It was easy to be seduced by the Doncaster story, to wonder whether this could be another stunning moment for them. Because there have been a few of those since 3 February 2024, when they began a surge from the lower reaches of League Two.
Grant McCann’s team missed out on promotion via the playoffs, then went up as champions last season and they have started well in League One this time out. During the period, they have collected 143 points; no team in England has more.
Tottenham, though, were always likely to prove too much for them. Thomas Frank made it clear when he was unveiled as the club’s manager that he wanted them to compete in all four competitions they were in, and they are up and running in the Carabao Cup.
Spurs impressed in the first half, fluffing up a two-goal cushion and, if they coasted after the interval, they never looked in danger of leaving the back-door open, of offering any encouragement for the fairytale.
João Palhinha’s goal for 1-0 was the standout moment and after a Jay McGrath own goal it was Brennan Johnson – a threat on the right throughout – who completed the scoring at the very end.
It is the Premier League manager who is supposed to make the most changes to his lineup and Frank could have picked a powerful XI from those he started among the substitutes, rested entirely or was unable to select because of injury. Yet McCann outdid his seven changes with nine of his own, the Doncaster manager staying true to his rotation policy in this competition. When he changed all 11 players for the first-round tie at Middlesbrough, his team won 4-0.
Doncaster travelled with optimism; their travelling band of 4,000 supporters with characteristic Yorkshire confidence. It was punctured early on when it became clear that Spurs had the pace and skill to hurt them up the wings. How did Mathys Tel miss his kick from point-blank range from a Johnson cross at the outset? It was a mystery.
Spurs did not dwell on it and they were ahead when the Doncaster goalkeeper, Ian Lawlor, made a hash of his punch on a Xavi Simons corner and compounded the error by feeling his momentum take him away from goal. Seán Grehan did not get enough distance on the clearing header and Palhinha, who played at centre-half, adjusted his feet before hooking the ball over his shoulder and into the empty net. It was anything but a centre-half’s finish.
Spurs made it 2-0 when Wilson Odobert skated past Tom Nixon and crossed low. Lawlor could get nothing on it and the ball went in off the unfortunate McGrath, who was facing the wrong way.
It was possible to fear for Doncaster because they were loose at the back, Spurs moving around and through them too easily, the spaces big, the chances coming. When Archie Gray, who played as a right-sided No 8, popped up in the left of the area on to a breaking ball and shaped a curler for the far corner, Lawlor made a fine save.
Doncaster came to play. They had flickered at the very start, Toyosi Olusanya fluffing one chance when well placed while there was the moment on 39 minutes when the captain, Owen Bailey, sculpted a lovely volley that Antonin Kinsky pushed against a post.
Doncaster brought the tempo after the second-half restart, trying to get on to the front foot and ask questions. The No 10, Joe Sbarra, flitted with intent while Bailey looked polished in his deeper midfield role. Frank seemed happy to contain, to play on the counter.
It felt as though Spurs were sleepwalking a little, the home crowd were subdued – apart from the screaming kids behind the press box – and there were a few worries for Frank, chiefly another dreadfully scuffed finish from Tel. It was disappointing to see a dive in the area from Pedro Porro, for which he was booked.
Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion
Grimsby Town v Brentford
Swansea City v Manchester City
Newcastle United v Tottenham
Wrexham v Cardiff
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Wolves v Chelsea
Wycombe Wanderers v Fulham
Matches to be played w/c 27 October
Doncaster, though, could not make it happen. Glenn Middletone swelled the side-netting with a free-kick after Kevin Danso had wafted a high boot at Brandon Hanlan, on as a substitute, and it was Spurs who finished the stronger.
Frank was able to introduce the 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett for his debut on the left and the final word went to Johnson, who finished after being released by another substitute, Lucas Bergvall.
