A thrilling encounter unfolded in the third round of the Carabao Cup, where Coventry City faced Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Coventry City, determined to make their mark in the competition, put up a resolute performance, but two late goals from Spurs saw them snatch a 2-1 victory and advance to the next round.
Despite a subpar showing from Spurs, Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 63rd minute. However, Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson scored in the final minutes to seal a dramatic turnaround, securing Spurs’ passage to the fourth round.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Head-to-Head
- Coventry City: Sitting in the Championship, Coventry entered the match with confidence after drawing 1-1 against Watford in the league. They were hopeful of an upset, especially with their home advantage.
- Tottenham Hotspur: Ange Postecoglou’s side, reeling from a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal, sought redemption. Despite fielding a much-changed lineup, Spurs had a clear goal: to progress further in the Carabao Cup.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Lineups
Here are the Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur lineups today (Sep 19, 2024)
Coventry City (3-4-1-2):
- Starting XI:
Ben Wilson; Luis Binks, Liam Kitching, Milan van Ewijk; Josh Eccles, Jake Bidwell, Jack Rudoni, Brandon Thomas-Asante; Haji Wright, Norman Bassette, Ellis Simms. - Substitutes:
Ephron Mason-Clark, Ben Sheaf, Victor Torp, Callum Doyle, Michael Rose, Wilson Odobert, Danny Cashman.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):
- Starting XI:
Fraser Forster; Djed Spence, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie; Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr; Timo Werner, Lucas Bergvall, Dominic Solanke; Wilson Odobert. - Substitutes:
Heung-Min Son, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Emerson Royal, Richarlison.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur First Half
The match started on a tense note, with Coventry nearly taking an early lead after just 60 seconds when Jack Rudoni forced Fraser Forster into a save. Tottenham struggled to create any clear chances, failing to register a single shot on target in the opening half.
Coventry’s defensive resilience shone through as they contained Spurs, while the hosts looked threatening on the counterattack. Forster was called into action multiple times, including a crucial save from Norman Bassette’s effort, keeping the score level at the break.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Half-Time: Coventry City 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Second Half
The second half saw both teams increase their intensity. Coventry’s persistence paid off when Brandon Thomas-Asante slotted home from close range after an excellent cross from Norman Bassette in the 63rd minute. Coventry’s passionate fans erupted as the Sky Blues took a deserved lead.
Tottenham responded by introducing Son Heung-Min and James Maddison, seeking to spark some creativity. Despite nearly falling further behind, Spurs found a lifeline in the 88th minute. Djed Spence, assisted by Dejan Kulusevski, calmly finished to equalize.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Spurs completed the comeback as Brennan Johnson slotted home following a through ball from Rodrigo Bentancur, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Full-Time: Coventry City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Stats
| Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Stats | Coventry City | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Goals | 1 | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 4 |
| Total Shots | 10 | 9 |
| Possession (%) | 42% | 58% |
| Corners | 4 | 5 |
| Fouls | 15 | 12 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 | 1 |
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Timeline
- 1’ – Jack Rudoni (Coventry) forces a save from Forster.
- 28’ – Milan van Ewijk’s shot blocked by Timo Werner.
- 45’ – Forster saves from Norman Bassette.
- 63’ – GOAL! Brandon Thomas-Asante puts Coventry 1-0 ahead.
- 88’ – GOAL! Djed Spence equalizes for Spurs (1-1).
- 90+2’ – GOAL! Brennan Johnson scores the winner (1-2).
- 90+4’ – Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry) receives a yellow card.
Fouls & Yellow Cards
- Coventry City:
- Binks, Allen, Thomas-Asante, and Kitching received yellow cards for various fouls.
- Tottenham Hotspur:
- James Maddison picked up the only yellow card for Spurs.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Man of the Match
Brennan Johnson – His match-winning goal in stoppage time capped a remarkable comeback for Spurs. His composure and clinical finish under pressure earned him the Man of the Match accolade.
Coventry City vs Tottenham Hotspur Impact on the Points Table
While this was a Carabao Cup match and didn’t impact the league standings, Tottenham’s victory propelled them into the fourth round. The win also provided a much-needed morale boost after recent league losses, with Postecoglou hopeful this result could reignite their form.
Coventry City gave a valiant effort and came close to causing an upset, but Tottenham’s experience and quality shone through in the dying moments. This 2-1 victory in the Carabao Cup third round allowed Spurs to progress, keeping their hopes alive for silverware this season. Despite the loss, Coventry City can hold their heads high, knowing they matched a Premier League side for most of the game.
