Tottenham Hotspur needed extra time to find the back of the goal at the Lamb Ground, dodging ignominy with a 3-0 defeat of minnows Tamworth in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
The eyes of the football world were trained on the 5,000 capacity, 500-seat ground playing host to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.
[ MORE: Ange Postecoglou reaction to extra time win ]
Tamworth did not disappoint.
The possession stats, of course, were heavily in favor of Spurs. Tottenham held 77% of the ball and generated five big chances, but seven shots on target to Tamworth’s two while completing 684 passes to the Lambs’ 132.
But Tamworth registered 13 attempts of their own and had some big moments to score before an own goal was joined by Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson markers to make it look a bit more like expected on the scoreboard.
Spurs ignore potential historic embarrassment to settle for uninspiring
Ange Postecoglou was annoyed to hear a question about a change in levels between Spurs’ midweek defeat of Liverpool and this win at Tamworth, and you can understand that to a certain extent. Yes, Spurs should always cruise past a National League side almost regardless of injuries, turf, and travel, but Tottenham Hotspur never looked concerned about their fate over 90 minutes. Tamworth got a few chance off the run of play, but Spurs only needed extra time because of decent goalkeeping from the Lambs’ Jas Singh and a far from clinical day in front of goal. Tottenham went into extra time and it was pretty clear who would emerge victorious, though every minute of this game begged the viewer to consider a historic upset. A loss, even in penalties, would’ve been embarrasing, but this was more of an uninspiring inconvenience when all was said and done. Full marks to Tamworth, and nearly every non-Spurs supporter was pulling for them, but Tottenham need to exhale and work for a prolonged tournament run.
Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Tottenham have a North London derby at Arsenal at 3pm ET Wednesday.
Tamworth move Into the Birmingham Senior Cup third round on Tuesday, where they’ll host Boldmere St. Michaels before a Saturday league visit from Boston United.
How to watch Tamworth vs Tottenham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday (January 12)
Venue: The Lamb Ground — Staffordshire
TV Channel/Streaming: ESPN+
Tamworth vs Tottenham final score: 0-3
Tamworth o.g. 101', Dejan Kulusevski 108', Brennan Johnson 118'
Tamworth vs Tottenham live updates — By Nick Mendola
Brennan Johnson goal — Tamworth 0-3 Spurs (118th minute)
They’ve found a lot of icing for a cake that will likely taste dry back in the team room.
Dejan Kulusevski goal — Tamworth 0-2 Tottenham (108th minute)
This is very good, and all are pleased that the own goal isn’t the only one.
Heung-min Son slips the ball to Dejan Kulusevski, who nails a perfect shot through the legs of a defender and into the side netting.
That’ll do it.
Dejan Kulusevski slots the ball 🏠 @SpursOfficial #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/vKGu0bDasq
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2025
Tamworth own goal! — Tamworth 0-1 Tottenham (101st minute)
Some game, this. Just one shot attempt had come in the first period of stoppage time prior to this, and it went to Tamworth!
Yet Spurs have a free kick, and play a nice short routine that turns into a goal mouth scramble.
Dominic Solanke is about to poke over the line but Lambs defender Nathan Tshikuna intervenes to only momentarily thwart the danger.
The ball bounds off him and Singh can’t corral it.
The @tamworthfc defence is breached in extra-time 🔓@SpursOfficial #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/b0Q3C88N0p
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2025
Spurs never saw this
You have to feel for Spurs youngster Will Lankshear, Callum Olusesi, and Alfie Dorrington, who woulv’e expected to play at least 30-45 minutes off the bench and remain unused as Ange Postecoglou has been forced to insert Djed Spence, Dejan Kulusevski, and Heung-mun Son at the start of extra time in place of Werner, Dragusin, and Maddison.
Into extra time! Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham
Forget the stats — of course Spurs are leading in numbers — we’re 30 minutes from one of the greatest upsets in FA Cup history!
It seems likely that it would take penalties, as the Lambs’ chances have been very limited, but Tamworth boss Andy Peaks will take that.
Spurs have 13 shot attempts to Tamworth’s nine, and five shots on target to the Lambs’ two.
xG is 1.15-0.26 and possession is 80%. Tamworth have completed 80 passes to Spurs’ 524,
Here’s one of two big Spurs chances from the 90, an early one from James Maddison.
The skill ✨
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 12, 2025
The shot 👌
The save 🔥
Jaz Singh stops James Maddison in his tracks ⛔️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/fvs7shjyXb
Huge chances deep in stoppage for Tamworth!
Wow. This could’ve been done in the 90, and not for the visitors. It was McGlinchey after Solanke had slipped on the turf, using a sole roll to force a save out of Kinsky.
This is very real now — Still nil-nil into six minutes stoppage
Into the 90th minute and — cliche incoming — Spurs have done anything but silence the Lambs or at least The Lamb Ground.
Into the final 10 minutes of the 90
It’s still nil-nil!
This is really becoming something bigger than the visible neighborhood car traffic at one end and the man poking his head our his flat window to watch.
Might Tamworth actually shock the world?
Subs
First and foremost, Tamworth have brought on Munashe Sundire for Callum Mollett.
Jokes aside, Lucas Bergvall and Dominic Solanke enter for Mikey Moore and Pape Sarr.
Jas Singh denies Werner breakaway
Thirty-four year old keeper Jasbir Singh has been very good, and now he’s denied Timo Werner on a breakaway.
The German made a tremendous run to meet Brennan Johnson’s through ball, but Singh gets a leg to the would-be opener.
Still 0-0, 68'
Tamworth win corner, Dragusin tending to ankle
Radu Dragusin has been nursing an ankle injury this season and he might’ve had it flare up in the turf during a rare spell of Tamworth possession.
The Lambs win a corner but Spurs don’t have a problem dealing with it.
Terrific goal line clearance!
Mikey Moore shakes the right back and crosses to the back post.
Timo Werner heads across goal and clearly it’s about to be 1-0....
No! A leaping goal line clearance. Fantastic stuff. The goal is coming, but Tamworth is making fans today.
0-0, 56'.
No changes
Spurs have Heung-min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, and more on the bench, but obviously Ange Postecoglou isn’t going to take them out at halftime.
There’s no reason to appear like Spurs are panicking, nor to embarrass a player by taking him out after 45 scoreless minutes at Tamworth.
Halftime — Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham
The Lambs will absolutely take this.
One real dangerous chance has gone to Spurs, who have held 79% of the ball.
xG is only 0.43-0.15 in favor of Spurs, who have put two of their six shots on target.
Tamworth have two attempts.
Holding their own at half-time ☕️
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) January 12, 2025
It’s level at the break and @tamworthfc are by no means second best | 0-0 @EmiratesFACup | @ITVSport pic.twitter.com/cSnlLPCzkO
At what point do nerves kick?
Still scoreless deep in the first half, at some point the nerves will be in Spurs camp.
This is a great first half for the lambs.
The spectacle is fantastic
The artificial turf, the short stands, and ads.
This is a proper FA Cup viewing.
Tamworth lineup
Singh, Mollett, Hollis, Cullinane-Liburd, Crompton, Morrison, Milnes, Enoru, Tonks, McGlinchey, Creaney
Tottenham lineup
Kinsky, Reguilon, Gray, Dragusin, Porro, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Moore, Werner, Johnson
Tamworth vs Tottenham preview
Yes, the 16th-place team in the National League, below the four-division Football League that houses the top-tier Premier League, will host Ange Postecoglou’s side — a regular European contributor with top-end talent.
The largely English team are led by manager Andy Peaks, though New York City-born striker Chris Wreh, 28, is in the side. The long shot upset bid is made a bit more possible by Spurs’ long injury list and their midweek scrap with Liverpool in an FA Cup semifinal first leg.
Postecoglou says Spurs will not be caught off guard in their bid to silence the Lambs’ FA Cup run.
“I’ve got no doubt the attitude of the players and I think all along the boys have a great understanding of every game’s importance and we certainly will go into Sunday’s game with the same sort of mindset of making sure that we do things we can control, play our football, put a real big emphasis on the things that we do really well,” he said, via football.london.
Tamworth team news, focus
The American forward Wreh has three goals this season and is not the Lambs’ biggest threat. Thirty-year-old Dan Creaney has eight goals to pace the side. It’ll be the biggest game of many of the Lambs’ careers, and goalkeeper Jas Singh will likely have a busy one.
Tottenham team news, focus
Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner came off the bench for Spurs, so they could well start this game. And Postecoglou said he expects to see Mikey Moore on the pitch for “some game time.”
Tamworth vs Tottenham prediction
Don’t expect miracles here, but the visuals will be spectacular. Tamworth 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur
