Tamworth 0-3 Tottenham: Postecoglou´s side survive non-league scare

Tottenham required three goals in extra time as they survived a huge scare against non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup third round.

The Premier League giants were taken all the way by a team four divisions lower than them in the English football pyramid, with Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson eventually settling the tie at the Lamb Ground.

Tamworth goalkeeper Jas Singh kept out James Maddison’s long-range effort, while Dan Creaney cleared off the line from Pape Sarr during the first half.

Singh also thwarted Timo Werner as the hosts continued to keep their opponents at bay.

Tamworth even had an opportunity to snatch a dramatic victory in the final seconds of regulation time, with Thomas McGlinchey seeing a shot deflected wide and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd firing straight at Antonin Kinsky.

Ange Postecoglou introduced the likes of Kulusevski and Son Heung-min ahead of extra time, and Tamworth’s resolve was finally broken in the 101st minute following a cleverly worked free-kick, with Nathan Tshikuna deflecting Dominic Solanke’s shot beyond Singh.

Tottenham put the tie beyond Andy Peaks’ spirited side when Kulusevski drilled home early in the second period, while Johnson swept home a third to add further gloss to the scoreline later on.

4 – Tottenham are only the fourth Premier League side (from 92-93) to be taken to extra-time in an FA Cup game against a non-league club, after Leicester v Hereford in 99-00, Charlton v Dagenham and Redbridge in 00-01, and West Ham v Kidderminster in 21-22. Precarious. pic.twitter.com/joGyaAWfDX

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 12, 2025

Data Debrief: Spurs survive scare

Tottenham have now progressed from each of their last 11 FA Cup third-round ties, but it was far from straightforward for Postecoglou’s men against the side positioned 16th in the National League.

Spurs became only the fourth Premier League side (since 1992-93) to be taken to extra time in an FA Cup game by a non-league club, after Leicester City (against Hereford in 1999-2000), Charlton Athletic (against Dagenham and Redbridge in 2000-01) and West Ham (against Kidderminster Harriers in 2021-22).

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 101st minute. The unfortunate Tshikuna became the first non-league player to score an own goal against a Premier League side in the FA Cup since Lincoln City’s Luke Waterfall against Arsenal in the 2016-17 quarter-finals.