Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Middlesbrough
David Hytner was at White Hart Lane to see Tottenham dominate their opponents from the Championship, even if they were forced to survive a late scare.
The fourth round draw
- Watford or Tranmere Rovers v Wolves or Man United
- Hull City v Chelsea
- Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur
- Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield Wednesday
- Bournemouth v Arsenal
- Northampton Town v Derby County
- Brentford v Leicester City
- Millwall v Sheffield United
- Reading v Cardiff City or Carlisle United
- West Ham United v West Bromwich Albion
- Burnley v Norwich City
- Coventry City v Birmingham City
- Manchester City v Fulham
- Newcastle United v Oxford United
- Portsmouth v Barnsley
- Shrewsbury Town v Liverpool
Japhet Tanganga has been speaking to BBC Sport and he seems like a nice young man. “We had chances to kill the game but obviously you’re not always going to score but we had to defend well,” said TOttenham’s man of the match. “It was a sloppy goal we shouldn’t have conceded it. We made it hard for ourselves.”
On first couple of appearances in Tottenham’s first team, he had this to say: “I’m just grateful that the gaffer is trusting me, the club for giving me the opportunity and my team-mates for trusting me,” he says. “I’m ready for whenever the manager picks me. I’m loving it, the opportunity to play in this stadium and in front of these fans.”
Elsewhere in the FA Cup: Blackpool entertained Reading but went down 2-0 at Bloomfield Road. Coventry City from League One scored three without reply in an emphatic win over Bristol Rovers. Newcastle United beat Rochdale 4-1 in a match I thought might end in an upset, while Shrewsbury Town pulled off the upset of the night, with the League One side beating Bristol City from the division above.
Southampton are next up for Tottenham. Jose and the troops will have to travel to St Mary’s for the fourth round, where they ought to face a stern test from the rejuvenated Saints.
Full-time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Middlesbrough
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeep! It’s all over at White Hart Lane, where Tottenham have beaten Middlesbrough by the odd goal of three. Giovanni Lo Celso and Erik Lamela got the goals for Jose Mourinho’s side during a dominant first-half display, but George Saville’s late effort proved little more than a consolation despite a much improved performance from the visitors in the second half.
Updated
90+2 min: An Ashley Fletcher downward header doesn’t threaten the Tottenham goal, but narrowly evades the lunge of Rudy Gestede, who was trying to poke it past Gestede.
90+1 min: Japhet Tanganga, tonight’s man of the match, canters elegantly down the right touchline and sends the ball arcing across the face of goal. At near post and far post respectively, Lamela and Son stretch every sinew but are unable to divert the ball goalwards.
90 min: Some of Boro’s players look absolutely dead on their feet as they go in search of an equaliser. Spurs continue to dominate as the stadium announcer announces a minimum of three minutes of added time.
89 min: Moments after blazing a free-kick over the bar in what could conceivably be his final game for Tottenham, Christian Eriksen tries to play in Son. Boro clear their lines.
87 min: There’s only the kick of a ball in this game with five minutes to go, which seems remarkable, considering Tottenham should have been out of sight at half-time. Adam Clayton receives treatment for cramp but is forced to carry on, as Middlesbrough have used all their substitutes.
85 min: That was excellent from Saville, who controlled a ball from deep, made room for a shot and then drove his right-footed effort into the corner. Tottenham substitution: Eric Dier off ... and he doesn’t look one bit happy about it. Dele Alli replaces him.
GOAL! Tottenham 2-1 Middlesbrough (Saville 83)
Boro pull one back! It’s a splendid finish from George Saville, who shoots low, hard and with pinpoint accuracy into the bottom left-hand corner from distance, beating Gazzaniga who was at full stretch.
Updated
82 min: Having looked in real danger of shipping a hiding on the strength of their first half performance, Middlesbrough have upped their game considerably in the second 45 minutes.
79 min: A low diagonal drive through the Boro penalty area from Eriksen somehow avoids four or five players from both teams and threatens to sneak in at the far post. Tomas Mejias, his view impeded, sees it very late and does exceptionally well to keep the ball out.
78 min: Gazzaniga claims the inswinger from the corner and sends Lo Celso upfield on the counter-attack. It ends with Son winning a corner for Spurs and he goes close with a near post header from the set-piece.
76 min: Saville shoots narrowly wide from distance after being teed up by a good pull-back from his fellow substitute Tavernier. His effort actually took a touch off a defender and Middlesbrough have another corner. Before it’s taken, Jonathan Woodgate sends on Rudy Gestede for Lukas Nmecha.
74 min: Middlesbrough substitution: Djed Spence, who’s been one of Borro’s more impressive players tonight goes off. He’s replaced by Marcus Tavernier, who is the brother of Rangers skipper James.
73 min: Now Tottenham have a corner. The ball’s floated in to the box, only to be headed out over the touchline by Spence for a Tottenham throw-in.
72 min: Boro win a corner and the ball’s sent into the mixer. Lukas Nmecha wins the header under pressure from Davinson Sanchez, but can’t get high enough over the ball to steer it on target.
70 min: Another probing run into the Boro penalty area from the industrious Son, but he loses his footing under pressure from Paddy McNair and the ball runs out of play for a goal-kick.
Updated
68 min: Lamela picks out Eriksen with a neat pass into the Middlesbrough box. With his back to goal, the midfielder is unable to turn and get off a shot and Middlesbrough intercept his pass towards Son.
67 min: Son wins a corner off Adam Clayton as he tries to take on the U2 bass player with a darting run into the Middlesbrough box. Nothing comes of it.
65 min: In his own penalty area, Eric Dier leaps to head a free-kick floated in from deep out for a corner. It’s curled towards the far post, but Vertonghen clears with a meaty header and sends Tottenham upfield on the counter-attack. Boro get bodies back quickly to put a stop to their gallop.
64 min: Djed Spence picks up the ball on the right wing and sends a cross towards the far post. The ball sails out of play and wide. Moments previously Paulo Gazziniga was quick off his line to deny Lukas Nmecha down by right byline.
Updated
63 min: Son gets on the ball near the halfway line, but immediately gives it away to Adam Clayton.
61 min: Tottenham substitution: Heung-min Son replaces Lucas Moura.
59 min: Tomas Mejias almost puts his team in trouble again, making a bit of a mess of a pass to Djed Spence. The defender does well to clear his lines under pressure, sparing his goalkeeper’s blushes in the process.
58 min: Boro substitution: Ben Liddle, whose father Craig used to play for Middlesbrough and is now involved with their academy, makes way for Norn Iron international George Saville.
56 min: Lucas Moura tries to pick out Eriksen with a cross from the right into the Middlesbrough penalty area. Adam Claytpon intercepts with a well-timed leap and when the ball eventually finds its way back to Moura, he blazes over from distance.
54 min: With a free-kick in a good position just outside the Tottenham penalty area, Lewis Wing brings a decent save out of Gazzaniga, who tips the low drive around his post. Middlesbrough have their second corner of the game, but nothing comes of it. Better, from Middlesbrough. Much better.
Updated
51 min: An awful miss from Ryan Sessegnon, who somehow fires over with the goal gaping after getting on the end of a cross whipped across the edge of the six-yard box by Tanganga. He was offside, which may come as a relief when he views that one later. Good work down the right from Tanganga, mind. His cross was inch perfect, even if Sessegnon’s positioning was not.
Updated
50 min: Ryan Sessegnon fouls Djed Spence out by the right touchline, giving Middlesbrough a free-kick in a good position. Marvin Johnson swings the ball into the penalty area, but Tottenham clear.
49 min: Jan Vertonghen and Ashley Fletcher clash heads, prompting referee Craig Pawson to stop play and enquire after their welfare. They both seem OK.
47 min: Since making the mistake that led to Tottenham’s opening goal, Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomas Mejias has been kicking almost all of his clearances long, but an awful lot of them have been going straight to Tottenham players. The latest lands at the feet of Japhet Tanganga, who sets up another Spurs attack which ultimately comes to nothing.
Second half: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Middlesbrough
46 min: Middlesbrough get the ball rolling in this second half, with no changes in personnel on either side. They’ve a two-goal deficit to overhaul and will need to play an awful lot better than they did in the opening 45 minutes if they are to have any chance of doing so.
Updated
Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Middlesbrough
It’s been a stroll in the park for Tottenham, who lead courtesy of goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela. Middlesbrough improved a bit as the half went on but have been second best by a distance.
45 min: Lucas Moura sends a cross into the Middlesbrough box from deep and Erik Lamela takes it on his chest. Stuck to him like glue, Djed Spence scrambles the ball clear.
44 min: Boro win a free-kick down near the corner. The ball’s stood up at the far post and Ashley Fletcher leaps highest, but steers his firm header wide.
Updated
42 min: In what has arguably their best passage of play, Middlesbrough finally string a few passes together across midfield and end up winning a throw-in on the edge of the final third. It’s not much, but it’s a start. They’ve had 25% of possession in this first half so far.
40 min: Middlesbrough win a throw-in deep in Tottenham territory, but within seconds Spurs are on the counter-attack with Lucaqs Moura galloping up the field with the ball at his feet. With Christian Eriksen up in support and unmarked, Moura opts to go it alone but pulls his shot from the edge of the penalty area a few inches wide of the left upright.
36 min: Teed up by Jonny Howson after a great jinking run by the defender, Paddy McNair blazes a decent shooting opportunity high over the bar, prompting sarcastic cheers and whistles from the Spurs fans congregated behind it. Had he scored, his effort would almost certainly have been ruled out for offside.
Updated
34 min: Lucas Moura does well to scorch up the right touchline and keep the ball in play before it can go out for a throw-in and whips it across the Middlesbrough penalty area trying to pick out Eriksen, who is screaming for the pass. His delivery manages to evade both the Dane and Erik Lamela and another good chance goes to waste.
33 min: Eriksen shoots under the defensive wall, which to a man jumps obligingly. There’s not much welly on his effort, however, a state of affairs which allows Boro goalkeeper Mejias to get down to his right to save comfortably.
32 min: Lewis Wing brings down Christian Eriksen just outside the Boro penalty area as the Tottenham midfielder broke from midfield. Free-kick for Tottenham in a wonderful position, just to the right of the D.
29 min: Lo Celso collides with Marvin Johnson as he tries to make room for another shot in the Tottenham penalty area and goes to ground theatrically, holding his face. There’s a VAR check to see if Spurs should get a penalty, but no spot-kick is forthcoming.
28 min: Japhet Tanganga makes an overlapping gallop down the inside right and has the ball played into his path by Giovani Lo Celso. On only his second start for Tottenham, he threatens to open his goalscoring account, but his low diagonal drive goes agonisingly wide of the far post. Jonathan Woodgate needs to do something, fast, or his team are going to get slaughtered tonight.
26 min: It’s all too easy for Tottenham, who are two goals to the good and in complete control. Ryan Sessegnon cuts in from the left, beats Paddy McNair for speed and shoots diagonally towards the bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards out. Tomas Mejias gets down to get a touch and ensure the ball goes out for a corner. Nothing comes from the set piece.
Updated
23 min: Moura dinks the ball into the path of Winks with a neat pass as the Englishman gallops through midfield. It’s another promising move for Tottenham, but they fail to add to their lead.
22 min: Erik Lamela almost adds his second and Tottenham’s third, spinning to shoot from the edge of the Boro penalty area after picking up a pass from Lo Celso, only to see his effort fizz over the bar.
Updated
21 min: Tottenham continue to turn the screw against a Middlesbrough team that have offered little. No sooner than I type that, however, than Davinson Sanchez almost gifts them an opening by misjudging the flight of a long ball and missing his header, but Ashley Fletcher is unable to capitalise.
20 min: Dier seems to have recovered from what looked a painful knock. Middlesbrough win a free-kick near halfway, which Dael Fry boots long. Erik Lamela wins the defensive header.
17 min: There’s a break in play as Eric Dier receives treatment after landing awkwardly and hurting his back.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Middlesbrough (Lamela 15)
Erik Lamela doubles Tottenham’s lead. He slides the ball past Mejias into the bottom left-hand corner after a piercing run past three players into the Middlesbrough box. Atrocious defending from the visitors, who practically ushered him through.
Updated
12 min: Close!!! Gazzaniga gets down quickly to save smartly from Nmecha as, unmarked in the Spurs penalty area, the Middlesbrough striker is played in by Ben Liddle and shoots for the bottom corner.
10 min: Not realising his goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has charged off his line and come to the edge of his area, Davinson Sanchez heads a long ball aimed towards Lukas Nmecha back towards his own goal. Luckily for him, Gazzaniga is directly behind him and the ball goes straight into his hands. That could have been a comical own goal.
Updated
8 min: Another ball into the Middlesbrough box and this time Mejias does hoof it clear unceremoniously.
6 min: It’s all Spurs at the moment, with Middlesbrough apparently happy to sit back and try to soak up the pressure. They’ve made life exceptionally difficult in these early stages, however, with Mejias trying to play the ball out from the back when he would have been better served lumping it forward.
3 min: Under pressure and attempting to play the ball out from the back, Mejias plays the ball to Lo Celso on the edge of the penalty area instead. The Tottenham midfielder skips across the face of the penalty to make room for a shot and expertly fires the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Middlesbrough (Lo Celso 3)
An early rick from Boro goalkeeper Tomas Mejias gifts an early goal to Tottenham.
Updated
2 min: There’s early pressure as Jonny Howson is forced into an early clearance, with both sides lining up playing with three at the back.
Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough is go ...
1 min: Tottenham kick-off, their players wearing their usual home kit of white shirts, navy shorts and white socks. The players of Middlesbrough wear red shirts, white shorts and red socks.
Not long now: The pre-match light show is under way and the two teams are making their way out on to the pitch in the well appointed surroundings of White Hart Lane. It’s a dirty night in north London, but 4,000 Middlesbrough fans are in attendance despite the unpleasant weather. Kick-off is less than two minutes away ...
Updated
In the event of a draw tonight: There will be extra time and then penalties if required. While extra time has been scrapped in the Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy, it is still played in the FA Cup. Replays have, however, been scrapped from the fifth round stage.
Tottenham v Middlesbrough line-ups
Tottenham: Gazzaniga, Tanganga, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Sessegnon, Dier, Winks, Lo Celso, Eriksen, Lamela, Lucas
Subs: Vorm, Foyth, Cirkin, Aurier, Skipp, Alli, Son
Middlesbrough: Mejias, Spence, Howson, McNair, Fry, Johnson, Clayton, Liddle, Wing, Nmecha, Fletcher
Subs: Brynn, Wood, Saville, Malley, Tavernier, Roberts, Gestede
Some team news: Tottenham make five changes to their side for tonight’s game. Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier, Erik Lamela, Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso all come in, with Son Heung-min and Dele Alli on the bench. Troy Parrott doesn’t feature in the match-day squad. Boro also make five changes, with Ben Liddle handed his first senior start, as Southampton await the winner in round four.
Speaking of Robbie: Here’s an interesting interview he did after being appointed to the coaching staff at Boro last summer.
A sort of homecoming: Middlesbrough manager and his assistant Robbie Keane return to their old stomping ground (albeit a stomping ground that hadn’t been built during their time at Spurs) tonight.
Woody and Keano are in the building. 💪
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 14, 2020
Great to see you, lads! 👍#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/9WXDtapyEj
Tottenham youngster Clarke off to QPR: “Jack Clarke is putting the finishing touches to a loan move to Queens Park Rangers for the remainder of the season,” writes David Hytner. Read on ...
Transfer window: Catch up on all the latest deals and club-by-club guides for the top divisions in England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.
Early team news
With Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko, Ben Davies, Tanguy Ndombele and Hugo Lloris unavailable due to injury, Jose Mourinho said that only Toby Alderweireld was guaranteed a rest tonight. Despite recent complaints that he doesn’t have a centre-forward to fill in for Kane, the Portuguese manager elected not to include Irish teenager Troy Parrott in his squad for Saturday night’s defeat at the hands of Liverpool. It will be interesting to see if the highly regarded 17-year-old centre-forward gets a run-out tonight.
Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate has had to plan for this game without the services of Ryan Shotton, George Friend, Britt Assombalonga, Daniel Ayala and Anfernee DIjksteel, who are all keeping Boro’s medical staff busy. Despite ongoing talk linking him with a return to West Ham, goalkeeper Darren Randolph has travelled with the squad but is unlikely to play.
Updated
FA Cup third round replay: Tottenham v Middlesbrough
White Hart Lane is the venue for tonight’s match between Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough, who played out a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium a week ago on Sunday.
Ashley Fletcher gave Middlesbrough an early second half lead on that occasion, only for Lucas Moura to restore parity within six minutes. Kick-off tonight is at 8.05pm, but stay tuned for team news and build-up in the meantime.
Updated
