)
Two for Joelinton, now two for William Osula, and any hope of an unlikely City comeback is put to bed.
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. Bukayo Saka is out of harm’s way, incidentally. He’s been replaced by Max Dowman.
GOAL! Newcastle United 3-1 Bradford City (Cook 79)
A stylish consolation for Bradford, as Andy Cook latches onto a poor clearance on the edge of the Toon D and launches a thriker towards the top-left corner, off the underside of the bar and in. Unstoppable! Cook a boyhood Newcastle fan as well. What a moment!
Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster. Brennan Johnson has been electric down the right wing tonight. Another speedy dribble, another tempting cross that a team-mate fails to bundle home from close range. Richarlison the guilty man this time. Johnson should have had a hat-trick of assists this evening. He’s got the right to clamber atop the moral high ground in the dressing room afterwards, finger-wagging furiously. A fine performance.
GOAL! Newcastle United 3-0 Bradford City (Joelinton 75)
… and it’s certainly all over at SJP, Joelinton threading home his second for the holders.
GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-2 Manchester City (Savinho 74)
Phil Foden adds an assist to his goal, by teeing up Savinho, who roofs home. All over.
Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster. Glenn Middleton takes the resulting free kick, and whips it inches wide of the right-hand stick. Antonín Kinský was rooted to the spot; had that been on target, it wasn’t getting stopped. Spurs got away with a couple of potential red cards against Villarreal last week, Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons the fortunate men. Kevin Danso can join that lucky list.
Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster. Brandon Hanlan barrels after a long pass down the inside-right channel. Just before he enters the box, Kevin Danso hooks a leg around him and pokes the ball away … but also brings down his man. It’s a free kick, just to the right of the D, and you’ve seen red cards given for less. No VAR tonight.
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. Leo Castledine, a young winger on loan from Chelsea, purchases a ticket to the raffle from the best part of 30 yards. The ticket floats a similar distance over the bar. But if you don’t buy one, etc.
Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster. Mathys Tel took a fresh-air swipe at a Brennan Johnson right-wing cross in the first half … and he’s just done exactly the same thing again in this second period. Another big chance spurned. Two decent connections – half-decent would probably have been enough – and Spurs would be out of sight.
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. A moment of worry for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka goes down, slapping the turf and grimacing, having come off second-best in a fair 50-50 midfield challenge. But fears dissipate as the pain of impact subsides, and Saka springs back up again. For a second, though … oh my.
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli is sent scampering clear down the middle, but Vale keeper Joe Gauci has spotted the danger, and races out of his box to block-tackle and clear. That needed to be timed perfectly, and it was.
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. A poor clearance drops to Divine Mukasa on the penalty spot. Mukasa volleys straight at keeper Lee Nicholls. So close to the second goal that would put paid to Huddersfield’s resistance.
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. The second half begins in Burslem.
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. Huddersfield nearly equalise with a goal made in Aston. The on-loan Villa duo of Josh Feeney and Zépiqueno Redmond combine, the former heading down for the latter to lash fiercely over the bar. That would have made things interesting.
Newcastle 2-0 Bradford. Bobby Pointon crosses from the left. Stephen Humphrys muscles himself into a little pocket of space at the far post, but his header is a weak slap. Big change to get the Bantams back into this.
Spurs 2-0 Doncaster. Some head tennis on the edge of the Spurs box. The ball drops to Owen Bailey, who swipes a volley goalwards. Accurate, but without power, and easy for Antonín Kinský.
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. Some pinball in the Town box. Rico Lewis can’t prod towards the bottom-right corner, and the hosts eventually clear their lines. Close to a scrappy second for City. “Arsenal looked like a person sleepwalking around the house, picking things up and putting them down again, making random progress from room to room,” yawns Charles Antaki. “That’s all very well, but the sleepwalker risks stubbing their toe on something hard, falling over and discovering that things are not very much as they should be. Another two or three goals please.”
The second halves at the Kirklees Stadium, St James’ Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are back under way. No early drama to report.
A reminder that the draw for the fourth round will take place after the full-time whistles tonight. It’s expected to start at 10.20pm, and we’ll be around for that, don’t you fret.
HALF TIME: Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal
Given the overall balance of play, this could have been worse for Port Vale. But currently it’s League One nil, Premier League four (or six, depending on whether you’re totting up winning positions or goals).
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. Connor Hall should have done better with that header, truth be told. Free on the penalty spot, he slapped his header straight down. Anything whistled with proper conviction towards the net would have given Kepa something to act upon.
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. … so having said that, Vale finally show some fight. A corner. Connor Hall can’t get a header on target; then his shot is blocked. Arsenal fail to clear their lines properly, and Connor’s namesake George sends a dangerous low cross in from the right. That’s blocked too, and cleared, but it’s also so much better from the hosts.
HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Doncaster Rovers
… stretches out ahead of us.
HALF TIME: Newcastle United 2-0 Bradford City
… that looks unlikely to deliver any drama, never mind a shock …
HALF TIME: Huddersfield Town 0-1 Manchester City
An evening of cup football …
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. Vale enjoy a little possession in the Arsenal half for the first time this evening. They do very little with it, Arsenal keeping them at arm’s length comfortably, but small acorns and all that, and the home fans seem to appreciate their team’s efforts.
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. That half-chance for Town has lit a fire under Pep Guardiola, who takes advantage of a stop in play to offer Phil Foden some beneficial advice in the passionate style. Foden doesn’t look particularly happy to receive it. Think Caleb Williams and CJ Stroud, and that’s it, more or less. (A little treat for the NFL heads there.)
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. This is better from the Terriers, though. Zépiqueno Redmond makes good along the left and feeds Ben Wiles down the channel and into the box. Wiles hits a shot-cum-cross that squirts wide right. A better strike, or someone coming in at the far stick, would have seen City enter a world of pain.
Huddersfield 0-1 Man City. The eight-time winners keep on keepin’ on in West Yorkshire. Rico Lewis is released into space down the right and rolls a dangerous ball through the six-yard box, but there’s nobody there in second-choice black to trundle home.
Newcastle 2-0 Bradford. The holders remain well on top at SJP. William Osula has come close a couple of times to scoring his second of the night, only for Bradford goalie Sam Walker to make decent stops.
Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster. Donny goalie Ian Lawlor has been caught out of position a couple of times already tonight. Not so now, as Archie Gray steers a shot towards the bottom right, only for the keeper to react superbly and palm the ball away from danger. That’s a fine save, but Doncaster are really clinging on here. Spurs looking to get the job done and dusted early doors.
Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster. A ball comes into the Rovers area from the right. Rodrigo Bentancur heads it towards the left-hand side of the goal, with the keeper again on walkabout. Seán Grehan hangs out a leg to feather-flick off the line and out for a corner … but the referee and his assistant combine to present Doncaster with a goal kick. Some credit for Grehan’s last-ditch defending, please!
Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal. Vale can’t get out of their final third. Arsenal are stroking it around confidently, and borderline dangerously. Vale Park a lot less rowdy than it was a few minutes ago.
Upsets! You want ‘em?! It doesn’t look like we’ve got ‘em.
GOAL! Port Vale 0-1 Arsenal (Eze 8)
Like the aforementioned Phil Foden, Gabriel Martinelli is emerging from a slump in form. He nips in from the left and finds Eberechi Eze, who opens his body and passes deliciously into the bottom right. That’s his first goal for his boyhood club.
GOAL! Newcastle United 2-0 Bradford City (Osula 19)
… which William Osula quickly doubles by latching onto a Bruno Guimaraes through-ball!
GOAL! Newcastle United 1-0 Bradford City (Joelinton 17)
Joelinton responds to an Anthony Gordon shot that’s not cleared. He slots the rebound to give the holders an early lead …
GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-1 Manchester City (Foden 18)
Phil Foden has rediscovered the form he’d misplaced last season all right. He one-twos his way across the face of the Town box, right to left, before swivelling and whipping a low drive into the bottom right. Lovely finish!
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Doncaster Rovers (McGrath 16 og)
A nightmare for Donny, as Wilson Odobert jigs down the left and crosses low. Jay McGrath can’t sort his feet out, and bundles the ball into his own net. McGrath just one of two players to keep his starting place tonight, a poisoned chalice.
Port Vale 0-0 Arsenal. While that was going on, the game in Burslem gets going. A rare old atmosphere at Vale Park. No wonder, considering Will Unwin a Premier League club is in town.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Doncaster Rovers (Palhinha 14)
Spurs break the deadlock in N17 with a sensational goal! A corner’s half cleared by Donny. Palhinha, his back to goal ten yards out, carefully whips an overhead kick into the unguarded net, the keeper having gone walkabout.
Tottenham 0-0 Doncaster. A great chance for Doncaster, who clearly don’t intend to die wondering. Damola Ajayi – visiting his parent club tonight – crosses from the right for Toyosi Olusanya, who heads harmlessly wide left from close range. Spurs then counter, and the Johnson-Tel combo again nearly pays off, but the cross from the right is too high for Tel to head home.
Not a great deal going on in any of the early kick-offs … so thank goodness for Will Unwin, who gallops heroically into view on his white horse, setting the scene for tonight’s game between Port Vale and Arsenal.
Vale Park is packed and the fans even more eager for an upset after seeing the Arsenal team. Mikel Arteta is not messing about, he wants the job done with limited fuss. The Valiants have been promised fireworks before the match and wouldn’t mind a few during it. Vale will make things as difficult for the Gunners as possible but whether that is enough remains to be seen.
Tottenham 0-0 Doncaster. Spurs respond to that brisk Donny start positively, Mathys Tel meeting a left-wing cross wide, then seconds later air-kicking six yards out, when a ball in from the right was begging to be dispatched.
Some early promise for a couple of the League One sides. Manchester City keeper James Trafford nearly gathers a backpass outside his area, but corrects himself just in time; meanwhile at Spurs, Doncaster get on the front foot immediately and take a couple of long-range pokes.
The matches at the Kirklees Stadium, St James’ Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium get under way! Excitement and expectation up and down the land. A reminder that the game at Vale Park kicks off at 8pm.
There are over two emails in our bulging pre-match postbag. In fact, we’re three from three with Arsenal fans not 100 percent pleasured by Mikel Arteta’s selection tonight. Look!
“That Arsenal XI is strong. Worryingly strong. I hope to God Eze doesn’t pick up an injury from this one. Also, since Gyokeres hasn’t been pulling down trees against City, I thought he’d start this one and grab some goals to boost confidence. Very strange” – Kieran McKintosh
“You would’ve thought that Arteta might have given Gyokeres the chance to lumber on and show his Sporting form; a welcome boost for him and all a corrective to sundry doubters and grumblers. That is, if he does actually show his Sporting form. If not, well perhaps he just didn’t get the service, again” – Charles Antaki
“Saka starting?! Does Arteta have a subconscious desire to injure him? Why in gods name start a player just back from injury against Port Vale when a very promising 15 year old is sitting on the bench? Perhaps the prospect of another torn hamstring is just too exciting!” – Mark Kerry
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta speaks to Sky. “Nine changes is a lot … a few starting for the first time for us … a few who deserve minutes … freedom of expression is a big part of our game … you can see by the way we play, flow and dominate games … in relation to the players we have, we play a little bit one way then the other … very excited to see them play … they are fully prepared … it is going to be really tough.”
It’s pointed out to Spurs manager Thomas Frank that he’s picked a strong team. “Yes!” he audibly grins into the Sky microphone. “I try to be transparent … we need a strong team to perform well … looking forward to it … I respect Doncaster … but it is about what we can do … we need to play with intensity and concentration … it’s an opportunity to go very far … it’s all about tonight … perform … win.”
Doncaster boss Grant McCann also talks to Sky. “Really looking forward to it … we deserve this opportunity … the players are ready … hopefully they’ll give Tottenham a really good test.”
Huddersfield boss Lee Grant talks to Sky … “We know the task in front of us … incredibly challenging … incredibly difficult … a highly skilled, technical group of players … we know we are going to be up against it … that doesn’t mean we go into the game without any hope … we will look to impose ourselves at times … we’ll enjoy the fixture and take it for what it is.”
… as does Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola. “It’s a perfect competition for the guys who didn’t play lately … not to improve but to get the rhythm … [I like this competition] otherwise you don’t win four in a row … impossible … I like the Premier League as well, that’s why we won four in a row, six in eight years, that’s why!” He then grins mischievously and sticks his tongue out at the interviewer. Cheeky Pep! Playful Pep! That raised a titter. He’s clearly in a great mood tonight.
Port Vale boss Darren Moore talks to Sky Sports. “It’s definitely a night to embrace … to savour … to enjoy … but also to be committed and ready to perform … it’s about the squad … how the game will ebb and flow … try to start on the front foot … we have experienced boys to bring on … it will be a tough game … can we start well … can we finish it … there’s a generation of Port Vale clubs who haven’t seen a Premier League team at Vale Park … so tonight is an honour … the morale around the football club, and the excitement, is there for all to see.”
Port Vale v Arsenal teams
Port Vale: Gauci, Humphreys, Debrah, Connor Hall, Lawrence-Gabriel, Croasdale, George Hall, Walters, Headley, Curtis, Paton.
Subs: Marosi, Clark, Heneghan, Byers, Garrity, Stockley, Ojo, Faal, Cole.
Arsenal: Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Norgaard, Eze, Saka, Merino, Martinelli.
Subs: Raya, Gabriel, Timber, Gyokeres, Trossard, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Dowman.
Port Vale make four changes to their starting XI after their 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town. Devante Cole, with three goals from three appearances so far this season, is on the bench. Arsenal make nine changes after the aforementioned draw with Manchester City. Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard make their first starts for their new club, while Sunday’s second-half heroes Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Martinelli are back, back, back. The 15-year-old Max Dowman is on the bench.
Huddersfield v Man City teams
Huddersfield Town: Nicholls, Sorensen, Feeney, Wallace, Roughan, Wiles, Kasumu, Harness, Redmond, Vost, Charles.
Subs: Goodman, Ledson, Low, Taylor, Castledine, Radulovic, May, Ashia, Smith-Sway.
Manchester City: Trafford, Matheus Luiz, Ake, Stones, O’Reilly, Lewis, Bobb, Foden, Gonzalez, Savio, Mukasa.
Subs: Donnarumma, Dias, Reijnders, Silva, Phillips, Mfuni, Braithwaite, Reigan Heskey, Jaden Heskey.
Huddersfield make seven changes to the side that started the goalless draw with Burton Albion last weekend. The 19-year-old Dutch striker Zépiqueno Redmond, on loan from Aston Villa, makes his first start for the Terriers. Manchester City only retain two starters from the 1-1 draw at Arsenal – Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly – but keep Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva in reserve on the bench.
Spurs v Doncaster teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Gray, Spence, Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Simons, Odobert, Tel, Johnson.
Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Udogie, Bergvall, van de Ven, Scarlett, Byfield, Thompson, Williams-Barnet.
Doncaster Rovers: Lawlor, Nixon, Grehan, McGrath, Senior, Bailey, Sbarra, Close, Olusanya, Ajayi, Glenn Middleton.
Subs: Lo-Tutala, Maxwell, Molyneux, Hanlan, Gibson, O’Riordan, Crew, Gotts, Westbrooke.
Spurs go strong. They might only retain four starters from the 2-2 draw at Brighton – Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, João Palhinha and Wilson Odobert – but throw Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson into attack. Of the players who started Doncaster’s 2-1 home defeat to Wimbledon, only defender Jay McGrath and captain Owen Bailey keep their spots in the starting line-up.
Newcastle v Bradford teams
Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Krafth, Guimaraes, Miley, Elanga, Joelinton, Gordon, Osula.
Subs: Pope, Trippier, Lascelles, Tonali, Barnes, Livramento, Woltemade, Willock, Alex Murphy.
Bradford City: Walker, Pennington, Byrne, Touray, Halliday, Leigh, Power, Kelly, Powell, Pointon, Humphrys.
Subs: Hilton, Joe Wright, Neufville, Cook, Sarcevic, McIntyre, Tyreik Wright, Metcalfe, Lapslie.
The holders Newcastle make seven changes from the side that started the goalless draw at Bournemouth. Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley are the players who keep their places. League One leaders Bradford switch out five of the team that started their 3-1 win at Cardiff; one of those keeping their shirt is Bobby Pointon, who has five goals already this season.
Preamble
The third round of the League Cup has already served up some marvellous entertainment. Diego Gomez’s long-drive-heavy four-goal haul; two fine assists for Federico Chiesa and the daftest of red cards for Hugo Ekitiké; out-of-form Wolves dispatching in-form Everton; Lincoln forcing Chelsea to dig deep; third-tier Cardiff’s win at Burnley. It’s all been happening, with the promise of more fun to come. Tonight’s card is short but sweet …
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Huddersfield Town v Manchester City (7.45pm)
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Newcastle United v Bradford City (7.45pm)
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Port Vale v Arsenal (8pm)
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Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster Rovers (7.45pm)
… and we’ll have the team news when it lands. It’s on!
