Ange Postecoglou was pleased with Tottenham Hotspur’s eventual 3-0 extra-time win over Tamworth in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, but understands why some are frustrated that despite the non-league side holding his Premier League giants after 90 minutes, the new format of the tournament has prevented Tamworth from having a money-spinning replay.
National League side Tamworth held Spurs to 0-0 after 90 minutes, but were eventually undone in extra time as a Nathan Tshikuna own goal and strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson saw Postecoglou’s side book their spot in the fourth round.
This year for the first time, replays for this stage of the competition have been scrapped. Had Tamworth held Spurs to a 0-0 draw this time last year, then they would have earned a replay in north London, a fixture which would have given the non-league club a cash windfall. But it was extra-time that did for Tamworth.
Postecoglou said he understood why some argue replays remain essential, but also said he can see the benefits of making this a one-match tie that cut the number of matches his side are involved in over the season.
“I get the sentiment but at the same time I have been banging on about less games so it is a balancing act,” Postecoglou said. “The way the calendar is at the moment it would be almost impossible for us to fit another game in. We are already struggling to fit it all in. I understand the sentiment around it and I certainly believe in the competition and what it does offer every part of the football pyramid and I think it should be protected.”
Postecoglou introduced Son Heung-Min and Kulusevski at the start of extra-time, and ultimately, those replacements swung the match in Spurs’ favour.
“Firstly credit to Tamworth, I thought they gave everything and gave a really good account of themselves. We knew it would be a challenging afternoon for us with the surface making it really difficult for us to play in the manner we wanted to,” Postecoglou said.
“It is easy to get frustrated on days like this but the lads kept their heads clear and calm and persisted and eventually overpowered them.
“I’m sure all Tamworth will remember the day. As they should because their team played really well and we will remember it too because it’s a unique experience for us in terms of the kind of challenge we had today. I enjoyed it. It was a good day.”
Postecoglou was also impressed by Mikey Moore’s showing.
“Yeah brilliant, great to get him some game time,” Postecoglou said. “I think he’s itching to get back as well. He’s missed a fair bit of football. It just adds another attacking threat to us and I’m sure after today he’ll feel a lot better. As I said, I think he was a bit rusty at the start but he definitely grew into the game.”
For Tamworth, their dream FA Cup run comes to an end. But manager Andy Peaks was proud of his side’s efforts. “We almost created history there,” Peaks said afterwards.
“They were disappointed at the end because I think they were that close to nicking a goal at the end and it would have made it 1-0 to us, but I said be proud. Whoever you had here, whether it be family members, work colleagues or whoever, they can look at that and be proud of the performance we put in. We were in the game for most of it and started really well. Ange just said to me I should be proud, so if he is telling me I should be proud, then why would I not be.
“When you look at the team they had, for us to compete with them for such a long time, I’m like wow. It is unbelievable. The players they had out there at the end, you look at the bench and who they are bringing on, it just speaks volumes for what we are all about and we made it so hard for them to play through us.”
Spurs have been drawn to face fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in the fourth round.
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