Tottenham 1 Barnsley 0: Dele Alli nets only goal

DELE ALLI scored the winners as Tottenham survived a Carabao Cup scare against Barnsley.

The England star netted a 66th minute winner after the Tykes had threatened to cause an upset in front of just 23,926 fans at Wembley. Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino handed full debuts to summer signings Juan Foythand Fernando Llorente and it was the new boys who spurned their team’s first two chances of the night.

First, Argentinean defender Foyth, an £8million capture from Estudiantes, should have made a dream scoring start when he headed Kieran Trippier’s corner over the bar in the sixth minute.

Then, Spanish striker Llorente, who joined from Swansea for £15m, did likewise from Trippier’s 27th minute corner.

Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom said underdogs would not be overawed by Wembley after playing here in both the EFL Trophy and League One Play-Off finals last year – and he was right.

As after soaking up Spurs pressure and restricting the hosts to just couple of clear-cut chances, they began to get a bit more adventurous, with Harvey Barnes only denied a one-on-one with keeper Michel Vorm by Jan Vertonghen’s last-ditch saving tackle.

The Tykes, roared on by more than 3,000 travelling fans, then went even closer when defender Liam Lindsay headed Ryan Hedges’ corner just wide five minutes before the break. But they really should have opened the scoring when their on-loan Chelsea striker Ike Ugbo lifted the ball over Jan Vertonghen to leave  himself free in the box with only Vorm to beat.

But the Spurs keeper, making his first appearance of the season pulled off a brilliant point-blank save to prevent the Prem side from falling behind.

Tottenham almost plundered a goal themselves with Heung-min Son’s curling shot was nearly headed into his own net by Barnsley skipper Angus MacDonald.

And the Championship team had claims for a penalty waved away by ref Tim Robinson when Hedges’ 55th minute cross struck Trippier’s hand. With the natives starting to get restless, Tottenham launched a series of attacks with Harry Winks’ shot well saved by Adam Davies at the far post.

The Tykes keeper had earlier tipped Alli’s low shot around the post.

But Davies was powerless to stop the England star from opening the scoring when h slotted home Trippier’s cross from close range.

In truth although Barnsley battled hard on the hallowed Wembley turf, they simply lacked bite up top as Spurs progressed into the EFL fourth round.

From The Sun