Tottenham Hotspur moved into the Carabao Cup third round with a 5-1 home win over Charlton Athletic, recovering quickly from their damaging Premier League defeat at Brentford. Mikey Moore and Dominic Solanke established control before Kevin Danso, debutant Savio and Ben Davies completed a convincing scoreline, while Lloyd Jones headed a late consolation for the visitors.
The result gave Roberto De Zerbi the response he needed after the 3-0 loss at the Gtech Community Stadium. It was not simply a case of Spurs beating lower-league opposition: Charlton arrived having begun their Championship season strongly, and initially made the hosts work for their advantage.
Moore supplies the breakthrough
Charlton had an early opportunity to unsettle Tottenham, with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky required to repel a long-range effort before the visitors threatened again from the resulting corner. There were further complications for Charlton when Collins Sichenje and Billy Koumetio had to leave the field early, forcing changes to their defensive unit.
Tottenham gradually imposed themselves, though. Archie Gray went close and the home side began to find space around the Charlton box, with Mateus Fernandes operating in a more advanced midfield role.
Moore provided the moment that changed the contest. The 19-year-old drove inside from the right and struck powerfully with his left foot, beating the goalkeeper to open the scoring. The goal carried particular value beyond its quality: Tottenham had been hesitant for parts of the opening half and needed an individual intervention rather than a sustained spell of clear chances.
Solanke added the second within minutes, reacting sharply when the ball dropped near the penalty spot. His finish gave Tottenham the cushion their earlier possession had not quite delivered and altered Charlton's task considerably before half-time.
Substitutes reshape the closing stages
De Zerbi used the second half to introduce further senior options, including Danso, Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven. Danso made an immediate impression, heading in a Fernandes free-kick for his first Tottenham goal despite taking a heavy blow in the process.
That third goal removed any remaining doubt, but the most closely watched arrival came later when Savio entered for Solanke. The new signing had been registered in time to be available and took up a position on the right, giving Tottenham another left-footed forward inclined to drive infield.
His debut ended with a low finish after cutting inside, adding Tottenham's fourth. Savio was also central to the fifth: reports agree that his work in the box created the chance from which Davies scored, although the live accounts differ slightly in how they describe the final touch and whether the Brazilian should be credited with an assist.
Jones then headed in from a Charlton corner. It did not alter the outcome, but it was a reminder that Tottenham were not entirely flawless when defending set pieces, an area that can become more significant against stronger opponents.
A useful answer, not a complete verdict
The margin of victory and the impact of the substitutes will make this a satisfying evening for Tottenham, particularly after the Brentford performance prompted questions about readiness following an uneven pre-season. Yet the game also illustrated how much context matters when assessing a response.
Charlton's early enforced changes weakened their ability to maintain the disciplined shape that had frustrated Spurs at first. Once Tottenham's individual quality broke the deadlock, the Championship side had to take greater risks, creating the spaces that suited Moore, Savio and the hosts' attacking rotations.
Still, there were encouraging details for De Zerbi. Moore did not merely score; he repeatedly carried the ball with purpose. Solanke showed the penalty-area awareness expected of a central striker, while Danso's set-piece contribution offered another potential route to goal. Savio's immediate influence, even against tiring opposition, suggested he can provide directness from wide areas rather than only technical possession play.
The unanswered question is how quickly those separate positives can become a coherent first-choice team. Tottenham made multiple changes from the side beaten at Brentford, and this cup tie afforded their newer and younger players a less punishing setting. The test ahead is whether the sharper attacking play and greater intensity seen against Charlton can be reproduced when the opposition are stronger and the match is less forgiving.
For one night, however, Tottenham had the emphatic result they required: a place in the next round, goals shared across the side and a debut contribution from Savio that gave the home crowd an immediate reason to take notice.