Match Report: Spurs 1 Burnley 0 FA Cup 3rd Round. We are through to the next round...

 

Match Report: Spurs 1 Burnley 0 FA Cup 3rd Round. We are through to the next round...

Janette went to the game, and as she said – as most Spurs fans also said – it was a poor game… but in the FA Cup, it doesn’t matter, flawed or brilliant, one goal or a thousand, the whole point of the cup matches is to get through to the next round… and we did it with a brilliant Porro goal. End of!

Yes, Janette, Mel, and I travelled to our Tottenham Hotspur stadium in the hope of a win and no draw. One goal was all that mattered… apart from that; we had a nice evening meeting old friends and new ones while it pelted with rain outside the stadium. But it wasn’t a cold evening.

Around me wasn’t the usual crowd… for some reason, some of our fans don’t consider the earlier rounds of the cup draw important, so stayed away. I haven’t missed a home, away or abroad game in over 40 years, including testimonials, friendlies, etc. But then again, I am a Spurs supporter… You don’t follow your team for over 60 years without making sacrifices. Luckily for me, Janette buys into my madness, and even some of that madness has rubbed off on her (now… when is that appointment to see the psychiatrist? I want to arrange another appointment for her!!!!!!).

Now… to the serious matter of one FA Cup round to get through… and guess what…

Without club captain Son, we failed to convert several chances before a breakthrough in the 78th minute.

Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric threw the ball out. Still, Porro won a challenge and then arrowed a superb shot into the top corner from 25 yards out for what proved to be a wonderful first goal of the season since his permanent arrival from Sporting Lisbon. And it was over!!!

Thoughts…

Burnley’s best chance fell to Zeki Amdouni in the first half when it was goalless, but he could only shoot over from a central position inside the penalty area. In a thrilling finish, Muric twice went up for Burnley corners and from the second one, in the seventh minute of added time, won a near-post flick-on, and his header fell to an unmarked Amdouni, who could not hit the target from six yards with a volley on the turn.

That defeat, their fifth in seven matches in all competitions, leaves them to focus on trying to avoid relegation.

The draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup will take place at 19:50 GMT on Monday, 8 January, before the Wigan Athletic v Manchester United match. Come on Wigan, you can do it!!

Ange Postecoglou led Celtic to the treble of Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup last season; this was his first experience of the FA Cup. What he didn’t do was make the same mistake as he did in the League Cup, and that was to make nine unwanted changes. He picked his strongest squad… even though we had half a team out plus suspensions.

Angie has got it, showing how important the competition was to our fans - without a trophy since winning the League Cup in 2008 - as he named his strongest possible side.

There were only two changes from the team that won 3-1 against Bournemouth on New Year's Eve to leave them fifth in the Premier League. Both were forced upon him, with forward Son at the Asian Cup and midfielder Pape Matar Sarr joining up with Senegal before the Africa Cup of Nations.

We will be without the pair and Mali Yves Bissouma for up to six matches - with the trio possibly away with their countries until mid-February.

Pedro Porro's goal was his fourth for us, but first this season

Son, the top scorer with 12 goals this season, was understandably missed as we spurned several good opportunities.

Richarlison twice failed to score with left-footed efforts, while the dangerous Brennan Johnson had two shots saved by back-up keeper Muric. Giovani lo Celso also missed two opportunities, and stand-in captain Rodrigo Bentancur fired another attempt.

Spurs eventually made their pressure count with Porro's strike - after Muric hurried a throw - and survived the late scare to go through. That is all that matters…

… next up will be Manchester United, away in the League in 9 days time.

 

Happy New Year.

COYS!

Glenn

Christmas with the legends: Micky Hazard & Marc Falco