LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino singled out Michel Vorm, Dele Alli and Juan Foyth for praise after Tottenham progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 win over Barnsley at Wembley.
Alli scored the only goal on 65 minutes, his third of the season, against the stubborn Championship side, who caused Spurs problems on the counterattack in a lively game at the national stadium.
Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo proved a handful for debutant Foyth, a 19-year-old summer signing from Argentina, and the teenage striker forced a point-blank save from Vorm, making his first start of the season, at the beginning of the second half.
"I want to congratulate Michel Vorm -- he deserves a lot of praise," Spurs manager Pochettino said afterwards. "His save at the start of the second half was fantastic and kept us alive and provided us with the chance to win. I think in the way he works it's important to recognise his value and to congratulate him because his action was top."
Asked about Foyth, who nearly scored with his first touch when he headed Kieran Trippier's corner just wide, Pochettino said: "It was difficult because he was playing his first game with not too much time to know the way we play or work with the whole team.
"I think he was very calm and relaxed in the game. I am very happy because it is always difficult to come from Argentina and play here in England. It's not easy and that his debut is at Wembley. That's more pressure on his debut."
And on goal-scorer Alli, he said: "For me Dele Alli is a top player. He is a key player for us. I think he helps us by scoring today. I am so happy with him. It's true that everyone can do better.
"But I am happy. It is a period that he needs to find his balance. But I am so happy, his performance was good. He tried and scored and that is fantastic."
There were just 23,926 people at Wembley -- Spurs' lowest attendance there -- but Pochettino said: "I understand. I'd like to say thank you to all the fans that were here. Maybe it wasn't possible to come. I understand that it's so difficult for the fans sometimes to come to every single game.
"I want to say thank you to our fans. I know they are behind us and translate their support. There's nothing to say."
The Argentine added: "Today, I think we give credit to the opponent because they defended very well. We played in possession but it was difficult to find the way to create the chance. To have your first shot on target after 60 minutes speaks very well about our opponent."