Spurs 1-2 United U21s

Our Under-21s were thwarted by Tom Thorpe's late header as our Barclays Under-21 Premier League encounter against Manchester United exploded into life in the final minutes at Stevenage on Monday night.

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Played in front of an impressive crowd of 1,671, the game remained goalless until four minutes from time when Adnan Januzaj curled a free-kick into the top corner.

Two minutes later it looked like we'd secured a point as Nathan Oduwa challenged Anders Lindegaard, won the ball, took a moment and fired into the top corner.

But it wasn't to be as Thorpe rose well to meet Januzaj's corner and power home the winner in the second minute of injury time.

Januzaj and Lindegaard provided the experience in United's line-up alongside striker James Wilson while Connor Ogilvie returned to action after injury for us with Cristian Ceballos also back in the starting line-up.

The game was played at a real pace throughout but despite plenty of enterprising football, chances and efforts at goal were at a premium.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first half was when Oduwa latched onto Emmanuel Sonupe's cross, turned away from Saidy Janko and curled just over.

Daniel Akindayini headed just wide on eight minutes, Wilson shot straight at Luke McGee after a scramble on 11 minutes and Oduwa's curler followed a minute later.

Ceballos did well stooping to angle a header just over midway through the half and Andreas Pereira's shot from Januzaj's cross looked on target but Dominic Ball was there to block.

That was the story for the rest of the half in terms of chances as Sonupe's well-struck effort from the edge of the box was blocked by Thorpe and Josh Harrop threw himself in to deny Alex McQueen just before the break. That cost the midfielder though as he was injured making the block and limped off, replaced by Joe Rothwell.

We started brightly in the second half and forced two early saves from Lindegaard – Ceballos' low drive dipped just in front of him but was comfortable, but he was at full stretch to turn aside Oduwa's 20-yarder two minutes later.

The next effort of note came in the 73rd minute when Januzaj clipped a free-kick over the defensive wall but a yard wide.

The winger went one better four minutes from time when he found the top corner from the right of the penalty area.

We hit back straight away as Oduwa was rewarded for his efforts on 88 minutes but the team's joy was short-lived as Thorpe delivered the knockout blow.

There was still time for one more attack as Ceballos jinked into the box only to lash over from 16 yards.

Ugo Ehiogu said

“United had a lot of quality out there and the pleasing thing for us was that we matched their mentality,” said coach Ugo.

“Our mentality was good, the best it’s been for a long time. There was a desire not to lose and for 89 minutes, our two central defenders were very good, they tackled everything, headed, organised, that was pleasing.

“But to then to concede a free header in the six yard box, unmarked - it’s schoolboy stuff really.

“It’s hard to take and the players will have to pick themselves up.

“Josh Onomah was exceptional, drove at the heart of United, controlled the game. I was happy with Harry Winks. We spoke to him about controlling the game better, not always being able to hit the killer passes and talked about his energy levels and they were good.

“Dominic Ball was very good, Nathan Oduwa as well. The lads are starting to do some of the stuff we’re asking of them but it’s the small details that you always hope they get.

“The disappointing thing after all those positives was that we spoke about the importance of set-pieces on Sunday and that’s what has cost us in the end.”

Match data

Spurs U21s: McGee; McQueen, Ball, Veljkovic, Ogilvie (Lesniak, 46); Onomah, Winks; Sonupe (Miller, 59), Oduwa, Ceballos; Akindayini (Lameiras, 77). Substitute (not used): Voss (GK).

Manchester United U21s: Lindegaard, Janko, Thorpe, Vermijl, Evans; Harrop (Rothwell, 45+1), Pearson; A Pereira; Wilson (Grimshaw, 46), Keane, Januzaj. Substitutes (not used): O'Hara (GK), Tuanzebe, Weir.

Attendance: 1,671.