Spurs 3 Dinamo Tbilisi 0

 

Spurs win 8-0 on aggregate.

 

Europa League qualifying round

 

By DAN CARRIER at WHITE HART LANE

 

SPURS manager Andre Villas Boas was full of praise for midfielder Tom Carroll tonight (Thursday) as the youngster turned in a match winning performance against Dinamo Tbilisi, helping Spurs cruise into the next round with an 8-0 aggregate win.

 

“He was very active and passed the ball well,” said Villas Boas after the game.

“In Tom and Lewis Holtby we have two wonderful players and it was a good performance from our midfield. It would have been easy to be complacent.”

 

Spurs carried a five-nil away victory into the game, so it was no surprise to see fringe players such as Holtby, Carroll and Kyle Naughton start.

 

And the rout in Tbilisi, that had given Spurs such a cushion, continued at the Lane.

 

Defoe struck twice in the first half: Holtby was the provider for the first, a neat run and drive on 35. The second came as the referee put the whistle to his lips to call time on the first period – this time Defoe was tee'd up by Sigurdsson.

 

Villas Boas said the striker was a key component for his plans this coming season and would not entertain questions that the England striker might be sold.

 

“Jermain has delivered when we ask him to,” he said.

“He has come on twice in our last two Premiership games and played very well.We are playing with one striker at the moment, and he is competing for that spot. It shows the strength of our squad.”

 

With the game turning into an exhibition match, Spurs were happy not to over exert themselves in the second period. Holtby still found time to make it three on 67 with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box.

 

Then it was just hold it tight and don't get any silly knocks before Sunday's north London derby. Spurs will not have an easier test all season – but eight goals over two legs shows they applied themselves more than adequately.

 

SPURS COMMENT by DAN CARRIER

The big cash signings that have made the transfer window feel like Christmas for fans has taken the spotlight away from two first team fringe players who everyone who watches Tottenham regularly are itching to see given a run out.

Tom Carroll, 21, and the German international Lewis Holtby, 22, started tonight and showed why there is a consensus that they have big futures at the Lane.

Carroll pulled every string going: his neat, possession football was balanced by his incisive passing when the chances opened up.

Holtby also didn't fluff his lines, albeit against very weak opposition. He played a hand in the first goal and scored an absolute beauty himself in the second half. Both showed that AVB has real depth on his bench, regardless of who comes in before the transfer window closes.