Former Leeds United man Archie Gray could not have asked for a better first career appearance against Manchester United for Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs came out on top in a thrilling Carabao Cup quarter-final as they defeated Ruben Amorim’s side 4-3, with Gray playing the full 90 minutes as a centre-back.
Tottenham had already beaten Man United this season before last night’s game, but Gray was an unused substitute during that win at Old Trafford.
Gray has received praise from Spurs fans for his performance, which is unusual for a centre-back whose team conceded three goals.
However, there wasn’t much he could’ve done about any of them, with Fraser Forster giving the ball away twice on his own goal-line to offer the away side a route back into the game.
Gray shows he’s still Leeds at heart with Man United comment
It look Gray a little while to get going at Spurs but their abundance of injuries at centre-back have given him the chance to have a run in the side in an unusual position.
As such, it does appear that his stock is starting to rise to where it was at Elland Road again last season, which saw him conduct media duties with the EFL before the match.
Considering the legacy his family have built at Leeds, the most iconic of course being his great uncle Eddie, Gray was asked about what it meant to him coming up against Man United.
Gray admitted his affinity with Leeds means Man United is a club he ‘obviously’ doesn’t like, before then suggesting it was a game he was looking forward to that little bit extra.
He said: “Being brought up at Leeds you’re obviously not going to like Manchester United so it’s definitely a game that I’m really looking forward to.”
Gray stats vs Manchester United
Gray certainly produced a performance reflective of a player that gave an extra one per cent to ensure Spurs came out with a win.
Not only he was everywhere when it came to the defensive side of the game, but he was also neat and tidy on the ball, a very important trait for someone playing in an Ange Postecoglou team.
| Stat | Gray |
| Touches | 70 |
| Passes (acc.) | 58 (54) |
| Clearances | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 |
| Tackles | 3 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
| Ground duels (won) | 4 (3) |
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