Tottenham vs Doncaster | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 24th September 2025

The Carabao Cup serves up an intriguing tie on 24 September 2025 as Premier League side Tottenham host League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers. It’s a classic cup clash — a top-flight team in strong domestic and European form against lower-league opponents punching above their weight in knock-out football.

Spurs come into this match sitting 5th in the Premier League after a good September run, while Doncaster are 7th in League Two, having pieced together a confident sequence of results. The home crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should be lively, with a noisy away section backing the visitors hoping for an upset.

Tactically, the hosts tend to play a possession-heavy 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, pushing the full-backs on and circulating the ball across midfield. Doncaster will likely sit in a compact mid-block, press in bursts, and try to spring quick counters through the front line and wide runners.

• Possession dominance: Tottenham average 60% possession with an 86% pass completion rate, so expect long spells of control.
• Compact visitors: Doncaster concede just 0.8 goals per game and post a 50% clean-sheet rate, indicating a well-drilled block and tidy box defending.
• Marginal gains at dead balls: Both sides average around 0.3–0.4 set-piece goals per game. Corners and wide free-kicks could tilt it.

Tottenham: Last 10 competitive matches show 8 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat, with roughly 22 scored and 10 conceded (about 2.0 for / 1.0 against per game). Four clean sheets in that run and a habit of fast starts at home.

Doncaster: Over the last 10 they’re 7 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, with around 15 scored and 8 conceded (about 1.5 for / 0.8 against). They’ve shown resilience, often staying in games and nicking key moments.

Tottenham: 2.00 • Doncaster: 1.50 per match.

Tottenham: 1.00 • Doncaster: 0.80 per match.

Tottenham: 40% • Doncaster: 50% of matches.

Tottenham: 60% • Doncaster: 51%.

Tottenham: 6.2 • Doncaster: 5.0 per match.

Tottenham: 1.8 • Doncaster: 1.9 per match.

Tottenham: 14.5 / 5.0 • Doncaster: 11.8 / 3.9.

Tottenham: 1.80 xG / 1.10 xGA • Doncaster: 1.35 xG / 0.95 xGA.

Tottenham: 0.4 scored / 0.3 conceded • Doncaster: 0.3 scored / 0.2 conceded per match.

Tottenham: 86% pass completion, 14.0 tackles+interceptions • Doncaster: 76% pass completion, 15.5 tackles+interceptions.

Tottenham: 55% of goals first half / 45% second half. Doncaster: 50% first half / 50% second half.

Over/Under 2.5 goals — Tottenham: 60% over • Doncaster: 45% over.

Tottenham: 2.00 • Doncaster: 1.80.

Tottenham at home: strong run with wins against European and domestic opposition, averaging about two goals scored per home match and controlling territory via the full-backs.

Doncaster away: steady travellers, unbeaten in their last three away, preferring a disciplined shape and quick breaks when the hosts overcommit.

Tottenham consistently create around 1.8 xG, while Doncaster sit closer to 1.35 xG. The hosts also keep xGA near 1.1 versus the visitors’ ~0.95, showing a chance-quality edge but also recognising Doncaster’s organised block.

The clubs last met in the 2009 EFL Cup two-leg affair: Doncaster nicked a 1–0 home win before Spurs responded 5–1 in London. Earlier ties include a 7–2 Tottenham win in 1975 and FA Cup meetings in the 1950s. Overall, Tottenham hold a clear historical advantage across the fixture list.

Doncaster’s structure and clean-sheet rate suggest they won’t fold easily. However, Tottenham’s possession game, shot volume and set-piece threat, combined with home advantage, should prevail across the 90.

Prediction: Tottenham 3-1 Doncaster.

Main Pick: Tottenham to win and BTTS.