Tottenham Hotspur managed to claim victory from the jaws of defeat on Wednesday as they advanced to the fourth round of the League Cup.
Spurs looked set to fall to a second morale-sapping defeat in the space of four days, only for two late goals to put them in the fourth round at Coventry City’s expense.
Tottenham struggled for much of the match and conceded in the 63rd minute as Brandon Thomas-Asante netting a simple finish from close range.
However, Djed Spence equalised for Spurs in the 88th minute, pouncing on a superb Dejan Kulusevski through-ball and firing home first-time.
Then, in added time and with penalties looming, Rodrigo Bentancur sliced the Coventry defence open with a ball for Brennan Johnson to neatly chip over the keeper.
While it was a relief for Tottenham to get back in the game and stumble over the line, Dominic Solanke went another game without getting on the scoresheet.
The £65million summer signing is yet to get off the mark for Spurs, having played three games so far for his new club.
Tim Sherwood has now given his verdict on Solanke’s time at Tottenham so far and what he’d say to him.
Tim Sherwood backs Dominic Solanke to shine at Tottenham once he’s up and running
The former Tottenham manager, speaking on talkSPORT, is optimistic about Solanke’s future, saying he has the capability to shine.
Sherwood is confident that, once the Spurs newcomer gets off the mark, he’ll be fine.
“Just keeping playing, you know? You’re going to play,” said Sherwood. “I would say to him, ‘Who else is there at the moment to play ahead of him?’
“Paid big money for him, just give him a conversation and say look, ‘No matter what happens today, you’re in the team next week.
“‘I’m going to persevere with you, I want you to get strikes at goal, be yourself, be like you were when you played for Bournemouth.
“‘You’ve been at big clubs,’ he’s been at Chelsea, he’s been at Liverpool, he never got the opportunity.
“It’s easy to play for Bournemouth, with respect, you know, the teams that are around the mid-table in the Premier League.
“It’s a lot harder playing for big clubs but I believe he’s got the capability, certainly got the tools to be able to do it, he just needs a goal, get some confidence and he’s off and running.”
Solanke needs something to work with
As clear as night follows day, a big-money signing finds himself with pundits criticising him even though he hasn’t exactly done anything wrong.
Solanke’s Tottenham debut was a case of him finding his feet at his new club, for whom he hasn’t had a pre-season.
Then, injury ruled the £90,000-a-week ace out of the following two games. Obviously that’s out of his control.
Solanke worked hard against both Arsenal and Coventry, but the service simply wasn’t there for him. He needs his teammates to give him something to work with.