FA CUP THIRD ROUND
MONDAY 5TH JANUARY, 2015
(7.45PM)
BURNLEY 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (0)

Burnley scorer:-
Vokes, 73

Spurs scorer:-
Chadli, 56

Attendance:- 9,348

Referee:- Roger East
Assistants:- Adam Nunn and Scott Oldham
Fourth Official:- Christopher Foy

Teams:-
Burnley (4-1-3-2):- Heaton; Trippier, Keane, Mee, Lafferty; Arfield; Kightly, Marney (Capt.), Boyd (sub Wallace, 79); Barnes (sub Vokes, 61), Ings (sub Sordell, 79)

Subs not used:- Gilks; O’Neill, Reid; Jutkiewicz

No bookings

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Vorm; Chiriches, Fazio, Vertonghen (Capt.), Davies; Stambouli (sub Kane, 460, Dembele; Chadli, Paulinho, Eriksen; Soldado (sub Townsend, 67)

Subs not used:- Friedel; Dier, Naughton; Capoue, Onomah

Booked:- Stambouli (foul on Kightly)

Spurs’ mojo lost, found, then lost again

Ah! The magic of the FA Cup Third Round! Here was a repeat of a former FA Cup Final, between two teams with great history and great tradition. Controversially moved to a Monday night 200 miles north-west of London, thus inconveniencing the fans that do want to see their team play in a prestigious competition, the game then suffered the ignominy of thousands (mainly home fans) not buying tickets, meaning that the home team played the second half towards a totally empty Jimmy McIlroy stand. Some 2,000 committed travelling Spurs fans did their best to make an atmosphere of it in the first half, but that first half went down as totally devoid of shots.

It seems that neither team really wanted to play this game, which begs the question why did they ultimately manage to concoct a draw out of proceedings meaning we have to do it all over again – this time at White Hart Lane.

The David Fishwick Stand has had a lick of paint since our last visit here in May 2010, when over 21,000, not 9,000 bothered to attend an end of season game. The seats are still wooden, but they’ve had a lick of paint too. There was a pillar in front of me, just to the right, which spookily got in my view for a lot of the game. Someone behind me commented that the pillar had been man of the match. I have to confess that I wish I’d been ill and unable to see this game, rather than miss the Chelsea drama on New Year’s Day.

Perhaps that was part of Spurs’ problem. Maybe it was a case of “after the ball was over”. Mauricio Pochettino made seven changes to his starting team, with Vorm, Chiriches and Davies entering the back four. Stambouli played beside Dembele, behind Chadli, Paulinho and Eriksen, once again being asked to play out of position. Roberto Soldado took Kane’s place up front. To their credit, Sean Dyche’s side looked as if they would be going for it, with both Danny Ings and Ashley Barnes up front. Dyche had also made a few team changes, some enforced, and former Spur Dean Marney was Burnley Captain for the night.

There was little to commend the first half to you. Eriksen had a free kick cleared after seven minutes, and Stambouli took an early booking (the only card of the night) for a foul on Kightly. Perhaps that was one reason for Stambouli being replaced at half-time. There was a lovely Spurs move to report, which took place after 10 minutes. I think it was Ben Davies (who had another impressive game) who sent a great long ball from the left across the field which was collected by Chadli. Eriksen was soon with him, and took the ball, crossing to the left, where the lively Paulinho did hit a shot which looked as if it was on target, but which was blocked.

Apart from a good Eriksen pass to Chadli, which Burnley defended well, that’s about all there is to say about the sterile first half. Neither goalkeeper had been tested. Fazio had looked solid for Spurs, and Soldado was trying, as always, but despite his neat changes (most of which were seen after the break), it still isn’t happening for him in terms of goal-scoring.

Harry Kane was brought on after the break, to liven up proceedings, and liven up proceedings is what he did. Spurs had three attempts in the first three minutes, which is more than anybody had mustered in the first half. First of all, Harry held onto a long ball down the left channel, before the move continued through Chadli and Davies. Davies’ cross was good, and Soldado’s shot was deflected for a corner. After the corner, Fazio was still around to receive Chadli’s ball from the left, hitting a header which Heaton held. The third effort came for Kane himself, after Eriksen’s ball. Harry hit a right footed shot low outside the far post.

The game had been lifted, and Burnley joined in too, in front of their empty stand. Danny Ings tested Vorm with a low left footed shot, but Spurs took the lead in the 56th minute. Davies had sent another good cross in, and Chadli controlled, turned and fired home with his left foot. Heaton got a touch, but the ball wriggled through beneath his body. Kane battled and won the ball; enjoying an exchange with Soldado, before hitting a shot from close range at an angle which Heaton smothered.

We’d almost had our ration of Spurs excitement now though, and we made the mistake of sitting back (or was that pinned back), as Burnley came forward. Barnes was replaced by Sam Vokes, making only his second appearance since suffering an ACL injury last March. Vokes had scored 20 goals in Burnley’s promotion run, and got 10 minutes against Liverpool recently as part of his re-introduction.

Soldado was replaced by Townsend, who I have to say had little impact on the game. Chiriches struggled to control a difficult ball on the right, and Burnley had chances through Keane (header) and Marney (shot). They got on terms though with a goal by that man Vokes. This time, the ball came from Spurs’ left flank, where Vertonghen stumbled and struggled a little versus Kightly as he entered the area near the bye-line. His cross was met by Vokes, and converted with his right foot.

Ings had a looping shot held by Vorm just under his bar. Now Spurs looked interested again, and might have saved themselves the replay with the chances created in the run-in. Chadli had a solo run down the left channel, but hit a disappointing shot. Then, in two minutes of added time Eriksen had a chance after Townsend and Chadli had been involved in the build-up play. Davies cross, but Kane screwed his attempt from the middle of the goal area. A powerful Eriksen cross won a corner, but the final whistle means we have to play a replay next week (date not yet fixed).

The reward, if either team is sufficiently interested, will be a home tie against Leicester. Perhaps Spurs are going to enjoy slices of FA Cup history all the way to Wembley!

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