Spurs Knocked Out the FA Cup by Championship Side Middlesbrough

Tuesday 1st March 2022 - 7:55pm

Match Report

Middlesbrough 1 – 0 Tottenham Hotspur

(After Extra Time)

Venue: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

Competition: FA Cup Fifth Round

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Good to bounce back with a positive result against Leeds at the weekend, but top four still looks a long shot following our recent form. A charge toward the FA Cup could become the highlight of our season, it's a real opportunity to see Spurs finally lift a trophy again, so Conte won't want to mess it up here tonight, away to a Middlesbrough side that sit 8th in the Championship.

They'll no doubt make it difficult, but with the quality in our team, I think we'll win it 3-1."

Conte named the same line-up that beat Leeds at the weekend. It showed how seriously he's taking this competition, and also that players like Skipp, Lucas and Bentancur were still struggling with injuries, as they failed to make the squad.

There were no clear-cut opportunities, but Spurs spent the majority of the opening twenty minutes on top. Wing-backs Doherty and Sessegnon, who finally seemed to have found some form in the last game, appeared to have grown in confidence as they both started well, running at the full-backs and working hard to get crosses in.

36' Good work from Kulusevski on the top left corner of the box, twisting and turning defenders until he eventually found space to chip a diagonal into Kane arriving by the six-yard box, but it was just out of his reach and continued on out for a goal kick.

39' It was no surprise as Spurs' best opportunity arrived courtesy of a quick counter attack - Kane picked it up deep in his own half, he swept it out right to Kulusevski, he was quick to release Doherty down the wing who'd raced up on the underlap, Doherty beat the outrushing goalkeeper to the ball and nudged it around him, with the goal gaping Doherty tried to find the net from the right side, still twenty or so yards out, but he got underneath the effort and skied it over.

44' Another opportunity fell Doherty's way, as Sessegnon played it to Winks, who in turn found Son as Spurs worked the ball around the top of the box, Son continued the pattern by teeing up Doherty in a central position on the edge of the area, he had time to take a touch to set himself before dragging his drilled shot wide of the post.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – Not the best half of football by any stretch of the imagination. Not a single shot on target so far, that says it all. Middlesbrough have done a decent job of keeping things compact and frustrating Spurs in and around the area. We need more creativity from the midfield to find the runs of Kane, Son and Kulusevski. So far our best opportunities have fell to Doherty. Hopefully Conte injects a bit of intelligence and enthusiasm into the team at half-time, and we find a way to win it in the second half, as Middlesbrough will fancy their chances if they manage to hold on and take this to penalties."

50' A charging run forward by Kulusevski resulted in him being bought down and winning a free-kick in a dangerous shooting position. Kane stepped up to take it and drew jeers from the crowd as he slipped on his arse and scuffed it straight into the wall. We truly have failed to find a new free-kick taker since losing Eriksen...

54' A huge let off for Spurs as a corner came in and found Crooks with a free-header from six-yards out, thankfully he wasted the opportunity by heading over the bar.

58' Following a cynical foul on Davies, Spurs were presented with another free-kick in a shooting position. This time Dier stepped-up to take it and curled towards the top right corner. The keeper did well to dive and palm it behind for a corner.

59' Son whipped in the corner and it found Davies, he headed downwards and it fell to Kane who'd wrestled his way into the middle of the goal and managed to strike it into the net as he tumbled. He wheeled off in celebration but it was short lived, as he turned to notice a flag from the linesman for offside. It looked a very tight call, but with VAR only being used in FA Cup ties hosted by Premier League sides, the decision was final, no goal, much to the delight of the Middlesbrough supporters.

82' Fresh off the bench, Bergwijn instantly found himself in on goal thanks to a ball threaded through to him by Kane down the left side of the area, he delayed his shot and by time he tried to toe it home a Middlesbrough defender was back to block with a sliding challenge.

83' Son whipped in a corner that found Dier who'd darted towards the near post and gotten across his marker to glance it towards the top corner. Unfortunately the angle was just too tight and he could only find the side netting.

88' Big chance for Middlesbrough to snatch it - The Spurs backline were stretched and they found a man free down the right side of the box, he took a touch before shooting low across goal. Thankfully it was a tad too central and Lloris managed to dive and save.

89' The resulting corner found a Middlesbrough head around the penalty spot and he headed a fraction wide of the post. Nervy moments for Spurs.

90'+3' Kulusevski took it down the right wing before sending it across the box where Son met it at the far post, with a free header around six yards out, he headed low towards the bottom left corner but his effort lacked power and was saved by the keeper.

Son's chance was the last action of the ninety and the game headed into extra time.

104' Spurs were looking seriously weary, and Middlesbrough piled on the pressure to find a winner. On this occasion a ball in found a free man at the back post but thankfully he struck his effort straight at Lloris.

106' Kulusevski carried it down the right side of the area and slid it across to Son at the near post. He attempted to flick it in with his heel and it nutmegged the goalkeeper but he managed to recover and pounce on it before it crossed the line.

107' Goal. Dier and Romero were drawn out to challenge on the top left corner of their area, but it was poked between them into the path of Coburn, Spurs had suspicions of offside as Coburn found himself in on goal, but Royal had played him onside. He took it a touch towards goal before lacing it into the far top corner. 1-0, and it had been coming.

108' Hojbjerg found Son who tried to find an immediate reply and worked his way into a shooting position on his left foot. Unfortunately, like so many times tonight, it was too central and saved by the keeper.

119' Another Son corner found Dier at the near post, his glancing header deflected off a defender and almost snuck into the bottom corner, but the keeper managed to correct his positioning and got down to make the save.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – Out of the cup, minimal chance of finishing top 4, Spurs' season looks over. We're too up and down... every time it seems like things are on the up, we come crashing straight back down. Middlesbrough looked the fitter of the two sides in extra time, and that goal that won it felt well-deserved. Spurs should be putting three or four past sides like this in the league below, but again, too many wasted opportunities and we've paid the price. Now we're left wondering what's next for Conte and Tottenham."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 1. Hugo Lloris – 6 – Didn't have much to do. Made a few saves later in the match. Not much he could do about the goal.

• 4. Cristian Romero – 5 – A few surprisingly sloppy moments from him. Perhaps complacency had crept in.

• 15. Eric Dier – 6.5 – Tried to keep things organised at the back. Came close to scoring with a free-kick and a header. Went crazy at Son at one point which showed his determination to win, but Middlesbrough eventually found a way through.

• 33. Ben Davies– 6 – Went about his duties again. Made some good tackles and broke forward when possible. Assisted Kane's goal that was ruled out.

• 2. Matt Doherty – 5 – Started brightly running at his man and working to get balls into the box. Squandered the two big chances that fell his way though, and drifted out of the match in the second half which eventually led to him being substituted.

• 5. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg – 4 – Ran around in midfield winning the ball whenever he could. Unfortunately he's just a workhorse midfielder and lacked creativity and composure to gain a foothold in the game for us.

• 8. Harry Winks – 3 – Unfortunately the Winks everyone wanted out appears to have returned. Consistently made silly fouls, gave the ball away and didn't create anywhere near enough for us going forward.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 5 – Also started brightly down the wing, getting the ball and looking to run at them. Unfortunately it failed to produce a goal and he also drifted away as the game went on.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski – 6.5 – Really gets involved, spent a lot of time on the ball again. Undoubtedly favours cutting in from the right onto his left foot but created some chances through his tireless work. Couldn't find a way through though.

• 7. Son Heung-min – 4 – A disappointing night for him. Got a rollicking from Dier for giving the ball away and not tracking back. Had some of our best opportunities fall his way but produced tame efforts at goal for them.

• 10. Harry Kane – 6 – Unlucky to have his goal ruled out, as it looked as if he may have been onside on the replay and that he had been fouled. Worked hard to try and find a breakthrough but they defended strongly against him and it prevented him from being able to play as much as he'd have liked to. Dropped back a lot to pick up the ball and play passes forward, but we need him up there in the attack too.

Substitutions:

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 81' ➡ 23. Steven Bergwijn – 6 – Looked bright and almost found the net within seconds of being introduced. That was his one chance though.

• 2. Matt Doherty ⬅ 81' ➡ 12. Emerson Royal – 3 – Looked out of sorts coming on late. Struggled to adjust to the game and ultimately ended up costing us by playing Coburn onside for the goal.

• 21. Dejan Kulusevski ⬅ 105' ➡ 3. Sergio Reguilón – N/A – Didn't make an impact.

• 33. Ben Davies ⬅ 114' ➡ 44. Dane Scarlett – N/A – On very late and not much fell his way.