Match Report: Tamworth FC 0 Spurs 3 (FA Cup 3rd Rd) plus match Preview: Arsenic v Spurs
Match Report: Tamworth FC 0 Spurs 3 (FA Cup 3rd Rd) plus match Preview: Arsenic v Spurs
What a day it turned out to be. It all started with a two-hour drive to Tamworth… the instructions for parking, or at least the Satnav postcodes, weren’t correct. So, I found the stadium and worked from there… finding a street – five minutes away – to park. I then notified Mel, and – 15 minutes later – he turned up and parked in front of me. We normally travel together, but this time, we came from two different directions: Mel from Peterborough and me from Newbury.
I left at 6 am in the pitch dark and eventually arrived home in the pitch dark.
Upon arriving, we both walked to the ground to look around. The stadium was open, so we had a nosey and then popped into the Marquee that was erected for Premium members (for breakfast, including a free programme, half-and-half scarves and a badge to commemorate both teams clashing. Then at half-time, a pie of your choice… and plenty of free coffee or tea); which cost us dearly. Then, we had the privilege of standing on the terraces, just like in the old days. Eventually, we made our way back to our cars for a rest. At about 10 am, we then made our way back to the stadium.
Once at the gate, there was no security, just a quick scan of our PDF printout tickets and given a number so that we would know which table we were on.
Finally, the wait was over, the food was gobbled up, and the free gifts were taken. In our case, we then made our way to an acceptable position in the stands behind the goal.
I must add that, even though it was expensive, the hospitality and staff were excellent. Full marks to Tamworth FC. However, some premium hospitality members did say that they wished they had that sort of menu at Tottenham Stadium for themselves.
The match…
What can I say? In the first hour, Tamworth humiliated us: the multimillion-bound players were held to a draw by the part-timers of Tamworth. We played as if we were trying to defend our “advantage,” whatever that was. Finally, and into extra time, we exhausted our opponents (extreme fitness vs. part-time abilities). Yes, we, Tottenham, turned beating National League Tamworth into a colossal task and came close to miserable humiliation before reaching the FA Cup fourth round after extra time (where we will face Aston Villa away).
In my opinion, we were mind-numbingly poor at Tamworth’s ground at normal time.
In extra time, there was a scrambled own goal from Tamworth’s Nathan Tshikuna to break the deadlock after 101 minutes. Yes, an own goal that broke the deadlock. After that – and exhausted Tamworth – seemed to give up the fight. Substitute Dejan Kulusevski added a second goal, followed by Brennan Johnson’s curled-in shot for a third after we, or should I say, Ange, was forced to introduce his biggest attacking guns to break down the Tamworth players.
Tamworth, who were 96 places below us in the fifth tier of football’s pyramid, performed superbly and could not have been begrudged one of the FA Cup’s biggest shocks had they clinched victory in normal time.
A few words to Tamworth’s bravery…
Even though we won, it was their day… For the first half hour, we were Spursy; they were magnificent. Three years ago, Tamworth was in the seventh tier of the domestic game, the Southern League Central. This showpiece established just how far they have come under manager Peaks. Tamworth may have lost, but they can claim the glory from a classic FA Cup occasion. They were lucky they were facing Spursy in the first hour. A more accomplished non-interfering director-owned top-tier Premier League club would have demolished them earlier.
After the game, Mel and I walked to our cars and parted ways. Mel was Janet and Ian’s chauffeur for the trip back to Peterborough station so they could get back home to London (I believe his rates are reasonable for friends!).
Next up… Arsenic away…
Yes, this Wednesday, we are off to the Emirates shit hole to see how far we’ve progressed since defeating the mighty Bin Dippers (in the League Cup semi-final) and the even mightier Tamworth part-timers.
I must start with my prediction… and that is because I haven’t got a clue. One minute, you think you are back from the abyss, and the next, you are stirring into the Daniel Levy Twilight Zone.
The walls of the Emirates hopefully have fallen if Arsenic’s last two home horror shows are anything to go by; they are out of the FA Cup and look like they are also out of the League Cup, as well. Nevertheless, Arsenic are joint second in the Premier League with Forest, six points behind the Bin Dippers from Scouse Land.
We, on the other hand, have only taken one point from the last 12 in the Premier League and remain in the bottom half of that league, mathematically closer to the relegation zone than the top seven despite our commendable tally of 42 goals.
Arsenic Premier League form:
DDWWWD
Arsenic form (all competitions):
WWWDLL
Spurs Premier League form:
LWLLDL
Spurs form (all competitions):
LLDLWW
Team News
Destiny Udogie (hamstring), Ben Davies (hamstring), Richarlison (hamstring), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Cristian Romero (thigh) and Rodrigo Bentancur (head) are all out.
Son Heung-min, Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and EFL Cup match-winner Lucas Bergvall step back into the fray.
My possible starting lineup:
Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son
The North London derby rarely fails to deliver on the ferociousness front, as both teams completed two-hour FA Cup marathons after their EFL Cup exertions.
As I said earlier, it is impossible to know which version of Spurs will show up, but our struggles at Tamworth, even with a second-string attack starting the clash, are a serious cause for concern.
Up the Spurs!
Glenn