Four-time FA Cup winner Roy Keane felt Tottenham showed a ‘lack of quality’ as the Premier League side struggled to overcome non-league Tamworth in the first half of their tie in the third round of the competition.
The National League part-time hosts immediately caused Spurs problems through Beck-Ray Enoru, whose angled shot was tipped over the crossbar by FA Cup debutant Antonin Kinsky on target of an impressive first half for the Tamworth striker.
James Maddison curled a shot over the target for the visitors and tested goalkeeper Jas Singh, but Tamworth were not much troubled by the other opposition players as they denied a 96-place gap between the teams.
A great save from Jas Singh! 🧤
It was the first time Tottenham truly tested Tamworth, 31 minutes later. #ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/dCtBexUX61
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
FA Cup Third Round: Tamworth v Spurs
“It’s a lack of quality,” former Manchester United captain Roy Keane told ITV Sport. “Spurs got into decent areas but the good established players didn’t pick the right passes or hit them too hard. That’s not good enough from Spurs.
Tottenham fielded a strong starting line-up, although England striker Dominic Solanke, South Korean talisman Son Heung-min and Swedish midfielder Dejan Kulusevski were initially kept in reserve.
The Lambs have lost their last two matches, are 16th in the fifth tier of English football and have conceded the fifth most goals in their division.
Arsenal icon Ian Wright has branded Tottenham ‘very useless’. “At the rate this match is going, I probably would have started Solanke,” he added. “I’d like to see Spurs play it in him and then play it through him.”
Jas Singh denies Timo Werner!
What a performance @tamworthfcthe goalkeeper is having fun 👏#ITVFootball | #FACup pic.twitter.com/ubP2kP2NCI
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth v Tottenham last
The kick-off was delayed because Singh wanted space between the top of his net and the crossbar fixed at the 4,000 capacity Lamb Ground.
The 34-year-old made another good save early in the second half to keep out a Timo Werner shot, and defender Haydn Hollis then did well to clear Werner’s header off the line.
Spurs have taken one point from their last four Premier League games but were looking to make it back-to-back cup wins following their 1-0 home win over Liverpool in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
5 ⭐️ skills of Haydn Hollis 😍#ITVFootball | #FACup | @tamworthfc pic.twitter.com/cX20517nhI
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 12, 2025
Tamworth, who blocked two consecutive shots later in the half following a long throw from Tom Tonks, beat third-tier clubs Huddersfield Town and Burton Albion to reach the third round.
“There’s not enough coming from Tottenham’s front three,” said former Scotland striker Ally McCoist. “They need more movement on the right side from Brennan Johnson, and certainly more in the center from Timo Werner.”
Overtime and penalties will be used to decide the match if necessary.
