Tottenham have escaped an FA Cup scare, overcoming Tamworth 3-0 after extra-time to secure their place in the FA Cup fourth round.
Despite the vast difference in resources, absolutely nothing could separate these two sides in the opening 90. In fact, Ange Postecoglou's top-flight stars were more than fortunate not to find themselves a goal to the worse during normal time.
While the visitors applied the pressure to their part-time opposition for the better part of the final twenty, it was Tamworth who put them on notice in injury time, just missing two opportunities to deliver a true shock and dump Tottenham out of the FA Cup.
Postecoglou's men eventually broke the deadlock in the 100th minute when a scrappy affair in the box saw the ball come of Tamworth's Nathan Muya Tshikuna into his own net. Despite, Tamworth fighting till the death, their efforts were futile against a Tottenham side who ultimately had the fitness to put them to the sword, nagging a second in the 107th and a third ten minutes later, progressing past the third round 3-0.
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Roy Keane full of praise for defiant Tamworth
Speaking on punditry duty with ITV after the clash, Roy Keane was clearly empathising with a Tamworth side who for one hundred minutes mixed it with Tottenham, explaining that often the magnitude of these games can have an exhausting effect on non-league players.
The game would've took a lot out of them (Tamworth), people try and say it's another game, it wasn't another game for these players. It was a huge occasion for them and their families and that can sap some of your energy, whatever the physical challenges they faced on the day, I think a lot went on.
Despite the ultimate 3-0 loss for Tottenham, Keane was full of praise for Tamworth and their efforts on Sunday afternoon, saying there was no way anyone could criticise the club's manager or staff.
There's no way you could sit here and criticse the manager, the staff, or any of the players, I thought it was a great effort.
This was their cup final today, they just came up a bit short but they deserve all the credit.
While Tamworth are now out of the competition and back to their day jobs tomorrow morning, Tottenham's cup success continues as they progress into the fourth round of the competition.
The (hard-fought) victory for Tottenham came just four days after the injury-plagued Londoners ended Liverpool's unbeaten run with a 1-0 league cup win in Anflied.