Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Doncaster Player Ratings: Joao Palhinha Rated 8/10 as Spurs Cruise to a 3-0 Victory

What a straightforward night for Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup. We saw them completely dominate a spirited but ultimately outmatched Doncaster Rovers side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The final match score of 3-0 really tells the story of the game, a contest where Spurs never looked in any real danger. From our perspective, the game was won in a frantic three-minute spell in the first half.

The breakthrough came from an unlikely source. João Palhinha, a defender, found himself in the right place at the right time to poke home from a corner. It was a deserved lead. Just moments later, disaster struck for Doncaster Rovers. An unfortunate own goal from Jay McGrath doubled Spurs' advantage, and you could feel the air go out of the away side's sails. It was a cruel blow for the defender who was otherwise quite solid.

Doncaster Rovers, to their credit, didn’t just roll over. They had their moments, particularly a big missed header from Toyosi Olusanya that could have changed the complexion of the game. But Tottenham Hotspur's control was absolute. They kept probing, creating chances, and it felt like a matter of when, not if, the third goal would come. That moment finally arrived deep into stoppage time, with Brennan Johnson finishing off a swift counter-attack to put a lovely gloss on the result.

Here are the Tottenham Hotspur Vs Doncaster Rovers Player Ratings

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Doncaster

Here are Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings vs Doncaster

Goalkeeper

Antonín Kinský - 6.5: We barely noticed he was there for large parts of the game, which is a good sign for a keeper in a dominant team. He made two saves when called upon and claimed a high ball with confidence. A quiet but effective evening that resulted in a clean sheet. Can't ask for much more, really.

Defenders

Kevin Danso - 7.5: What stood out to us was his dominance in the air, winning 7 of 8 aerial duels. He was a rock at the back, making seven clearances and was incredibly composed in possession with 90% pass accuracy. He even provided a key pass. A very, very solid performance from the central defender.

João Palhinha - 8.0: Our man of the match. He popped up with the crucial opening goal, showing a striker's instinct from a corner. Beyond the goal, he was a defensive wall, making six clearances and winning his duels. His passing was crisp and he looked a class above. A complete performance that controlled the game from the back.

Pedro Porro - 7.0: The captain on the night was a constant outlet on the right. He was always looking to get forward, taking four shots and putting in dangerous passes. However, his final product was a bit mixed, and he got a silly yellow card for simulation. Still, his energy was infectious, and he led by example.

Djed Spence - 6.0: A relatively quiet game for Spence. He was neat on the ball but didn't offer the attacking threat we know he can possess. He only won one of his five duels which was a bit of a disappointment. Seemed to play it safe before being substituted in the second half.

Midfielders

Xavi Simons - 8.0: This kid is special. He was the creative hub for Spurs, creating an astonishing seven chances in just 61 minutes. His passing was almost perfect, and he was the architect of so many of Tottenham's attacks. It was a shame to see him subbed off, but he'd already done more than enough. A joy to watch.

Archie Gray - 7.0: A really mature and steady performance from the young midfielder. He kept things ticking over with a 90% pass accuracy and wasn't afraid to do the dirty work, winning half his duels. He even created a chance and had a shot on target. Looks right at home in this team.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 6.5: A frustrating night for the Uruguayan. He got into great positions but his shooting boots were left at home, missing a big chance and firing four shots off target. On the plus side, his work rate was immense, recovering the ball seven times. A mixed bag, but his energy was undeniable.

Forwards

Mathys Tel - 6.0: He had his chances, most notably a big one early on that he should have buried. The effort was there, and he drew a couple of fouls, but he just lacked that clinical edge. From our perspective, he looked a little raw and snatched at his opportunities. There's talent there, for sure.

Brennan Johnson - 7.5: He was a constant thorn in Doncaster's side with his pace, even if he was caught offside three times. He kept running, kept trying, and was rewarded with a well-taken goal at the very end. That goal bumped his rating up significantly. A performance of pure persistence.

Wilson Odobert - 6.5: He created a huge chance for a teammate and showed flashes of his skill. However, he drifted out of the game for periods and lost possession a bit too often for our liking. A decent but unspectacular outing before being taken off after an hour.

Substitutes

Richarlison, Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie, Lucá Williams-Barnett - N/A: None of the substitutes had enough time or made a significant enough impact to warrant a full rating, but they helped see out a comfortable victory.

Manager

T. Frank - 7.5: He set his team up perfectly to avoid a cup upset. The rotation was smart, giving key players a rest while still fielding a side strong enough to dominate. His tactics worked from the first whistle, and the result was never in doubt. A professional job well done.

Doncaster Player Ratings vs Tottenham Hotspur

Here are Doncaster Player Ratings vs Tottenham Hotspur

Goalkeeper

Ian Lawlor - 6.5: Conceding three goals never looks good, but it's harsh to blame him for any of them. One was an own goal, and the other two were clinical finishes. He made four saves, a couple of which were excellent, preventing an even heavier defeat. A busy and thankless task for him.

Defenders

Jay McGrath - 5.0: Oh, what a tough night for the defender. That own goal in the 17th minute was a killer blow for his team. Outside of that moment, he actually defended reasonably well, making six clearances and two blocks. But an own goal is a huge moment, and it dragged his rating right down.

Thomas Nixon - 6.0: A real battler. He surprisingly won all six of his duels and made some crucial tackles. However, a major error from him led to a Spurs shot, and he struggled to keep possession under pressure. He gave it his all, but the quality gap was evident.

Jack Senior - 6.5: We thought he was one of Doncaster's better defenders. He read the game well, making four interceptions and five clearances. He was strong in his duels and drew three fouls to relieve pressure. A solid, committed defensive display against a top side.

Sean Grehan - 6.5: Like his defensive partners, he was under the cosh all night but stood up to be counted. He was an absolute beast in the air, winning five of six aerials, and made an impressive eight clearances. He fought for every ball and can hold his head high despite the loss.

Midfielders

Owen Bailey - 6.5: The captain led by example, never shying away from a tackle. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork and having another shot saved. The yellow card for a poor foul was a blemish, but you couldn't fault his commitment. He was everywhere for his team.

Joe Sbarra - 6.0: He worked tirelessly in the middle of the park but struggled to make a real impact on the game. His passing was tidy enough, but he was often chasing shadows against a superior midfield. He put in a shift but offered little in an attacking sense.

G. Middleton - 6.0: Looked like one of Doncaster's more likely creative sparks. He whipped in a staggering 13 crosses, though the quality wasn't always there. He was a willing runner and had a shot off target, but ultimately his end product let him down.

Oyindamola Ajayi - 6.5: In his hour on the pitch, he looked quite lively. He created a gilt-edged chance for Olusanya that should have been converted. He was tidy in possession and worked hard defensively, winning his tackles. A promising display from the midfielder.

Ben Close - 5.5: A very quiet game from Close. He kept his passing simple and safe but offered very little protection to his backline and didn't contribute going forward. From our perspective, the game just passed him by. He was subbed with about 15 minutes to go.

Forwards

Toyosi Olusanya - 5.5: He'll be having nightmares about that missed header. It was a golden opportunity to get his team back into the game. He was a handful with his pace and willingness to run the channels but was caught offside three times and lost the ball too easily. A frustrating performance defined by that one big miss.

Substitutes

Luke Molyneux, Brandon Hanlan, Robbie Gotts, Jordan Gibson, Charlie Crew - N/A: They came on to provide fresh legs but the game was already settled. They ran hard but couldn't change the outcome.

Manager

G. McCann - 6.0: His team was set up to be resilient, and for periods, they were. They were simply outclassed by a far superior opponent. He can be pleased with the fight his players showed and the fact they did create one or two big chances. A difficult night at the office, but his team didn't disgrace themselves.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Joao Palhinha