Four-time FA Cup winner Roy Keane felt Tottenham showed a “lack of quality” as the Premier League side struggled to break down non-champions Tamworth in the first half of their tie in the third round of the competition.
The part-time National League hosts caused Spurs problems straight away through Beck-Ray Enoru, whose corner shot was tipped over the crossbar by FA Cup debutant Antonin Kinsky as part of an impressive first period for the Tamworth striker.
James Maddison fired a shot over the bar for the visitors and tested keeper Jas Singh, but Tamworth weren’t too troubled by any opposition as they denied a 96-point gap between the teams.
A fine save by Jas Singh! 🧤
It’s the first time Tottenham really test Tamworth, 31 minutes in #ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/dCtBexUX61
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
FA Cup Third Round: Tamworth vs Spurs
“It’s a lack of quality,” former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told ITV Sport. “Spurs have got into some decent areas but the good, established players haven’t been picking the right passes or hitting them. Not good enough from Spurs.”
Tottenham had a strong starting line-up, although England striker Dominic Solanke, South Korean talisman Son Heung-min and Swedish midfielder Dejan Kulusevski were initially kept on the bench.
The Lambs have lost their last two games, are 16th in the fifth tier of English football and have conceded the fifth most goals in their division.
Arsenal icon Ian Wright has called Tottenham ‘very wasteful’. “The way this game is going, I probably would have started Solanke,” he added. “I’d like to see Spurs play it with him and then play it against him.”
Jas Singh refutes Timo Werner!
What a show @tamworthfchis goalkeeper has 👏#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/ubP2kP2NCI
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth vs Tottenham last
The start was delayed because Singh wanted a gap between the top of his net and the crossbar at the 4,000-capacity Lamb Ground.
The 34-year-old made another good stop early in the second half to keep out Timo Werner, and defender Haydn Hollis then did well to clear Werner’s header off the line.
Spurs have picked up a point from their last four Premier League games but were looking for back-to-back wins in the Cup following their 1-0 home win over Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
5 ⭐️ skills by Haydn Hollis 😍#ITVFootball | #FACup | @tamworthfc pic.twitter.com/cX20517nhI
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth, who had two successive shots blocked later in the half after a Tom Tonks long-range strike, beat third-tier sides Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion to reach the third round.
“There’s not enough of Tottenham’s front three,” said former Scotland striker Ally McCoist. “They need more movement on the right side through Brennan Johnson and certainly more movement in the center from Timo Werner.”
Extra time and penalties will be used to decide the game if necessary.
