Extra-time goals see off Tamworth

We were pushed all the way by non-league Tamworth on Sunday afternoon and needed extra time to finally overcome their challenge and book our place in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Lamb Ground was packed out for Tamworth’s biggest game in their history and we found it difficult to get to grip with the artificial pitch, while the home side – 96 places below us in the football pyramid and 16th in the National League – produced a battling and committed performance which we had to match to eventually find a path to victory.

After a goalless 90 minutes in which we dominated but almost conceded in the final seconds, an own goal from Tamworth’s Nathan Tshikuna in the 101st minute finally broke the deadlock and we added goals in the second period of extra time from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson to give the scoreline and more satisfactory look.

Despite the vast difference in league places between the sides, this was always going to be a tough tie and the home side started well, Beck-Ray Enoru hitting a fierce drive which Antonin Kinsky needed to parry away in the first minute but we settled into the contest after that early scare and had our first shot at goal in the 15th minute, James Maddison firing just over at the end of a good move.

Enoru was Tamworth’s main threat down their left flank and set up a chance for Tom McGlinchey, whose 22-yard effort deflected off Archie Gray for a corner before we forced Jas Singh into his first save, Maddison with a neat nutmeg before hitting a shot that was heading for the bottom corner until Singh dived to his left and tipped it past the post. And it was our skipper on the day Maddison with yet another chance after 39 minutes, this time Singh saving his effort from 12 yards out. We were having to deal with the well-known long throws-ins into our box from Tom Tonks with Kinsky commanding his goal well and he came to collect most of them, but half-time came with no score in the game, much to the delight of the home supporters.

The second period began in the same vein as the first with Singh making a good save to deny Maddison just four minutes after the restart and we almost went ahead in the 55th minute, Mikey Moore with some excellent work down the left, beating a couple of players before clipping over a cross which Timo Werner headed goalwards only for Haydn Hollis to clear off the line. But with the game still goalless, it was very much in the balance and when another Tonks throw was launched into the area, we had to make two good blocks to keep out shots from Enoru and Callum Cockerill-Mollitt.

A big chance came on 65 minutes, Johnson with an excellent ball to release Werner but Singh was out quickly to save and moments later, we worked it well to find Werner again and this time he rifled a shot which Jordan Cullinane-Liburd blocked inside the six-yard box. The Tamworth defender then headed just wide from a corner at the other end while we went on the attack again, Sergio Reguilon’s deep cross prodded into the side-netting by Johnson at the back post.

Despite having 80 per cent possession, we couldn’t find the breakthrough and as the final seconds of stoppage time at the end of the 90 minutes ticked down, it was Tamworth who came closest to snatching a dramatic winner, McGlinchey’s effort blocked at the near post by Yves Bissouma and, from the corner, the ball fell perfectly for Cullinane-Liburd but he scuffed his shot and Kinsky gratefully fell on the ball.

With the new rules this season, the game had to be decided on the day so Tamworth missed out on a replay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when the final whistle blew and instead, we went into extra time. We brought on more attacking options at the start of the additional period with Kulusevski and Heung-Min Son entering the fray and finally opened the scoring 11 minutes into first period. It was scrappy when it came, Pedro Porro shaping to hit a 25-yard free-kick which he played down the side of the Tamworth wall to Johnson and his low cross bounced off the knee of Tshikuna and went in with Solanke in close attendance.

That goal eased the pressure and we added a fine second goal two minutes into the second half of extra time. Djed Spence picked out Son with a superb cross-field pass and he came infield before sliding in Kulusevski, whose crisp shot beat Singh. Kinsky kept out an angled drive from Kai Williams but we added a third in the 118th minute, excellent work from Spence setting off on the attack and after his cross was cut out, Kulusevski nipped in to steal the ball back and Johnson whipped it into the far corner. It wasn’t pretty but we’re in the hat four round four.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Tshikuna (OG) 101, Kulusevski 107, Johnson 118.

Yellow cards: Tamworth – Creaney, Tonks, McGlinchey, Williams; Spurs – Dragusin, Pedro Porro.

Referee: Peter Bankes.

Venue: The Lamb Ground.

Weather: Clear skies, light winds, four degrees.

Attendance: 3,720.