Spurs secure place in FA Cup Fourth Round

Match Review – Saturday 7th January 2023

A great goal from Harry Kane meant that Tottenham secured their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 1-0 win against League One side Portsmouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Kane is now only one goal behind Jimmy Greaves’ all time Spurs goalscoring record of 266 goals.

It was the lower league side who had the first opportunity of the afternoon through Reeco Hackett-Fairchild who forced a great save from Fraser Forster following a pass into his feet from Colby Bishop (12’).

Harry Kane then had an effort blocked moments later (14’), before having a second opportunity near the end of the first half, but this shot was well blocked once again by the Pompey defence, who were putting in a resilient performance (40’).

Spurs then had a flurry of further chances to score before the break. Davinson Sanchez’s header went close (40’), before Emerson Royal had an effort well blocked (42’).

Pape Matar Sarr and Son Heung-Min both thought they had given the Premier League side the lead, only for both of their efforts to fly narrowly wide of the goal (45’). Spurs were looking the more likely to score the first goal of the contest.

Kane got his goal very early on in the second half. Ryan Sessegnon found the forward with a great pass before the England international found the net with a spectacular close range finish to put Antonio Conte’s team in the lead (50’).

It was almost 2-0 a few moments later through Son, but his effort unfortunately went wide after a pass from Emerson Royal (53’). Son had a further effort blocked with half an hour of the match remaining (60’).

Spurs were piling on the pressure, with Ryan Sessegnon and Oliver Skipp both coming close to doubling their team’s advantage, but both efforts failed to find the back of the net (68’).

Harry Kane then came agonisingly close to matching Jimmy Greaves’ record with just over ten minutes remaining when his shot went narrowly wide of the of the far post after Japhet Tanganga found him in the penalty area (78’).

The match ended with the Lilywhites thoroughly deserving their victory. Spurs dominated possession (72%) and with shots (18), but due to superb defending from Portsmouth meant that only one goal was scored.

Below is a summary of all of the weekend’s FA Cup Third Round ties.

Friday 6^th January

Manchester United beat Everton 3-1. United took the lead through Antony, before Conor Coady scored the equaliser. An own goal from Coady gave the Red Devils the lead again, before Marcus Rashford put the game beyond doubt.

Saturday 7^th January

Bambo Diaby and Alan Browne goals, alongside an own goal ensured a 3-1 win for Preston North End against fellow Championship side Huddersfield.

Reading secured their fourth round spot beating Watford 2-0 thanks to goals from Kelvin Abrefa and Shane Long.

Leicester City edged past Gillingham, beating them 1-0, courtesy of a goal from Kelechi Iheanacho. Southampton beat Crystal Palace through James Ward-Prowse and Adam Armstrong at Selhurst Park. Hull City were also defeated by Fulham 2-0.

Brighton demolished Championship side Middlesbrough 5-1. QPR were defeated 2-0 by Fleetwood Town.

Ipswich and Burnley both caused upsets. Ipswich beat Rotherham 4-1, with Burnley beating Premier League Bournemouth 4-2.

Two further shocks came when Blackpool beat Premier League Nottingham Forest 4-1, and Chesterfield drew 3-3 with Championship side West Brom.

Boreham Wood drew 1-1 with Accrington Stanley, and goals from Ross Stewart and Luke O’Nein sealed a 2-1 win for Sunderland against Shrewsbury. Sheffield United also sealed a comfortable 2-0 win against Millwall.

West Ham beat Brentford 1-0, whilst Wrexham beat Coventry City 4-3 in yet another shock result.

Luton Town drew 1-1 with Wigan, whilst Grimsby Town were able to beat League One side Burton Albion.

Sheffield Wednesday stunned Newcastle, beating them 2-1 before Liverpool drew 2-2 with Wolves.

Sunday 8^th January

Antoine Semenyo and Joel Piroe scored in a 1-1 draw between Bristol City and Swansea, before Cardiff earned a replay against Leeds, drawing 2-2.

Walsall beat fellow League Two side Stockport 2-1, Stoke City were comfortable 3-0 winners against Hartlepool, and Blackburn Rovers defeated Norwich City 1-0 at Carrow Road.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the weekend came when League Two Stevenage came from a goal down to beat Premier League Aston Villa 2-1.

Manchester City were in ruthless form on Sunday, beating Graham Potter’s Chelsea 4-0, which included two goals from Riyad Mahrez.

Here is the FA Cup Fourth Round Draw in FULL:

Preston North End vs Tottenham Hotspur

Southampton v Blackpool

Wrexham v Sheffield United

Ipswich Town v Burnley

Manchester United v Reading

Luton Town/Wigan Athletic v Grimsby Town

Derby v West Ham

Stoke City v Stevenage

Blackburn Rovers v Forest Green Rovers/Birmingham City

Walsall v Leicester City

Sheffield Wednesday v Fleetwood Town

Manchester City v Oxford United/Arsenal

Bristol City/Swansea City v Chesterfield/West Bromwich Albion

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool/Wolverhampton Wanderers

Fulham v Sunderland

Boreham Wood/Accrington Stanley v Cardiff City/Leeds United

These ties are set to take place between Friday 27^th and Monday 30^th January 2023.

Sources: BBC Sport & The Mirror.

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