Harry Kane spares Tottenham’s blushes to force replay against lowly Newport
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/01/2018 at 20:20 GMT
FA Cup fourth round, Rodney Parade - Newport 1 (Amond 38’) Tottenham 1 (Kane 82’)
Spurs celebrate Harry Kane's goal
Image credit: Getty Images
Harry Kane salvaged a replay for Tottenham against League Two side Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round.
The prolific Englishman tapped home a scarcely-deserved equaliser with eight minutes remaining, cancelling out Padraig Amond’s first-half opener.
There are 72 places separating the sides but it was the League Two side who took a deserved lead on the 38th minute when Amond headed home from close range at the back post from Scott Bennett’s delightful cross.
Spurs struggled to get to grips with the pitch at Rodney Parade – which the hosts share with the local rugby club – and the Premier League high-flyers were fortunate only to be trailing by one goal at the interval as Frank Nouble spurned a glorious chance while Amond also struck the woodwork.
Mauricio Pochettino brought on Heung-Min Son at the break as he changed to a 4-4-2 and Spurs looked much more at home using the traditional formation.
But despite dominating possession, the visitors still struggled to test the Newport rearguard on a frequent basis and were fortunate to grab an equaliser in the 82nd minute when Son flicked on a corner delivery, finding Kane who was left with a simple tap-in from point-blank range.
While a draw was the least Newport deserved, the fourth-tier promotion hopefuls can look forward to a replay at Wembley Stadium.
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Newport celebrate Padraig Amond's goal
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Fortunate Spurs earn a replay. Pochettino experimented with a 3-5-2 formation, with Fernando Llorente and Kane leading the line, but it backfired on the Spurs boss and the visitors didn’t even manage to muster a shot on target in the first half.
The surface was a problem, but Newport deserve immense credit as they produced a battling performance, pressing their illustrious opponents all over the pitch. Spurred on by the raucous home supporters, Newport were fired up from the very beginning and Spurs didn’t show the same hunger. Now Pochettino’s side are facing a replay to add to an already hectic fixture schedule, with a two-legged Champions League tie with Juventus also on the horizon.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Joss Labadie (Newport County): The Exiles’ captain was all over the pitch, winning tackles, creating opportunities and generally showing Tottenham no respect. Led by example.
PLAYER RATINGS
Newport County: Day 8, Pipe 7, Demetriou 7, White 8, Bennett 8, Butler 7, Willmott 7, Tozer 7, Labadie 9, Nouble 6, Amond 8. Subs: Dolan 6, McCoulsky 6.
Tottenham: Vorm 6, Trippier 6, Foyth 6, Vertonghen 6, Walker-Peters 6, Dier 5, Wanyama 5, Sissoko 5, Dembele 5, Llorente 4, Kane 6. Subs: Son Heung-min 7, Alli 7, Davies 5.
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Harry Kane scores
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY MOMENTS
4’ - MISS! Oh my, what an opportunity for Newport! Dier is muscled off the ball by Labadie, he feeds Nouble who has time and space to shoot from 10 yards out, but he leans back and blazes over the bar.
38’ - GOAL! Newport 1-0 Tottenham (Amond): Incredible scenes at Rodney Parade as the League Two side take the lead! Spurs fail to clear from a set-piece, it comes back out to Bennett who delivers a beautiful cross to the back post, it's begging to be headed in and Amond obliges! You can't say they don't deserve it - they have been the better side in the first half.
41’ - POST! Dier slices his clearance at the near post and Amond nips in to steal the ball before striking a shot from an angle which smashes the outside of the post. Spurs are rocking.
57’ - KANE MISSES! Trippier's delightful cross picks out none-other-than Tottenham's talisman Kane at the back post but somehow he heads over from a few yards out with the goal gaping.
67’ - GREAT SAVE! With what must be his first touches, Alli releases Son who only has the goalkeeper to beat but Day rushes out, makes himself big and makes a crucial save.
82’ - GOAL! Newport 1-1 Tottenham (Kane): Spurs have the equaliser, and who else but Harry Kane who nets his 30th goal of the season. A corner delivery is swung in, Son flicks it on and the England international sneaks away to the back post and is left with a simple tap-in.
KEY STATS
- Harry Kane has scored in each of his last four games for Tottenham in all competitions, his best scoring streak since November 2016.
- Padraig Amond scored his first goal in the FA Cup since November 2015, when he netted twice against St Albans City for Grimsby.
- Newport faced Tottenham for the first time since consecutive FA Cup meetings in 1959 and 1960, with Spurs winning the two previous games.
- Newport County hosted a top-flight side at home for the first time since October 1986, when facing Everton in a League Cup second leg match at Rodney Parade, losing 5-1.
- The Exiles haven't won a FA Cup match against a top-flight opponent since January 1964, beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 in a third-round match at home.
- Tottenham have progressed in each of their last 15 FA Cup ties as a top-flight side against teams from the fourth tier or lower since being knocked out in January 1915 to non-league Norwich City.
- Spurs are currently unbeaten in all competitions since 23 December, a spell that spans eight games (W5 D3 L0).
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