Tottenham Hotspur will host League one side Doncaster Rovers at their North London home on Wednesday in the EFL Cup third-round showdown. Thomas Frank’s side bypassed the first two rounds thanks to their European participation, while their third-tier visitors have already taken down Middlesbrough and Accrington Stanley away from home.
Softfootball reports that the reigning Europa League champions have contested three EFL Cup finals since last lifting the trophy aloft 17 years ago, but they settled for runners-up medals in 2009, 2015 and 2021 and were agonizingly bested by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the 2024-25 edition.
Third-round exits are also not uncommon for Tottenham, who lost at this stage as recently as the 2022-23 season to Nottingham Forest, while lower-league Colchester United stunned Spurs on penalties in the third round of the 2019-20 EFL Cup.
However, it is difficult to envisage a seismic shock taking place on Wednesday evening, especially with Spurs able to reflect on far more positives than negatives during the earliest days of Thomas Frank’s tenure, including four wins from their last six in all competitions.
The hosts had yet to show a resilient edge before the weekend’s Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, but they harnessed their fightback powers to draw 2-2 after falling 2-0 down at the Amex Stadium, whereas their visitors were on the other side of the comeback coin.
For the visitors, coach Grant McCann insists attention will only turn to Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur once he is satisfied the issues from the defeat to AFC Wimbledon are put to bed as outline on Doncaster Rovers club official website.
Team News
Spurs are still missing James Maddison (ACL), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Kota Takai (foot), Yves Bissouma (knock) and Dominic Solanke (ankle), but Frank is hopeful of having Randal Kolo Muani (dead leg) and Ben Davies (knee) back in contention for this one.
Neither man was involved in the 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, but if Davies is cleared to play, the Welshman will surely be considered for a start in the Lilywhites’ backline. Davies and Kevin Danso could form the protective barrier in front of Antonin Kinsky, while Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie are the most likely candidates to start in the full-back areas.
The versatile Archie Gray is a viable option at right-back too, but Frank could instead deploy the teenager as his midfield anchor, with Pape Sarr and Xavi Simons either side of the trio.
Spurs boss is not short of options for change up front either, and it would not be a total shock to see Dane Scarlett earn a start, but the 21-year-old may only play 45 minutes of the match given his lack of football over the past year.
Scarlett and Kolo Muani could both enjoy one half each in the striker’s spot, while Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel should be given a chance to strut their stuff in the wide positions.
Doncaster Rovers head into the fixture aiming to rebound from a rare setback last time out, having made a strong start on their return to England’s third tier.
After winning promotion and the League Two title last time around, the Yorkshire outfit find themselves fifth having earned 16 points from their first eight outings, winning five and only losing two of those while conceding just eight goals.
Grant McCann’s side managed three of those victories consecutively across late August and early September, seeing off Port Vale and Doncaster Rovers before prevailing in a 3-1 Yorkshire Derby triumph over Bradford City thanks to goals from Luke Molyneux, Jordan Gibson and Billy Sharp.
A trip to Wigan Athletic then followed, but the Rovers failed to make it four wins in a row, instead succumbing to a 3-0 beating as Dara Costelloe, Matthew Smith and Fraser Murray got on the scoresheet for their hosts, adding salt to injury with another defeat to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday
Still sitting in a strong position in the early stages of the League One term, Doncaster Rovers will bid to put Saturday’s disappointment behind them as they travel to London for the Carabao Cup fixture against Spurs.
Possible Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Kinsky; Spence, Danso, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Gray, Simons; Johnson, Scarlett, Tel
Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup: Lawlor; Sterry, McGrath, Pearson, Maxwell; Bailey, Close; Molyneux, Crew, Gibson, Sharp
SoftFootball’s Prediction
The Carabao Cup could represent Tottenham’s best hope of landing a trophy in Thomas Frank’s maiden campaign, so Spurs should be focused enough to enjoy a routine win over lower-league Doncaster in the Carabao Cup’s Third Round.
Visiting Rovers Doncaster have won their first two EFL Cup games of the season by an aggregate score of 6-0, but McCann’s men are now looking more vulnerable defensively and will surely bow out in North London.
They have lost twice on the spin in League One and looked off the pace in defeats to Wigan and MK Dons, and Doncaster should find the going just as tough in the capital, even if Thomas Frank fields a shuffled Tottenham XI. A home win is certain.
