Tamworth are ready to experience the ‘magic of the FA Cup’ with a historic home clash with top-flight charges Tottenham Hotspur.
Tamworth will have a huge chance to create history and be known for hosting a huge FA Cup clash, and the dream will be to win this one against Tottenham Hotspur. Hosting Spurs at their small ground will be a dream come true for them, as this fixture certainly takes the cherry compared to some other big games they have played in the past, including Stoke City, Norwich City, and a trip to Everton.
This fixture is already dubbed as the AP derby due to the fact that both sets of managers have the same initials. The AP for Tamworth would be Andy Peaks, who has been revered around town for his exceptional rise with the team, taking them from the seventh tier to the National League in the space of three years with back-to-back promotions.
In any case, the reported 3750-strong crowd at the Lamb Ground will witness a historic clash with Premier League club Tottenham, and there will be some hope of an upset. Irrespective of whether they win or lose, having an FA Cup third-round clash here with a top-tier opposition will come as a financial boost for the National League side, who have been unbeaten at home in their last ten games.
Meanwhile, Tottenham will welcome this interesting trip to Tamworth, which allows their AP, aka Ange Postecoglou to breathe easy for once following a congested fixture schedule. Spurs are not in the best of forms, having won only one of their last five competitive games.
That victory came at home against Liverpool earlier this week, as Spurs took a fortuitous lead from their EFL Cup semi-final first leg and will now go to Anfield later on for the reverse leg. A late Lucas Bergvall strike proved enough for Tottenham to secure the win. However, many left the game, particularly Liverpool fans, arguing that the Swedish midfielder should have been sent off for a second bookable offence only moments before he scored.
In any case, the other side of the argument is that Bergvall should not have recieved the first yellow card, so for Tottenham fans, it sort of evens out. Tottenham and Postecoglou will now use the away clash in the FA Cup against Tamworth as a point to ease off on some of the pressure to have a comfortable game, although the Australian will have one eye on the North London Derby next Wednesday.
Team News & Tactics
Tamworth
Andy Peaks will set up in his variation of the 4-4-2, as he aims to stop Tottenham for as long as possible in the game. In terms of absentees, only midfielder Ben Acquaye will miss out with an injury issue.
Tamworth will have Jordan Cullinane-Liburd back in the mix following a suspension, as he could return to the starting lineup to face Spurs. At the back, the experienced Jasbir Singh will take his position between the sticks for the home side, with the support of a back four in front of him.
Haydn Hollis and Cullinane-Liburd will make up the central defensive setup, with Ben Crompton and Callum Cockerill-Mollett in the full-back roles on either flank. Thomas McGlinchey and Beck-Ray Enoru are expected to play out wide in that 4-4-2 system, with central midfielders Alex Fletcher and Ben Milnes taking their places in the middle.
George Morrison will play as a second striker behind centre-forward Chris Wreh in Peaks’s setup against Tottenham.
Probable Lineup (4-4-1-1): Singh; Crompton, Hollis, Cullinane-Liburd, Cockerill-Mollett; McGlinchey, Fletcher, Milnes, Enoru; Morrison, Wreh
Tottenham Hotspur
All eyes will be on Ange Postecoglou and the number of changes he makes for this trip to Tamworth. There is the idea of using many fringe stars or even academy graduates against the National League opposition, but the Australian will also want his players in a good rhythm.
There are still many key players, particularly defenders, out of the equation for Spurs, and that might be the case for the midweek North London Derby, for Postecoglou keeping a tight lid at the back will be key, as he might have seen plenty of promise from his attacking players despite some of those results underwhelming in a larger sense.
Hence, the likes of Will Lankshear, who has been missing several weeks with an illness, could be in line for a start, while Alfie Dorrington could get a place in the back four. Forgotten left-back Sergio Reguilon is also expected to start. Meanwhile, Archie Gray is expected to move into a right-back slot to allow Postecoglou to rest Pedro Porro.
Mikey Moore could lead the line, while Yang Min-hyeok will complete the frontline for Spurs. Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, and James Maddison are expected to bring some solidity in that midfield. At the same time, Postecoglou could give the impressive Antonin Kinsky another start, although he could also choose Brandon Austin to start on Sunday in goal.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kinsky; Gray, Dragusin, Dorrington, Reguilon, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Min-Hyeok, Lankshear, Moore
Key Stats
- Tamworth are unbeaten int heir last ten games at home in all competitions.
- Tamworth only have one victory in their last four home games in all competitions.
- Tamworth will feature in the FA Cup third round for the fourth time in their history, having never gone past this stage.
- Tottenham have progressed from 17 of their last 18 FA Cup third-round ties.
- Since the 2015/16 season, no player has been involved in more FA Cup goals than Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.
Player to Watch
Antonin Kinsky
The Czech goalkeeper only arrived on January 5 from Slavia Prague in a deal upwards of £15 million and was thrust into action straight away in a big game. Kinsky will have come under pressure facing the best-attacking side in the division, Liverpool, but put in an impressive performance to help Spurs win and keep a clean sheet.
With Guglielmo Vicario absent, there will be a lot more pressure on the keeper, and it is only right that he starts on Sunday to build some momentum before the North London Derby. He has already made a solid enough impression. It will be interesting to see how well he performs in the clash and then on Wednesday for Postecoglou’s side, although at first sight, he does seem suitable for how the team plays.
Prediction
Tamworth 0-4 Tottenham Hotspur
Tamworth will bask with pride when they host Tottenham at the Lamb Ground, but that might be it, as the National League side are in for a difficult afternoon on the pitch. It remains to be seen how much grit Andy Peaks’s side can show in this clash, as one might assume it is a matter of time before Spurs find a breakthrough and open the floodgates.
Spurs might change a lot of players from their midweek cup clash, but still, they have more than enough quality to get a big result away from home. The likes of Will Lankshear and Mikey Moore will be more than eager to get their names on the scoresheet, as our 4-0 reverse prediction might underwhelm, as the actual margin of victory could be much higher.
