Spurs hit lucky

Sunday, 29/01/2012

by James Willis, Shoot's Tottenham blogger

A rather limp performance from Tottenham on Friday evening left them only stumbling past a struggling Watford team in the FA Cup fourth round.

For a team that sits third in the Premier League, having had a fantastic season so far, it was a performance that surprised many. Watford, having only avoided defeat once in 2012 against Bradford, understandably looked to be the huge underdogs.

Although the game took a while to get going, Tottenham largely looked safe and secure in their passing, with the difference in ability from Watford evident. That was for a period of the first half at least.

Soon, Watford stepped up their game. They looked like they knew they could cause an upset and were going to do everything in their power to do so.

After hammering on the door repeatedly, Watford's stats started surpassing those of Spurs. In fact, by the end of the match Watford had earned 25 shots to Tottenham's six, and four corners to Spurs' one.

It was only Rafael van der Vaart's strike from just outside the 18-yard box that separated the two sides by the final whistle.

It was a shot that could well have, and probably should have, been saved by Watford's Scott Loach. Although, the work from Watford's two centre backs, in giving van der Vaart the space to make the shot, was less than stellar.

Tottenham's only other joy in the game came when van er Vaart managed to hit the crossbar with a floating shot from inside a crowded 18-yard box. Otherwise it was largely all Watford.

Hitting the woodwork twice, having last ditch tackles made to block their shots or perhaps it sometimes being a case of taking one touch too many, Watford's onslaught just couldn't provide a goal.

It was a performance that defied Watford's status as a struggling Championship team. Harry Redknapp was only full of praise for his opponents afterwards, admitting Spurs were lucky to win the tie.

For all the moaning that Spurs fans might be able to do about the performance, the result still came and they still remain in the FA Cup.

Harry Redknapp's side will have now to make sure that they don't become the next "big scalp" to be taken in what are now being labelled "cupsets" when they face Stevenage away.

With the two Manchester clubs both knocked out of the tournament already, Spurs face a strong chance of winning their first FA Cup since 1991, which will undoubtedly be something Harry Redknapp already has in the back of his mind.

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