Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur: FA Cup match preview

Tottenham Hotspur take on Tamworth FC away in the 3rd round of the FA Cup and will look to continue their cup success under Ange Postecoglou this season.

Tottenham Hotspur face a trip to non-league Tamworth FC

So, where do I start? None of us were expecting a victory against that Liverpool side, but here we are. Favourites to make it to the Carabao Cup final and Spurs will remain so until 6th February—when they’ll eventually have to face Liverpool again in the second leg. Whether we’ll see Wembley remains to be seen, but that’s a conversation for another day.

Now, Spurs turn their attention to the FA Cup and will aim to keep their cup dreams alive. Drawn against Tamworth FC, it will be a massive occasion for the non-league side, hosting a Premier League giant at their home ground.

What time does Tamworth vs Tottenham kick-off?

• Location: Staffordshire, England
• Stadium: The Lamb Ground, Tamworth
• Date: Sunday, 12th January
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 pm BST
• Referee: Peter Bankes
• VAR: Not in use until the 5th round

How both teams go into Tamworth vs Tottenham

Since Andy Peaks took charge of Tamworth in February 2022, their journey has been nothing short of inspirational. They’ve climbed from the seventh tier to the National League (5th tier), currently sitting 16th with a fair record for a newly promoted side: 8 wins, 6 draws, and 10 losses.

Spurs, on the other hand, mirror that mid-table mediocrity but in a much tougher Premier League setting. With 7 wins, 3 draws, and 10 defeats, they’ve struggled for consistency, although a recent 1-0 win against Liverpool offers hope. And their form before the game against Liverpool? Well, let’s not talk about it, it’s a dull picture.

Meanwhile, Tamworth have suffered back-to-back league defeats but have been sensational in the FA Cup. Their last-minute equaliser and penalty shootout win over a league-one Burton Albion side should be something they’ll look to build on.

Tottenham team news

Given Spurs’ current injury crisis, expect significant rotation. Regardless, That still won’t stop me from naming everyone who will be missing. Out of action are Vicario, Odobert, Richarlison, Davies, Romero, Van de Ven, and Udogie. Forster and Bentancur remain doubtful, while the likes of Solanke, Kulusevski, and Son will mostly be rested.

Mikey Moore has recovered from illness and should feature. On a personal note, I’ve been really looking forward to seeing him play. His 15-minute “Neymar-like” cameo on the left against AZ Alkmaar still gives me chills, and he’s never really featured much after that so this could be his moment to shine again. Expect Austin to start in goal, keeping Kinsky fresh for the upcoming North London derby.

Tamworth team news

Tamworth’s squad is less familiar. Ben Acquaye is expected to miss out due to injury. However, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, Nathan Tshikuna, and Kyle Finn could return to the lineup after recent spells on the sidelines.

Some of Tamworth’s players have been really looking forward to this fixture for a while which means they will be coming with a plan, so Spurs cannot afford to underestimate them.

Predicted Tottenham lineup

Austin, Spence, Dorrington, Gray, Reguilon, Min-Hyeok, Bergvall, Maddison, Moore, Lankshear, Werner.

This could well be the perfect opportunity for Yang Min-Hyeok’s debut. Ange hasn’t given a timeline, but this match seems perfect for the young talent. Expect a few big names on the bench just in case—it’s Spurs, after all.

Our prediction

Tamworth are undoubtedly the underdogs so far in this tournament and the only team from the National League still active. Their FA Cup journey has been magical, but Spurs haven’t lost to a non-league side in this competition since 1914-15, and if they somehow break that record here, I don’t know what to say.

Tamworth’s defence has been shaky, conceding an average of 1.9 goals per match, the worst in their league. Their top scorer, 30-year-old Dan Creaney, has 12 goal involvements in 29 matches. A decent record, but not exactly a name that would be a threat.

Spurs will likely field a youthful team, which might disappoint fans given Tamworth’s steep ticket prices. With only around 4,000 seats in their stadium, they’ve set prices as high as £42: a move that’s difficult to justify, especially for this level of football. Still, it’s understandable that a small club would make the most of their chance to cash in on a big occasion.

This game definitely won’t involve a lot of tactics. Expect a game of simple football but Spurs should dominate proceedings. We should see a couple of good goals and an easy progression to the next round.

Predicted score: Tottenham Hotspur 6-1 Tamworth. (Yes, they’ll sneak one—it’s written in the script.)

The post Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur: FA Cup match preview appeared first on Spurs Web.