Tottenham avoided becoming the first top-flight side to lose to non-league opposition in the Premier League era as Nathan Tshikuna’s missed own goal and extra-time strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson settled their third-round tie of the FA Cup in Tamworth.
Tshikuna applied the finishing touch when the part-time hosts failed to clear a Brennan Johnson shot, breaking the deadlock after 101 minutes before Kulusevski clinically tapped in from fellow substitute Son Heung-min’s cross six minutes later.
Johnson curled the third into the roof of the net with two minutes remaining in a game in which the 96-place difference between the teams was often not apparent.
The National League side were rarely really troubled during normal time, threatening a late winner when Thomas McGlinchey had a close-range shot blocked back and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd sent an effort straight at Antonin Kinsky when the ball fell on him in the gap in the area. from the following angle.
Tottenham FINALLY gets one in Tamworth’s net ⚽️
Pedro Porro with a moment of ingenuity put Tottenham on their way#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/KrbeH1S4kr
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth scare Tottenham
With FA Cup replays axed this season, Tamworth may feel aggrieved that they didn’t have a well-deserved and lucrative trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to look forward to – and they could have.
The lively Beck-Ray Enoru had a corner flicked over the crossbar by FA Cup debutant Kinsky as the Lambs showed their fear almost immediately.
Djed Spence’s ball 🔥
Kulusevski’s finish 😮💨Tottenham finally produced a moment of top quality to put the game to bed #ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/1aNMGR7noj
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
In a strong Spurs starting line-up, James Maddison was the only player to trouble Tamworth during the first half, curling a shot over the target and testing goalkeeper Jas Singh.
The 34-year-old made another good stop early in the second half to keep out Timo Werner and defender Haydn Hollis, who was instrumental in his defensive toughness throughout, did well to clear Werner’s header off the line.
The lambs almost win it slowly
Anyone expecting Spurs’ superior fitness levels of late would have been incredulous to see them hang on just seconds from the end of normal time when McGlinchey almost shot over and Cullinane-Liburd sent a low shot straight at Kinsky when the ball fell on him. to the space inside the box from the following corner.
Those odds left Andy Peaks making a gesture of prayer three days after the Tamworth boss, who guided them from the seventh tier during three seasons in charge, had signed a contract to work on a full-time basis.
Brennan Johnson gets into the act
Tottenham have well and truly broken Tamworth hearts in extra time 💔#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/VlwwShIJzG
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
In the adjacent technical area, Ange Postecoglou cried out for his job security with good grace and was able to send on Dejan Kulusevski, Djed Spence and Son Heung-min for Radu Dragusin, Maddison and Werner at the start of extra time. more pressure than the eight-time FA Cup winners.
Singh and Peaks were among those to express their frustration afterwards at the deterrent nature of the goal that broke the deadlock, with Kulusevski and Johnson showing their toughness to ensure the scoreline flattered a relieved Tottenham.
