Tamworth - a small team with semi-professional players gave Tottenham a tough time in the third round of the FA Cup. Their players such as Beck-Ray Enoru (Zara employee), Jas Singh (construction engineer) and Tommy Tonks (sandwich business owner) put in an interesting performance when facing one of the top teams in England.
The game was played on a narrow, sloped artificial pitch with limited space. The Tottenham coaching staff's technical area consisted of simple plastic chairs and the cold weather conditions made things even more challenging. However, all of that is no excuse for Spurs' lackluster performance.
Tottenham had 77% possession and 65 touches in the box, but Ange Postecoglou's side failed to make a clear breakthrough. Pedro Porro, Sergio Reguilon and Brennan Johnson repeatedly sent inaccurate crosses. Timo Werner, who was expected to make the difference, continued to be unlucky when given the chance.
Tamworth not only defended well but also knew how to create dangerous counter-attacks. Beck-Ray Enoru with his speed and technique caused Porro many difficulties. One of the home team's throw-ins even almost became a goal when the ball hit the post.
One of Tottenham's few bright spots was the return of Mikey Moore after a long injury layoff. The 17-year-old talent couldn't avoid a lackluster start, receiving criticism from Reguilon. However, in just 15 explosive minutes, Moore showed his ability to break through, create significant chances and coordinate well with James Maddison.
One notable moment was when Moore performed a series of technical moves that caused his opponent to lose balance and fall. The confidence of the English star brought some hope for a brighter future for the "Rooster".
“We knew it would be a challenging match with an unfamiliar pitch and a strong defensive style from our opponents. However, the players kept their composure and patience to win,” said Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian coach also praised Tamworth's efforts, while emphasizing that Tottenham need to improve more, especially in the context that they are participating in 4 arenas: Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.
The win over Tamworth comes just days after Tottenham's impressive League Cup semi-final first leg victory over Liverpool, but with an extra 30 minutes to play, Spurs are facing a serious fitness crisis ahead of their North London derby with Arsenal in less than 72 hours.
Key players such as Pedro Porro, Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski have had to shoulder most of the playing time, while key names such as Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Richarlison are still recovering from injuries, making Tottenham's squad even more fragile.
In previous campaigns, Tottenham also ran out of steam many times in the second phase of the season. They participated in many arenas while the force always encountered certain instability. This led to Spurs not winning the title for a long time.
Victory over Tamworth gives Tottenham the chance to challenge for the FA Cup but will also take a toll on their fitness and require careful planning in other competitions. The big question is whether Ange Postecoglou and his players can maintain their form and fitness during this stressful period or will they soon succumb to bigger challenges?
