Tamworth 0 Tottenham 0 (aet 0-3): Minnows almost WIN at death as Spurs need extra-time to beat side 96 places below them
TOTTENHAM needed an own goal in extra-time to spare their FA Cup blushes at non-league Tamworth.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou saw his side struggle to make an impact at the Lambs’ tight ground – with the home fans breathing down their necks.
But with a full-strength squad on show in Staffordshire, this was a display that verged on the embarrassing before the Tottenham boss brought his big guns off the bench.
Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson added to their extra-time 101st minute opener, which was an own goal by Tamworth’s Nathan Tshikuna.
Sure, Spurs made it through to the fourth round – but it was anything but convincing during 90 minutes – and they were hanging on at the end of normal time with keeper Antonin Kinsky making two key saves.
Tamworth took the Premier League side to extra-time – an achievement in itself and an indication of a distinctly average Tottenham display.
Spurs finally broke the deadlock when Pedro Porro’s free-kick found Johnson and his cross went on off sub Tshikuna’s knee.
Tottenham could control the game after that and they added number two in the second-half of extra-time when Kulusevski fired home.
The pair had come off the bench for the added half hour and their presence proved a step too far for an impressive Tamworth defence.
Johnson made it three with two minutes left to give the final scoreline a more credible look.
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But the biggest day in the Lambs’ history started with them needing to mend a hole in the net.
The comical episode ended with a joint effort from the Tamworth duo of Jordan Cullinane-Liburd and Beck-Ray Enoru.
But the wait did not seem to have any effect on Tamworth’s nerves
It was Enoru who ended up making sure the net was sealed – and a minute later, he brought a sharp save by Tottenham’s new fan favourite Kinsky.
There may be five divisions between the two teams – but Spurs did not appear comfortable on the plastic pitch.
Tottenham skipper James Maddison looked like the man most likely to break the deadlock – but he was denied time and again by Tamworth keeper Jas Singh.
Enoru was causing problems for Spurs on the left but skipper Ben Milnes had to make a crucial block on the line.
The talk before the game was that Tottenham may not fancy this tie – with the Portakabin changing rooms and apartisan crowd.
And Timo Werner’s quiet first-half seemed to reflect that.
But he had two chances to open the scoring after the break.
Werner had a header cleared off the line by Hadyn Hollis – but he should have done better when a mix-up at the back presented him with a chance, but Singh spread himself well to keep Tamworth in the tie.
Postecoglou brought Dominic Solanke off the bench with 22 minutes to try and make the breakthrough.
The fact that Tamworth had got that far into the game on level terms was a sign of Tottenham’s anxiety as they became increasingly desperate to kill off a game that had been expected to win with ease.
Lambs boss Andy Peaks sent on two subs with 10 minutes left – Alex Fletcher and Kai Williams.
Long throw specialist Tom Tonks was subbed with five minutes left.
But the 90 minutes ended with Tamworth fans taunting Postecoglou with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.
It was a rare goalless draw in 90 minutes for Spurs.
Postecoglou reacted by bringing on more key men in the shape of Son and Kulusevski – which was credit to Tamworth’s outstanding performance.
And it had the desired effect, but Spurs could easily have been on the wrong end of an upset.