Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster endured a torrid evening against Coventry City in the Carabao Cup
Tottenham Hotspur made it through to the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday night as they grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat against Coventry City.
After Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten 1-0 in the North London derby by Arsenal, Coventry City were on course to pull the biggest upset of the Carabao Cup third round when they took the lead in the 62nd minute.
However, Spurs found the equaliser in the 88th minute through substitute Djed Spence. Then, as the game went into added time and with penalties looming, another substitute Brennan Johnson popped up with the winner to spare the blushes for Ange Postecoglou.
One rare positive was the fact that Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Djed Spence looked promising in their displays, but the performance of one particular player won’t have pleased our head coach.
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Fraser Forster started in goal for Tottenham against the Championship side in the cup tie as No.1 Guglielmo Vicario was afforded a rare night off. The veteran shot-stopper made a wayward pass to Lucas Bergvall early on that got intercepted but he saved the resulting shot.
He produced a couple of saves in the first half to keep the scoreline 0-0 but made a complete meal by coming out to claim a ball in the second half, colliding with Dragusin in the process and was fortunate that Ben Davies made a sliding block in front of the Spurs goal. Later, Fraser Forster was beaten way too easily for Coventry’s opener.
It was an extremely shaky performance from the 36-year-old between the sticks for the Lilywhites. Bryan King, former Spurs scout, has now advised Tottenham to look for Forster’s replacement next year.
“It looks like it is going to be a long hard season,” Bryan King said in an exclusive interview with Tottenham News.
“Spurs weren’t in the game at all. Coventry had chances to kill the game off, but they didn’t, and that is football.
“The two goals that Spurs scored were very well worked. That is the difference between the Premier League and the Championship. One great pass in the Premier League is two passes in the Championship.
“As for Forster, I think Tottenham should be looking for a new number-two goalkeeper the way he is.”
It is extremely clear that Spurs do require a brand-new no.2 to replace Forster, who is well past his prime and not good enough to play for Big Ange’s side. While the second-choice goalkeeper won’t have to feature prominently, Big Ange would hope to have a reliable pair of hands when called upon to do a job and Forster isn’t that presence anymore.
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A new No.2 would also help to push Guglielmo Vicario, whose fragility from set-pieces continues to be exposed by the opposition. Either Spurs dip in the January market for a new goalkeeper or promote a youngster from within the academy. Alfie Whiteman has done well in the academy and should be given chances in the cup competitions going forward, until at least January.
