Spurs face Newport this evening in an FA Cup fourth round replay clash that we’re sure Mauricio Pochettino would much rather avoid.
Especially with the big North London derby coming up at the weekend and their Champions League last-16 clash against Juventus next week.
Still, that’s the magic of the cup, eh?
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And Newport have more than deserved the rematch, after their heroic display at Rodney Parade.
The League Two minnows frustrated their Premier League opponents and near-dominated the first-half, taking the lead through Padraig Amond’s header before Harry Kane kept Spurs in the competition with an 82nd minute equaliser.
And a lot of credit for the result should go to the Exiles chief scout Paul Molesworth and his meticulously detailed report.
Molesworth’s key points included urging Newport’s players to target “one paced” Eric Dier and “niggly under pressure” Mousa Dembele, while Davinson Sanchez was highlighted as a weakness.
In fact, the report was so good that Spurs’ Champions League opponents Juventus have asked for a copy ahead of their upcoming match.
The Serie A giants reportedly sent their top scout Roberto Bosco to watch Pochettino’s side at Anfield at the weekend and he asked Molesworth for tips.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Molesworth said: “He could not believe we had drawn with Tottenham 1-1 but he saw the report and said: ‘this is fantastic.’
“He saw enough from the game and the report to make him believe that Juventus will beat them.”
Spurs first-leg clash is in Turin on Tuesday, with the return leg at Wembley taking place March 7.
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