Overview
Since the inspiring title under Jonathan Woodgate in 2008, Tottenham have been waiting for a domestic title.
The reigning Europa League champions have reached the Carabao Cup final three times in the past 17 years, but all of them have stopped at the runner-up title (2009, 2015, 2021). In the 2024-2025 season, Spurs were also bitterly eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals.
Being eliminated early in the third round is not uncommon for Tottenham, having fallen to Nottingham Forest in the 2022-2023 season. They were even eliminated by Colchester United - a lower-ranked team - in the third round of the 2019-2020 Carabao Cup.
However, the prospect of a similar shock is unlikely to repeat this time, especially when Spurs are having many bright spots under the new reign of coach Thomas Frank. They have won 4 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
However, the Londoners have yet to prove the necessary stability in their trip to Brighton in the Premier League last weekend. Spurs struggled to equalize 2-2 after falling 0-2 at Amex.
Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers just lost 1-2 to AFC Wimbledon in League One. The second-half goals of Ryan Johnson and Myles Hippolyte kept Doncaster in disappointment.
From August 23 to September 6, coach Grant McCann helped the team win 5 consecutive victories in all competitions. That included a 2-0 win over Accrington Stanley in the second round of the Carabao Cup, right after crushing Middlesbrough 4-0 in the previous round.
However, Doncaster's form has stagnated. They lost 2 consecutive matches against Wigan Athletic and most recently Wimbledon, thereby falling out of the group participating in the play-off in League One. However, they are only behind Barnsley and Huddersfield Town in terms of goal difference.
The defense is becoming a big concern for Doncaster when they have conceded 7 goals in the last 4 matches, after a series of 3 clean sheets before. This is not the ideal luggage for a trip to visit a Premier League representative.
In addition, Doncaster also have a disappointing record in the Carabao Cup. They have lost all 4 of their most recent matches in the 3rd round, since reaching the quarter-finals of the 2005-2006 season.
In the 2009-10 season, Doncaster's journey was also stopped by Tottenham from round 2, with a heavy 1-5 defeat to the opponent they were about to face.
Personnel situation
Spurs' injury list is still quite long. James Maddison (crossing ligament amputation), Radu Dragusin (crossing ligament amputation), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Kota Takai (leg), Yves Bissouma (unknown injury) and Dominic Solanke (fishing eye) are all sidelined. In addition, Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies have not recovered.
However, Thomas Frank still has many options to rotate. He is expected to change the starting lineup, with names such as Antonin Kinsky, Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and Dane Scarlett likely to be given a starting opportunity.
Tottenham have loaned or sold many young talents from the academy in the summer, but some promising faces such as Callum Olusesi and Luca Williams-Barnett (16 years old) may be registered. Notably, Williams-Barnett just scored a hat-trick in the 6-3 victory of the U21 team over Leicester City in Premier League 2.
Among the young players sent to play by Spurs is Damola Ajayi - a 19-year-old winger currently playing for Doncaster. The London side have allowed Ajayi to face his home side in this match.
However, Ajayi only started from the bench in the loss to Wimbledon last weekend. Instead, Doncaster will likely put his faith in Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson to support 39-year-old veteran Billy Sharp in attack.
Doncaster suffered another blow when midfielder Harry Clifton suffered a hamstring tear in the loss to Wigan and will be out for about 6 weeks. Jamie Sterry also has back problems, but is expected to recover in time to play.
Expected lineup:
Tottenham: Kinsky, Spence, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Sarr, Gray, Simons, Johnson, Scarlett, Tel.
Doncaster Rovers: Lawlor, Sterry, McGrath, Pearson, Maxwell, Bailey, Close, Molyneux, crew, Gibson, Sharp.
The match between Tottenham and Doncaster Rovers takes place at 1:45 am on September 25 (Vietnam time).
