Tottenham could have “lost their heads” on their way to beating part-time Tamworth after extra-time in the FA Cup third round, manager Ange Postecoglou has said.
The fifth-tier Lambs had chances to become only the third non-league team ever to beat top-flight opponents in the Premier League era, only falling behind through Nathan Tshikuna’s scrappy 101st-minute own-goal as Spurs toiled before scoring twice more in their 3-0 win.
“You go in to every game of football with trepidation, knowing you could slip up because of the challenges,” Postecoglou told ITV Sport after avoiding an embarrassment at a team 96 places below Tottenham in the football pyramid.
“We had some challenges but, for the most part, the boys kept their heads and handled it well. It’s very easy to lose your heads on a day like this, when things aren’t going your way and you realise the consequences.”
Djed Spence’s ball 🔥
Kulusevski’s finish 😮💨Tottenham finally produce a moment of top quality to put the game to bed #ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/1aNMGR7noj
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
📰 Table Of Contents
‘Difficult to score’ vs Tamworth
Spurs became the second team this season to beat Liverpool in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday, but the 16th-placed team in the National League proved more troublesome at the 4,000-capacity Lamb Ground.
“It’s just a game of football,” Postecoglou replied when he was asked about his team’s apparent difference in performance levels within the space of four days.
“It’s difficult to score goals, no matter who you’re playing against. It was always going to be a matter of us staying calm and being persistent.
“We stayed calm and could see they were tiring, which gave us more space to play in. As far as I’m aware, we’re through to the next round – and that was the objective.”
“As far as I’m aware we’re through to the next round, that was the objective”
Ange Postecoglou speaks to @GabrielClarke05 about his sides #FACup third-round performance against Tamworth#ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/jRXyxupPhc
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
FA Cup third round: Spurs through
Postecoglou’s strong starting side struggled to find creative inspiration, with only James Maddison looking a real threat before the break.
Home goalkeeper Jas Singh made several fine saves, while team-mates Thomas McGlinchey and Jordan Cullinane-Liburd had close-range chances in quick succession shortly before the end of regular time.
“We’ve done ourselves proud”
Haydn Hollis reflects on a magnificent Tamworth performance and THAT skill 😮💨#ITVFootball | #FACup | @GabrielClarke05 pic.twitter.com/pIQQ8kYZ9v
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Dominic Solanke was among the players to come on for Spurs during the second half, while the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min joined the England forward during extra-time.
Kulusevski’s clinical strike and a curling effort by Brennan Johnson from inside the box sealed victory for Spurs, who will discover their fourth round opponents at around 5pm GMT on Sunday.
