Wycombe v Spurs – history, facts and stats

After eight days without a fixture, we return to action this evening (Monday 25 January) against Championship side Wycombe Wanderers in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Ahead of the clash at Adams Park, we take a look at the history of the fixture, both sides' records at this stage of the competition, the statistics behind our respective campaigns so far plus, the pre-match view from our opposition.

History

Just once since our formation in 1882 have we taken on Wycombe Wanderers in a competitive fixture, yet it took 135 years for that inaugural meeting between the sides to take place. Coming just three years ago, we took on the then-League Two Wanderers in what turned out to be a thrilling FA Cup fourth round tie at White Hart Lane. Ultimately, it was us who progressed from the encounter with a 4-3 win in N17 but, despite there being three divisions separating us at the time, it didn't stop the Buckinghamshire side giving us quite the scare back in January, 2017.

Going 2-0 up within 36 minutes at our former home through goals from veteran striker Paul Hayes, Wanderers were cruising at the break. We responded in the second half though and were back on terms just 19 minutes after the restart via finishes from Heung-Min Son and Vincent Janssen. However, the Chairboys also had a response of their own as with just seven minutes remaining, they once again took the lead through Garry Thompson. Yet, with just a minute to spare, our blushes were saved by Dele as he stepped up to equalise and then, as we looked destined to be heading to Adams Park for a replay, Sonny popped up with the winner in the seventh minute of added time to book our place in round five.

Now a Championship outfit, Wycombe’s manager that day, Gareth Ainsworth, remains in charge of the club while five of their starting XI from the game also continue to ply their trade at Adams Park.

Despite not having played a competitive game at Adams Parks to date, we have taken on Wycombe at their home twice in the last 20 years in friendly matches. First, in July, 2001, we defeated Wanderers 2-1 in Buckinghamshire thanks to goals from Teddy Sheringham and Steffen Iversen. Then, two years later, we took on Wycombe once more in a friendly. That day, the occasion was billed as a testimonial for the Chairboys' long-serving physio Dave Jones, but the outcome in High Wycombe remained the same as it did in 2001 as we ran out winners - this time 3-2 - thanks to goals from Helder Postiga and Simon Davies, as well as a Dave Beasant own goal.

Spurs in the fourth round

Our first-ever tie at the fourth round stage of the FA Cup came in 1901 - the year we went on to lift the trophy for the first time while we were still an amateur outfit. At the time, the fourth round stage of the competition was actually the semi-finals – we defeated West Bromwich Albion 4-0 in the last four tie at Villa Park with Sandy Brown scoring all four goals to book our place in the final. Our first appearance in a bona fide fourth round tie in the competition then came 19 years later as we hosted Aston Villa at White Hart Lane – unfortunately, we fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Since that match in 1920, we have played in 70 such ties and have gone on to progress from 48 of those encounters (68 per cent). That includes four times in our last five appearances at this stage of the competition.

The most recent of wins for us in the FA Cup fourth round came just last season as, after a replay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we advanced past Southampton. In the original tie at St Mary's Stadium, a late Sofiane Boufal strike cancelled out Son’s 58^th-minute effort. Then, in the replay, we produced a superb comeback in the final 17 minutes to advance to the next round. A Jack Stephens own goal had given us a 12^th-minute lead in N17, but an equaliser from Shane Long and then Danny Ings' strike on 73 minutes turned the tie in the Saints’ favour, leaving us with it all to do in the last knockings of the game. A fine finish from Lucas Moura, however, brought us level within just four minutes before an 87^th-minute penalty from Sonny fired us into round five.

This will be just a third fourth round appearance for Wycombe in their history and each of those has come in the last 20 years. Their last game in this round of the competition was the aforementioned 4-3 thriller against us at the Lane in 2017, while their only appearance before that at this stage came in 2001 - the year in which the Buckinghamshire outfit enjoyed their best ever run in the FA Cup. Then competing in the Second Division (now League One), Wanderers defeated Wolves in this round before they went on to reach the semi-finals - their fairy tale run was then ended by eventual cup winners Liverpool. That season, our run was ended in the other semi-final.

Our last five fourth round ties

2019/20 - Southampton 1-1 Spurs – St Mary’s Stadium | Replay: Spurs 3-2 Southampton – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
2018/19 – Crystal Palace 2-0 Spurs – Selhurst Park
2017/18 – Newport County 1-1 Spurs – Rodney Parade | Replay: Spurs 2-0 Newport County – Wembley Stadium
2016/17 – Spurs 4-3 Wycombe Wanderers – White Hart Lane
2015/16 – Colchester United 1-4 Spurs – Colchester Community Stadium

Wanderers on the rise

A total of 71 places separated us and Wycombe in that most recent of meetings between the two sides back in January, 2017. Now, four years on, that gap has been reduced to just 39 positions with the Chairboys having since enjoyed an incredible and historic rise to the Championship.

Back in 2017, Ainsworth’s side were battling it out in League Two but, after promotion to the third tier was achieved at the end of the next season, they survived a first campaign in League One in 2018/19 before finding their way into the play-offs the next term. They then went on to progress past Fleetwood Town 6-3 on aggregate in their play-off semi-final before defeating Oxford United 2-1 at Wembley in last season's League One Play-Off Final.

Currently in their maiden season in the Championship, Wycombe sit bottom, 10 points from safety and with just three wins from their 23 outings so far. It is just one win in their last 13 league games coming into this match. However, as always in the FA Cup, form, reputation and respective standings go out of the window - you can expect the unexpected. And of course, just like in 2017 and 2001, as well as their rise to the second tier of English football, Wycombe can produce a surprise.

Reflecting on our meeting four years ago before looking ahead to tonight’s tie, Wanderers' boss Ainsworth said: "We were close that day, we didn't quite finish the job but there were some big hitters on the pitch at the end. (Tonight) I think it will be a really strong Tottenham team because Jose Mourinho is a winner, he wants to win trophies."

A winner is certainly what Jose has shown himself to be in his career to date with 25 senior trophies to his name so far and one of those honours includes an FA Cup winner's medal - a success he enjoyed in 2007.

His record at this stage of the competition is a strong one. Having faced eight fourth round ties in his career so far, he has only failed to progress just once – that being a shock 4-2 home defeat to Bradford City when he was Chelsea's boss in 2015. Meanwhile, in his one competitive encounter with Wycombe to date - a League Cup semi-final played across two legs in 2007 - Jose's Chelsea earned a 5-1 aggregate victory to progress to the final. He went on to win the February showpiece at the Millennium Stadium with a 2-1 win over Arsenal. Then, three months after that League Cup triumph, Jose lifted his only FA Cup to date – a competition which will always mean so much to him.

“When I won it (the FA Cup), I felt amazing feelings because it brought me back to the times when Portugal stopped,” recalled Jose. “There weren’t many matches, foreign matches, on TV and the FA Cup Final was always there.

“It brought me back as a kid to getting in love with some clubs, with some players, unforgettable moments, the memories of my dad, and, for me, the FA Cup will always be the FA Cup, for me, always special. However, I don’t like it too much when the giant that is killed is my team!”