Archie Gray’s affinity with Leeds United added another little personal incentive to win Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup tie with Manchester United.
Spurs were hosting Ruben Amorim’s side in the quarter-finals of the competition and managed to come through an incredible game 4-3.
It was a huge game for the home side as they bid to end their near 17-year long wait for a major trophy and despite two howlers from Fraser Forster, Spurs were able to come through and setup a semi-final with Liverpool.
For the third match in a row, Gray was once again playing centre-back as Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven and Ben Davies all continue to recover from injuries.
Spurs remain unbeaten in the games Gray has played in central defence, drawing 1-1 at Rangers last week, before a 5-0 win at Southampton cost Russell Martin his job on Sunday.
Spurs media deliver verdict on Gray performance
It had looked like Spurs were absolutely coasting through to the final four when Dominic Solanke netted his second goal of the night to put the hosts 3-0 in front.
However, Spurs goalkeeper Forster seemed to have other ideas as he gave the ball away twice on his own goal line to allow Man United to cut the deficit to one.
Heung-Min Son then seemingly put the game to bed late on when he scored directly from a corner, but Jonny Evans’ header in stoppage time did setup a nervy last two minutes.
Anyone who didn’t watch the match and simply saw Spurs concede three goals on home soil could quite easily have come to the conclusion that the centre-backs did not play well.
However, Forster was the one and only player at fault for Spurs being so uncomfortable towards the end, and that is reflected in Football London‘s post-match verdict on Gray’s display in his first ever career appearance against Man United.
They wrote: “Archie Gray – Another decent showing as a centre-back and there’s little he or Dragusin could do to compensate when Forster is going to have a double moment like that. 7.”
Djed Spence also impresses for Spurs
After the early termination of his loan at Leeds nearly 12 months ago, no one could’ve predicted the mini resurgence Djed Spence is having right now.
Spence was sent straight back on loan to Genoa in January but after returning to north London for pre-season, has forced his way into the side.
He has managed an assist in each of the two matches he has started this week, playing just besides Gray on the left side of defence. Football London were very impressed by Spence’s performance.
They wrote: “Djed Spence – His first start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it was another very good display. A constant option down the left and he played a lovely ball into the path of Solanke for Spurs’ third goal. 8.”
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
