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Harry Kane bails Tottenham out with late equalizer at Newport

By Gary Pearson

NEWPORT, WALES - JANUARY 27: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores his sides first goal during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Newport County and Tottenham Hotspur at Rodney Parade on January 27, 2018 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
NEWPORT, WALES - JANUARY 27: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur scores his sides first goal during The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Newport County and Tottenham Hotspur at Rodney Parade on January 27, 2018 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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Harry Kane scored his 30th goal in as many appearances to save Tottenham’s blushes in a scrappy, dogged FA Cup affair, the late goal securing a Wembley replay. 

Heung-Min Son intelligently and deftly flicked on to Kane from a corner, with the Tottenham marksman poaching on his lonesome at the back post to score the late equalizer. The 1-1 was anything but a vintage Tottenham performance, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be satisfied with pulling off the Houdini-like escape.

Second half

While Spurs dominated the ball in the second stanza, they did little to trouble Joe Day’s goal, mustering only three shots all match. Son found a rare inch of space in the 67th minute, his fizzed shot saved well by Day.

Dele Alli and Son changed the complexion for Spurs, with Pochettino’s insurance policy managing to bail out the Premier League side.

First half

Newport caused Tottenham fits in the first half, playing to their strengths on a blustery evening at Rodney Parade. The Exiles play a brand of smash mouth football you’d expect to see from a League 2 side. They consistently launch it to the corners, pressuring Tottenham’s rear guard while facing their own goal.

Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama were both inexcusably caught in possession in the early goings, leading to Frank Nouble and Joss Labadie chances. The ball was swung across for Nouble, who skied a close-range effort into another hemisphere. It was a let off for Spurs, but also a sign of things to come in a shabby first half for the away side.

Newport made the most of each throw in by launching the ball into Spurs’ area, causing frantic scenes for the Lilywhites. After a few troubling signs, Newport capitalized with yet another long throw in, when Robbie Willmott found Padraig Amond at the back post for the opener. Jan Vertonghen’s attempted headed clearance fell to Willmott, whose cross skimmed over Kieran Trippier, falling favourable for the Irishman.

It was Amond’s 10th goal of the season for the Exiles.

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Kane’s first effort on goal came in the 32nd minute, when his first-time effort was deflected onto the outside of the post by Joe Day.

Newport manager Michael Flynn’s game plan was followed, and executed, to perfection while the exact opposite can be said of Mauricio Pochettino’s.

Back to Wembley for a replay

Overall, Newport deserved the draw in a masterful show of self-awareness, hard graft, resilience and unerring determination.

Pochettino, who opted for a strong starting 11, will wonder what went wrong in the first 45 minutes. While his lineup was chockfull of Premier League quality, Pochettino maybe erred by starting too many like-minded, physical players.

A replay, considering Tottenham’s compact forthcoming schedule, is exactly the kind of scenario Pochettino wanted to avoid.

Then again, a Wembley replay is better than the alternative, which would have led to pervasive criticism from all corners of the footballing world.