Spurs 2-0 Newport - report from Wembley

A comfortable victory against League Two Newport County at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday evening saw us safely through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Having endured a real tussle in the first drawn game at Rodney Parade 10 days ago, this replay was a much more straight-forward affair as we dominated throughout, the gulf in league positions showing on this occasion – Mauricio Pochettino’s 200th game as our manager.

The opening goal came on 26 minutes when Moussa Sissoko’s driven cross was diverted into his own net by Dan Butler and 12 minutes later we doubled our lead, Victor Wanyama and Heung-Min Son setting up Erik Lamela who neatly slotted past Newport goalkeeper Joe Day. That was the midfielder’s first goal since scoring in the EFL Cup against Gillingham in September, 2016.

In between times, Day had saved well from both Lamela and Son and did so again from the former midway through the second half, in which we carved out numerous chances.

Fernando Llorente twice went close, substitute Dele Alli hit the crossbar when clean through and another sub, Kyle Walker-Peters fired just wide late on.

The visitors had their only shot on target deep into stoppage time, but Michel Vorm showed great agility to keep out Padraig Amond’s angled drive, pretty much the only thing Vorm had to do all evening.

We now travel to Rochdale in the fifth round of the competition, the game taking place on Sunday 18 February, kick-off 4pm.

TEAM NEWS

Only Son kept his place from Sunday's draw at Liverpool as Mauricio Pochettino made 10 changes. Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose and Harry Winks all returned from injury, with centre-back Alderweireld playing his first game since November 1.

KEY ACTION

GOAL: SPURS 1-0 NEWPORT COUNTY – DAN BUTLER (OWN GOAL) – 26mins
It was a relatively uneventful opening to the contest with Newport, roared on by an impressive away following, having a couple of moments of goalmouth action in front of Vorm but nothing to trouble our goalkeeper. At the other end, Rose hit the side netting from Sissoko’s deflected cross before we took the lead on 26 minutes, Son playing in Sissoko down the right and his low cross flicked off the heel of Butler and flew past Day in the Newport goal.

GOAL: SPURS 2-0 NEWPORT COUNTY – ERIK LAMELA – 34mins
The goal settled any nerves and we were starting to get into our stride, going close on 31 minutes when Day made a fine double save to keep out Lamela’s fierce drive and Son’s angled shot. Son then went close after good link-up play with Llorente, before the second goal arrived. Wanyama played the ball in to Son in the left channel, he found Lamela who controlled and slotted past Day to put us firmly on control.

Above: Erik Lamela scores our second goal.

SAVE: DAY DENIES LAMELA – 65mins
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first as we enjoyed the majority of possession and created a number of chances in the opening 20 minutes, without managing to convert any. Wanyama headed straight at Day, Serge Aurier’s dangerous low cross was cut out at the near post before Day made a fine save to deny Lamela a second goal, the Argentine midfielder receiving Llorente’s clipped pass but unable to beat the County keeper from 10 yards. Christian Eriksen – on as a substitute for Son – then fired wide from Rose’s cut-back as we cranked up the pressure.

WOODWORK: DELE STRIKES THE CROSSBAR – 83mins
It was very much one-way traffic but we just couldn’t add to our tally. Llorente twice went close, planting a header wide of the far upright from Lamela’s lovely cross before connecting sweetly with a volley from an Eriksen centre that whistled just past the post. Then came a great chance as Eriksen played in fellow substitute Dele who took a touch as he raced through on goal, clipped the ball over Day but went too high and it smacked against the crossbar to safety.

SAVE: VORM ALERT TO KEEP OUT AMOND – 93mins
We continued to launch wave after wave of attack and Walker-Peters, on as a substitute for Rose, was next to try his luck, firing just wide from 20 yards. The visitors, who had huffed and puffed all night and manfully kept to their task, almost gave their supporters the perfect end to the game when Amond found himself with just Vorm to beat in the 93rd minute, only for the goalkeeper to make a fine save to deny him his big moment and ensure a clean sheet as we progressed.

MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

"It was a professional performance, the job is done and we're happy to be in the next round. that was our objective. That was what we needed to do. Now we're thinking about the next game and that's the derby on Saturday."

HARRY WINKS SAID

"Credit to Newport, they gave us a game, especially in the first half. I think our quality came out especially towards the end of the first half and for the majority of the second half so overall it was a good performance, a good result and we’re happy to go through to the next round."

MATCH DATA

Spurs (4-2-3-1): Vorm (c), Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Rose (Walker-Peters 86), Wanyama (Dele 78), Winks, Sissoko, Lamela, Son (Eriksen 61), Llorente. Substitutes (not used): Gazzaniga, Trippier, Sanchez, Kane.

Newport (4-4-1-1): Day, Pipe (McCoulsky 68), White (O’Brien 77), Demetriou, Butler, Tozer (Dolan 59), Bennett, Labadie (c), Willmott, Nouble, Amond. Substitutes (not used): Bittner, Reid, Sheehan, Hayes.

Goals: Spurs – Butler (OG) 26, Lamela 34.

Yellow card: Spurs - Wanyama.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.

Attendance: 38,947.

UP NEXT

It’s the north London derby on Saturday as we welcome Arsenal to Wembley Stadium in the Premier League. We go into the game one place and four points ahead of the sixth-placed Gunners, who have lost seven times in the division this season, six away from home. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.