Spurs Forced to Call on the Big Guns to get Past League One Morecambe

Sunday 9th January 2022

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 1 Morecambe

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Competition: FA Cup Third Round

"Pre-Match Thoughts – Unlike the Europa Conference League matches, hopefully this tie goes as planned and we see fringe players put in worthy performances and run out comfortable winners against a Morecambe side that sit twenty-first in League One. 4-1 Spurs."

Eight changes from the Chelsea game, as Conte rotated the team as expected. Gollini, Rodon, Sessegnon, Lo Celso, Winks, Ndombele, Gil and Alli, were all given opportunities to show what they could do.

2' Winks whipped in a corner, Davies darted toward the near post to meet it and his glancing header beat the keeper but crashed off the bar and behind.

12' A nervy moment from Rodon as he was put under pressure by a Morecambe attacker and fluffed his pass back to the keeper as a result. Gollini had to come rushing out and boot the ball into touch otherwise the persistent attacker would have been in one-on-one.

20' A Lo Celso corner flew across the face of goal, Doherty snuck in at the back post and managed to get his head onto it, he just couldn't get enough direction on his effort and it hit the outside of the post and went out of play.

Spurs were well on top, but were guilty of playing a few too many sideways passes rather than real incisive forward ones to create clear-cut chances.

33' Another indecisive moment from Rodon led to him smashing the ball out for a corner. It was lofted in and Tanganga lost his man at the back post who drifted in and simply side-footed home on the volley from the centre of the six-yard box. 0-1.

"Thoughts at Half-Time – Not what we expected so far, and the players were booed off at half-time. They started with a swagger, an arrogance to their dribbling and flicks, but it was all misplaced, and really just complacency, as they failed to seriously threaten the Morecambe goal, then conceded a poor goal from a corner to fall behind. Surely they're going to turn this around in the second half... They'll need to show a lot more urgency to do so."

No changes at the break but an interesting move from Conte as he switched the wing-backs so right-footed Doherty played on the left, and left-footed Sessegnon on the right.

Twenty-five minutes into the half and despite still dominating in terms of possession and general play, Spurs still hadn't found a way to break down staunch Morecambe defending.

69' It forced Conte to draw for the 'big guns' and he made a triple change that saw Kane, Moura and Skipp introduced for Gil, Ndombele and Alli. Furious boos rang-out from the home support aimed at Ndombele as he slowly made way.

73' Moura immediately involved as he wriggled himself into a shooting position on the edge of the box, but his driven effort was just wide.

74' GOAL! Free-kick from the left side from Winks, whipped in toward the far post, it evaded everyone including the goalkeeper as it nestled into the side of the net. It seemed to be more of a cross than a shot, nice goal from him nonetheless. 1-1.

76' Winks sent in a diagonal cross that found Moura, he headed it back across goal to Kane, who nodded it down in search of the bottom corner, but it was just wide.

Spurs had definitely upped it a gear since the changes, and Winks and Lo Celso both came close to putting them ahead with shots from just outside the box.

85' GOAL! A Morecambe defender was punished as he dilly-dallied on the ball just inside our half, Moura pounced on him, toed the ball into their half and raced through one-on-one. It looked as if perhaps he should have squared it to Kane just to be sure, but Moura didn't need him, as he took it around the keeper before passing into the empty net. 2-1.

88' GOAL! Another defender punished, this time it was Royal who jumped at the chance to snatch it over by the corner flag, having won it he passed to Lo Celso, who played into the feet of Kane in the area, a first touch to control and a second on the swivel to stab it across the keeper and into the bottom corner. 3-1.

"Thoughts at Full-Time – Job done in the end. Conte had to call on the big guns though, and I'm sure he'll be disappointed about that. It's another performance from the fringe players that highlights the lack of squad depth and need for investment in new players. We just about got away with it today, and progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup. We need to see a much better performance in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Wednesday, that's for sure."

Tottenham Player Ratings

• 22. Pierluigi Gollini – 5 – Didn't have much to do. Mix-up with Rodon that led to an unnecessary corner and their goal.

• 2. Matt Doherty – 5 – Got involved in the first half, unlucky to see his header hit the post. Struggled when switched to the left in the second half.

• 25. Japhet Tanganga – 4 – Poor defending to loose his man in a simple set piece situation for their goal. Already lacking confidence after the Chelsea game, and this mistake wouldn't have done him any favours.

• 14. Joe Rodon – 5.5 – Didn't look 100%. A couple of shaky moments that he was quick to shout at Gollini about; a back pass under pressure early on, then miscommunication as he smashed it out for a corner that led to their goal. Kept it tight for the remainder of the match.

• 33. Ben Davies – 6 – Captained the side and did his job well. Solid defensively and helped get us up the pitch. Unlucky to see his glancing header in the opening minutes hit the bar.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon – 6 – Looked positive and made a lot of promising runs with the ball. Unfortunately his end product was often lacking in quality.

• 18. Giovani Lo Celso – 6 – Always seems to be operating at half-pace when playing for Spurs. Struck a couple of feeble efforts from distance and his passing should have been snappier. Got an assist for Kane at the end.

• 8. Harry Winks – 7.5 – Found the all important equaliser as his whipped cross found the back of the net. Flung a few good passes into dangerous areas. Kept things ticking over in midfield.

• 28. Tanguy Ndombele – 3 – Final straw for him at Spurs? Failed to assert his authority on the match and was furiously booed by the home support as he trudged off when subbed in the second half. Headed straight down the tunnel.

• 11. Bryan Gil – 6 – Put a shift in. Always wanted the ball and looked determined to make things happen, but didn't look comfortable playing upfront.

• 20. Dele Alli – 5.5 – Also looked lost upfront. Clearly wanted a goal but didn't really come close to finding one.

Substitutions:

• 11. Bryan Gil ⬅ 69' ➡ 27. Lucas Moura – 7 – His injection of pace made a difference. Did well to punish sloppy defending by making a tackle and racing in on goal to put us ahead.

• 28. Tanguy Ndombele ⬅ 69' ➡ 29. Oliver Skipp – 6.5 – Sured up the midfield.

• 20. Dele Alli ⬅ 69' ➡ 10. Harry Kane – 7 – Came on and got a goal, just what Conte would have asked for.

• 19. Ryan Sessegnon ⬅ 87' ➡ 12. Emerson Royal – N/A – Did well to win the ball and find Lo Celso in the build-up to Kane's goal.

• 18. Giovani Lo Celso ⬅ 88' ➡ 44. Dane Scarlett – N/A – On as a late substitute.

Man of the Match – 8. Harry Winks