John McDermott expects Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy players to adapt to their new environment when they take on Middlesbrough in The FA Youth Cup on Monday evening.
Spurs host Boro at Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium in the Third Round of the competition this evening, kick-off 7pm, and the academy manager says his squad will needs to acclimatise to the unfamiliar surroundings.
McDermott said: “There’s a couple of differences [regarding the surroundings of the game] but the approach we will take will be exactly the same.
Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough
The FA Youth Cup Third Round 7pm
Monday 2 December 2013
Matchroom Stadium, Leyton Orient
“The main differences are dealing with the stadium and the evening kick-off.
“Whereas the first team are used to playing with different kick-off times and on different days, evenings and afternoons, these boys have usually got the same routine Monday to Saturday [ending with a game on Saturday morning].
“There will be a slight change in routine and the stadium environment and the boys will have to adapt to it.”
The Matchroom Stadium will host the FA Youth Cup Third Round tie
The sides have already met this season, with Spurs recording a resounding 4-0 victory back in August, but McDermott knows Boro will be looking for revenge.
He told www.TottenhamHotspur.com: “I’ve said before how much respect I have got for David Parnaby [Boro academy manager] and everything that Middlesbrough have achieved and continue to achieve.
“We played well against them earlier in the season but possibly the scoreline flattered us a little bit. That’s been and gone now.”
Tickets for the match are priced at £5 for adults and £1 for concessions (under 16 and over 65). Kick-off is at 7pm.
