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“Deapite the 3-0 win, We weren’t good enough for 90 minutes, credit to them”- Archie Gray Drops truth BOMB on Spurs’ FA Cup Struggle against Tamworth
On Sunday afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 victory over Tamworth after extra time. However, the last few words are crucial—Spurs were fortunate to win, as it was a disappointing performance. No one would have anticipated that it would take them two hours to secure the win.
Had this match been played earlier in the season, Spurs would have faced a replay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, following complaints from figures like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp about the inconvenience of replays, the FA decided to scrap them this year, much to Spurs’ benefit.
Without the replay, Spurs avoided adding another match to their schedule, which could have meant playing three games in six days, including one against Everton and another against Hoffenheim—a consequence that would have been deserved given their poor showing.
Archie Gray, a young player, expressed his honest thoughts after the match. When interviewed by Gabriel Clarke, Gray acknowledged the team’s struggles: “The most important thing is we got the win. Credit to Tamworth for taking us to extra time, especially given where they are in the league.
We weren’t good enough for 90 minutes, and many of us weren’t at our best. But credit to them.”
Gray continued, refusing to make excuses about the pitch or conditions, emphasizing that such challenges are part of football. He said, “Sometimes these things just happen.
The fans were brilliant, and they made it tough for us.” Reflecting on the extra time, he explained that Spurs’ fitness and quality ultimately made the difference, especially in the final 15 minutes.
Clarke remarked on Tamworth’s impressive performance as a part-time team, and Gray agreed, noting, “This is what the FA Cup is all about—seeing clubs from all over English football. It was tough, but I enjoyed every minute.”
Despite the challenges, Gray remained positive, offering a mature perspective for such a young player. It was curious that an 18-year-old, rather than a more experienced player, was chosen for an interview, particularly when he was one of the few who performed well on the day. Outside of Antonin Kinsky, Yves Bissouma, and Sergio Reguilon, most players struggled.
Unfortunately for Gray, he had to play 120 minutes just days before the crucial North London derby. While no fitness advantage was gained for Spurs, they also didn’t lose any, having played the same length of time.
Spurs traveled to the Midlands on Sunday to face Tamworth in the third round of the FA Cup, with Ange Postecoglou fielding a strong starting XI: Kinsky; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Reguilon; Sarr, Bissouma; Johnson, Maddison, Moore; Werner.
The match began with a slight delay, as a net was broken and fixed by a Tamworth player who works as a supervisor at Zara. Kinsky was called into action early, stopping a shot from Beck-Ray Enoru in the first minute. Tamworth continued to create chances, and Spurs struggled to break them down.
The first half was difficult for Spurs, with their only notable opportunity coming when Maddison had a chance at goal, but his shot was straight at the keeper. The half ended with Spurs looking uninspiring.
In the second half, Spurs had more chances, including a cleared header from Werner and a near miss by Johnson at the back post. Tamworth also had opportunities but failed to convert.
With time running out, Spurs seemed to struggle, and in stoppage time, Tamworth came close from a set piece, but Bissouma blocked one effort, and the second was a mishit. The first 90 minutes ended without a goal, marking Spurs’ first 90-minute draw since March 2023.
In extra time, Spurs brought on key players, including Son, Spence, and Kulusevski, and finally broke the deadlock after 100 minutes when a Tamworth player scored an own goal. A minute into the second half of extra time, Kulusevski sealed the win with a low strike into the corner. Johnson added a third with three minutes remaining.
While Spurs secured the win, the performance left much to be desired. With a crucial North London derby just days away, the additional minutes played by players like Kulusevski and Son were far from ideal. Despite this, Spurs moved on in the FA Cup, with hopes of improving for their upcoming matches.
