Danny Gabbidon wants to see Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Oliver Skipp show ‘a bit more composure’ when shooting. He struggled to impress at home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
Spurs edged a 1-0 win over the League One team on Saturday afternoon in the third round through Harry Kane. The striker scored the only goal of the game just five minutes into the second half. But Skipp later had a chance to build on his Premier League club’s advantage.
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte fielded Skipp in his starting line-up for just the fifth time so far this season. The 22-year-old has opened less than half of his 12 appearances across all competitions this term. He has also played just 373 minutes for an average of 31 per game.
Only against Portsmouth in the FA Cup has Skipp now played the full 90 minutes in one of Tottenham’s fixtures this season, too. He anchored Conte’s engine room with Pape Matar Sarr beside right-back Emerson Royal and Ryan Sessegnon, who got the assist, on the left.
Skipp was not set to start on Saturday, either, having come in for Yves Bissouma ahead of kick-off. He replaced Conte’s £25m, rising to £30m, summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion after the Mali international sustained an injury following a knock in their warm-up.
Gabbidon urges Skipp to improve his shooting after Tottenham vs Portsmouth
Given Skipp was not set to start, the England U21 gem did well with a hard-working style in Tottenham’s midfield against Portsmouth. But he failed to impress in his attempts to score after blazing one of his hits eight yards wide. The midfielder was also unmarked as he shot.
The Spurs product failing to, at least, get his effort on target did not impress former Wales defender Gabbidon. He criticised Skipp during Tottenham’s FA Cup win against Portsmouth and urged the Welwyn Garden City-born midfielder – who has rarely scored – to improve.
“Oliver Skipp should score, it’s quite simple,” Gabbidon said on BBC Red Button. “I thought there was a possible offside but he needs to show a bit more composure, go with the sidefoot. He just lashes at the ball and blazes over the bar.”
Skipp has never scored a senior goal for Tottenham after 63 games across all competitions after facing Portsmouth. He has also only ever laid on two assists with each coming in the FA Cup back in 2018/19. The youngster created two goals in a 7-0 win at Tranmere Rovers.
Further, Skipp only scored once and created two goals during his loan spell at Norwich City in 2020/21. He featured 47 times for the Canaries with 45 games in the Championship also returning each of his goal involvements. His only goal came away against Birmingham City.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
