Vinicius treble paves way for victory at Marine - match report and debrief

A professional performance saw us to a comfortable victory against non-league Marine AFC in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday, in a match-up which represented the biggest-ever gap between two teams in the competition’s history.

In the picturesque surroundings of the Marine Travel Arena, we made sure there was no giant-killing in front of the BBC TV cameras as Carlos Vinicius scored a first-half hat-trick and Lucas Moura netting an excellent free-kick.

And there was more history made when Alfie Devine was introduced off the bench at the start of the second half to become our youngest-ever player at 16 years and 163 days, writing his name again into our record books by scoring shortly after coming on.

There were 161 places between ourselves and Northern Premier League Division One North West side Marine in the eighth tier of English football but for 24 minutes there was nothing between the teams as the game was goalless.

But once Vinicius opened the scoring, we didn’t look back. The Brazilian scored a 13-minute first-half treble with Lucas netting in between his compatriot's second and third goals, with Devine scoring our fifth on the hour mark.

We took our foot off the gas for the remainder of the contest and comfortably saw out the game to book our place in Monday night’s draw.

Right attitude pays dividends

We’ve seen enough cup upsets down the years but Jose Mourinho showed our opponents and the competition the right respect as he fielded a team which had won over 400 caps to ensure this wasn’t another one.

And the players he selected performed with the right attitude in difficult conditions and unfamiliar surroundings, approaching the game the correct way and it paid off with the right result.

The tie was the talk of the round such was the mis-match in terms of league positions, with Marine having started their FA Cup campaign in the preliminary round back in September, when they needed a late goal to help them past Barnoldswick Town.

There wasn’t a great deal happening in the game until the 20th minute and it was the hosts who almost took the lead, Neil Kengni trying his luck from 35 yards and his dipping effort crashing against the crossbar. But we went ahead four minutes later. Dele Alli played a one-two with Gedson Fernandes, taking the return ball and sliding a pass to the back post where Vinicius was waiting, getting a slice of luck as he mis-kicked initially but that deceived goalkeeper Bayleigh Passant and the Brazilian was able to walk the ball round him before smashing it into the net.
Six minutes later it was 2-0, Dele again the architect with a wonderful clipped ball to Matt Doherty bursting into the back post area, his effort saved by Passant but Vinicius was on the spot again to drill the rebound home from two yards out.

We quickly added a third with a magnificent free-kick after Lucas was upended 20 yards from goal. He stepped up to whip a right-footed effort over the wall and out of the reach of the goalkeeper’s despairing dive. Marine responded well and it needed a fine block from Joe Rodon to prevent James Joyce’s shot from testing Joe Hart before we went up the other end and made it 4-0. Harvey White’s threaded pass in to Dele was cut out but Vinicius picked up the loose ball in the area, turned and applied a wonderful side-footed half-volley which looped past Passant.

History was made with Devine’s entrance into the game in the 46th minute and his face was one of absolute joy when he scored his goal on the hour mark, taking Lucas’ back-heel in the left channel of the area before cutting onto his right foot and drilling low past Passant at his near post.

Chances came and went for us for the remaining half an hour as we totally dominated, although the closest we came was in the final seconds when Vinicius almost grabbed his fourth but fired wide after a neat turn in the area.

Devine’s intervention

It was a very special evening for Devine, taking his place in the history books by becoming our youngest-ever player and, of course, our youngest-ever goalscorer.

He took the ‘player’ honour from Dane Scarlett, who broke the record when he featured against Ludogorets at 16 years, 247 days earlier this season. And he was the youngest player to score for a Premier/Football League club in the FA Cup for since George Williams for MK Dons v Nantwich in November, 2011 (16y 66d).

Meanwhile, Harvey White made his full debut against Marine, while Gedson and Rodon made their second starts of the campaign. It was a first taste of the FA Cup for White and Vinicius. Fit-again Gareth Bale came off the bench in the second half and only Moussa Sissoko and Lucas survived from the team that started against Brentford on Tuesday.

Marine’s David Raven made his debut and the first of four appearances for Liverpool in a League Cup tie against us at the Lane back in December, 2004.

Reaction on Spurs TV

'I’m very happy with the players’ attitude'

Jose told us after the game: "I’m always very proud to be in the FA Cup and situations like this, for people who are mad about football, I think it means a lot. As Tottenham coach, I’m very happy with the players’ attitude, not risking too much, a little cautious, especially the creative guys, but good attitude, win the match as soon as possible, the result done at half-time, and everything is fine."

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Vinicius 24, 30, 37, Lucas 32, Devine 60.

Yellow card: Marine - Joyce.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Venue: Marine Travel Arena, Crosby.

Weather: Thick cloud, moderate breeze, six degrees.