FA Cup Tottenham 3 Cheltenham Town 0

Spurs progressed to the FA Cup 4th Round with a comfortable win over League 2 side, Cheltenham Town.  Two ahead at the interval through Defoe and Pavlyuchenko, Spurs added a late third from Giovani Dos Santos.  Cheltenham battled throughout, especially in the second half.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Cheltenham Town 0

Scorers: Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, Giovani

Team: Cudicini; Livermore, Dawson (Carroll), Bassong, Rose; Lennon (Bostock), Kranjcar, Pienaar, Giovani; Pavlyichenko, Defoe (Falque)  Subs (unused): Gomes, Kaboul, Van der Vaart, Parrett

Tottenham eased through the 3rd Round tie with a team showing ten changes from the one which started against West Bromwich Albion last Tuesday evening.  Only Jermain Defoe remained from that team but Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon had recovered from injury to bring further first team experience to a team containing eight internationals.  Only Carlo Cudicini, Jake Livermore and Danny Rose are not full internationals in a team which had too much experience for their League 2 opponents.

Cheltenham started at a pace with Kaid Mohamed taking Livermore by surprise with his pace in the opening seconds.  They worked hard and were quicker to the ball but without ever threatening the Tottenham goal.  Roman Pavlyuchenko worked himself a good chance after fourteen minutes when he curled a shot over from 16 yards.  The opening goal came after 23 minutes when Niko Kranjcar played Giovani through and he lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and looked to have scored until Defoe poked the ball home from virtually on the goal-line, much to the Mexican's annoyance.  Defoe had scored Tottenham's 750th FA Cup goal, only the second club to reach that landmark.

Rose put in a dangerous cross on thirty two minutes which caused the goalkeeper problems but he did well to get back and keep it out.  Just as it looked as if Cheltenham were going to get to half-time without any more difficulty, Spurs struck suddenly with a good team passing movement which resulted in Giovani putting in a clever through ball to Defoe who squared for Pavlyuchenko to score from six yards.  It was Pavlyuchenko's eighth goal from eleven FA Cup appearances.

Cheltenham had a chance in added time when Mohamed intercepted Kranjcar's pass and ran at Dawson.  He shot early but Cudicini dealt with it.

After half-time Cheltenham increased their enderavour and worked hard to restrict Spurs although any chances fell to the home side with Scott Brown making a number of good saves for Cheltenham.  Defoe was put through but his shot was saved from a narrow angle with Pavlyuchenko unmarked.  The Russian had a chip go over and Giovani had a shot over after good work by Defoe and Kranjcar.  On the hour Brown made a good save from Defoe having been put through by Pavlyuchenko.  Then Livermore shot over from 25 yards.  

Kranjcar had a shot saved and Giovani's follow up was blocked.  Then Russell Penn shot over for Cheltenham after Brian Smikle beat Rose on the right.  Defoe was replaced by Yago Falque after 75 minutes and Brown saved from Sebastien Bassong.  Cheltenham won their first corner after eighty minutes.

As Town tired and with four minutes remaining, Rose intercepted a pass and played in Giovani to complete the scoring with a shot which deflected off a defender and looped over the goalkeeper.  It was hard on Cheltenham to concede another goal after all their hard work in the second half.  Marlon Pack had a late opportunity to score a consolation goal but shot over.

The attendance was 35, 672 - the biggest crowd ever to watch a Cheltenham Town game.

Cheltenham Town's manager, Mark Yates summed up the match perfectly, "Tottenham are quality but we have done ourselves so proud today.  It was a learning curve and we've given them a game."

Before the game, knowing that Harry Redknapp was going to rest players, Yates said, "I went to Ireland to watch them and saw a similar team beat Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League and we know the quality they have beneath the first XI.  Whatever team they put out it will be a massive step up from what we've been playing."  And so it proved.

I 'watched' the game on Twitter with a BBC Radio Gloucester commentary.  Thanks for all the tweets to keep us informed.

For Spurs it's Everton on Wednesday evening while Cheltenham play Aldershot next weekend.  They deserve a warm welcome home from their supporters next Saturday.

FA Cup 4th Round Draw: Tomorrow evening - 5.30pm ITV - Tottenham Hotspur No. 8

7th January - Spurs Have Never Lost at Home

7th January - What a Day!

Spurs have an amazing home record for this day - 7th January.

They have NEVER lost at home on this particular date while the away record is nearly as good, showing just one defeat.

Home Record: P 15 Won 14 Draw 1 Lost 0 For 51 Ag 15
Away Record: P 6 Won 3 Draw 2 Lost 1 For 5 Ag 1

Amazingly, many of the matches are memorable in their own right. The completed home record is:

1888 v St Brides (Fr) Won 3-2

1899 v Royal Artillery (SL) Won 1-0

1905 v Watford (SL) Won 2-0
1911 v Bristol City (Div 1) Won 3-2
(Billy Minter scored a hat-trick)

1928 v Newcastle United (Div 1) Won 5-2(George Osborne scored 4 goals but Spurs were relegated that season – they lost the final four games of the season to unexpectedly drop into a relegation place, having been 8th in mid-March.  Spurs were on a end of season tour in Holland when their fate was sealed)

1933 v Stoke City (Div 2) Won 3-2
(Spurs won promotion at the end of the season)

1939 v Watford (FAC) Won 7-1
(Spurs’ players wore numbered shirts for the first time – another 1st for Spurs)
1956 v Boston United (FAC) Won 4-0
(Spurs overcame non-League opposition and reached the semi-final of the Cup)

1961 v Charlton Athletic (FAC) Won 3-2
(The start of the second stage of the push for the ‘Double’)

1970 v Bradford City (FA Cup Rep) Won 5-0
(Jimmy Greaves’ last FA Cup goals for Spurs)
1978 v Bolton Wanderers (FAC) Draw 2-2(The only blot on a perfect record-the 2nd Division rivals were competing for promotion)

1981 v QPR (FAC Rep) Won 3-1
(Spurs were ‘On Their Way to Wembley')

1995 v Altrincham (FAC) Won 3-0(Spurs overcame non-League opposition and reached the semi-final of the Cup)

2004 v Birmingham City (Prem) Won 4-1
(Dalmat’s two goals and performance were the highlight of his time at Tottenham)

The highlight of the away record for this day is a 2-0 victory at Highbury in 1967 with goals from Jimmy Robertson and Alan Gilzean.

The last time Spurs played on 7th January was in 2007 when they travelled to Cardiff to play City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.  The result was a scoreless draw.

The one disappointment and black spot is a Cup defeat against Bradford City in 1989.  The FA Cup 3rd Round visit to the 2nd Division side ended with a 0-1 defeat.

7th January, 2012 Spurs have maintained this amazing record with a 3 - 0 success over Cheltenham Town at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup 3rd Round. Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko gave them the advantage at the interval and a late goal from Giovani Dos Santos completed the scoring against the League 2 side who battled determinedly throughout.

FA Cup Tottenham v Cheltenham Town

Cheltenham Town from League 2 visit White Hart Lane in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup for the first ever match between the two clubs.  This is Spurs' fifth successive home draw on 3rd Round day and their seventh in the past nine seasons.  Cheltenham's best performance in the FA Cup was reaching the 5th Round ten years ago.  This is their fifth appearance in the 3rd Round and last season they were knocked out in the 2nd Round at Southampton.  

Cheltenham Town, known as 'The Robins', was founded in 1887 and played its football in the Southern League until joining the Football Conference in 1997.  In their two seasons there they finished as runners-up and then Champions so gaining promotion to the Football League at the end of season 1998 - 99 under manager, Steve Cotterill. 

Cheltenham have maintained their League status since then and finished eighth in their first season in the Football League.  After three seasons they won promotion but Cotterill left to become manager of Stoke City.  They were immediately relegated after just one season in Division 1 and their pattern of League promotions/relegations has taken on a three year pattern - winning promotion after three years followed by relegation to Division 2 three years later.  Currently, after another three years, they are second in League 2 and in perfect position for another promotion.

Cheltenham are managed by Mark Yates who replaced Martin Allen three years ago.  Their season didn't start in the best way with a defeat at Gillingham.  They then lost to MK Dons in the Carling Cup but had their first win of the season at home to local rivals, Swindon Town.  They lost their next home match to Morecambe before winning at Northampton Town and inflicting the first League defeat of newly promoted and current League Two leaders, Crawley Town at their Abbey Business Stadium, Whaddon Road ground.

They are now a point behind Crawley at the top of League 2 having won 11 of their last 15 games with nine wins in their last 10 away matches and a 2 - 1 win at Port Vale last Monday when Alan Bennett and Brian Smikle scored in the second half.  With such a record Cheltenham will come to White Hart Lane with a confidence in their play.  On their last visit to North London in mid-December, they drew 2 - 2 with Barnet.  A Kaid Mohamed goal and a Duffy penalty gave them a goal advantage at the interval but Barnet drew level with a second half penalty.

"A Mix of experience and youth"

As Mark Yates admits himself, his team has "one or two experienced campaigners who will enjoy the game and a couple of younger players who will have the chance to show what they're about.' 

Scott Brown joined Cheltenham in 2005 and has over 140 League appearances for them. He started at the Wolves Academy but failed to make the breakthrough and moved to non-League football and arrived at Cheltenham as understudy but has now made the position his own.

They are captained by defender Alan Bennett who has two caps for the Republic of Ireland.  He made over 160 appearances for Cork City in the League of Ireland before moving into football in England.  He joined Reading in 2007 but didn't play for them and played last season with Wycombe Wanderers and joined Cheltenham in 2011.

Steve Elliott is another experienced defender who had six seasons with Bristol Rovers and over 200 appearances.  He signed for "the Robins' in 2010.

Cheltenham's leading goalscorer is Darryl Duffy.  He is a Scotland 'B' international and started his career with Glasgow Rangers, playing once.  He moved to Falkirk and into England with Hull, Swansea and Bristol Rovers, before joining Cheltenham in 2011.  He has scored 11 goals this season - 7 in the League, 2 FA Cup goals and 2 others.  

James Spencer has 7 goals with 6 in the Leagie and 1 other.  He is on loan from Huddersfield Town for the season.

Kaid Mohamed has scored 6 league goals and plays on the wing or as a striker.  He started in Welsh football before joining Swindon Town.  Last season he helped AFC Wimbledon win promotion to the Football League and joined Cheltenham in the summer.

Jeff Gouding has five goals with 4 in the league and one other.  He had considerable non-League experience before spending two seasons with Bournemouth and joined Cheltenham in June, 2010.

Luke Garbutt is a young defender who has been on loan from Everton and has represented England at age groups up to Under-19 level.

FA Cup Road to White Hart Lane
Cheltenham's visit to London is their third away tie in this season's FA Cup.  

They started off by defeating Tranmere Rovers 1 - 0  in the 1st Round with a first half penalty scored by Duffy.  

They then overcame non-League Luton Town by 4 - 2  in the next round.  Duffy gave Cheltenham the perfect start with a goal after two minutes.  Luton equalised five minutes before the interval but Cheltenham snatched the lead on the half-time whistle through Marlon Pack.  Luton drew level again early in the second half but two further goals from Luke Summerfield after 64 minutes and one in added time from Russell Penn ensured their progress to the FA Cup 3rd Round draw.

Former Spurs players and Cheltenham
David Hutton joined the Tottenham Academy in 2006–07 and in March 2009, he went on loan to Cheltenham Town and made his league debut against Leyton Orient.  Hutton's first league and Cheltenham goal came on 10 April 2009 in a 1–1 draw at Peterborough United.

He signed for Cheltenham that summer on a one-year deal but was released by the club the following year.  After a brief spell with St. Albams City he signed with Glenn Hoddle's team in Spain, Jerez Industrial.  He is currently playing for Borehamwood.

Sam Cox had a month with Cheltenham on loan from Spurs in 2009.  He came through the Spurs Academy, playing in midfield or defence, but after further periods out on loan he was released in June, 2010 and joined Barnet.  He is currently on loan with Borehamwood.

Harry Redknapp has shown little appetite for Cup football since his arrival at White Hart Lane and once again has the League and Champions League qualification as his first ambition.  He will be looking to rest many of his experienced players who have had a busy fortnight with the holiday matches and he will be wanting all of them available for next Wednesday's game with Everton and the crucial matches through January.  With injuries taking their toll to squad players, Vedran Corluka and Sandro, it could be quite an inexperienced side which plays against Cheltenham.  Some of the younger players who played in the Europa League have gone out on loan already, Andros Townsend and Harry Kane, so they are not available either.  Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon may return after injury which would bring much needed experience and whatever team plays, they should have enough experience to overcome the threat presented by Cheltenham.

7th January - What a Day!

7th January - What a Day!

Spurs have an amazing home record for this day - 7th January.

They have NEVER lost at home on this particular date while the away record is nearly as good, showing just one defeat.

Home Record: P 14 Won 13 Draw 1 Lost 0 For 48 Ag 15
Away Record: P 6 Won 3 Draw 2 Lost 1 For 5 Ag 1

Amazingly, many of the matches are memorable in their own right. The completed home record is:

1888 v St Brides (Fr) Won 3-2

1899 v Royal Artillery (SL) Won 1-0

1905 v Watford (SL) Won 2-0

1911 v Bristol City (Div 1) Won 3-2
(Billy Minter scored a hat-trick)

1928 v Newcastle United (Div 1) Won 5-2(George Osborne scored 4 goals but Spurs were relegated that season – they lost the final four games of the season to unexpectedly drop into a relegation place, having been 8th in mid-March.  Spurs were on a end of season tour in Holland when their fate was sealed)

1933 v Stoke City (Div 2) Won 3-2
(Spurs won promotion at the end of the season)

1939 v Watford (FAC) Won 7-1
(Spurs’ players wore numbered shirts for the first time – another 1st for Spurs)

1956 v Boston United (FAC) Won 4-0
(Spurs overcame non-League opposition and reached the semi-final of the Cup)

1961 v Charlton Athletic (FAC) Won 3-2
(The start of the second stage of the push for the ‘Double’)

1970 v Bradford City (FA Cup Rep) Won 5-0
(Jimmy Greaves’ last FA Cup goals for Spurs)

1978 v Bolton Wanderers (FAC) Draw 2-2(The only blot on a perfect record-the 2nd Division rivals were competing for promotion)

1981 v QPR (FAC Rep) Won 3-1
(Spurs were ‘On Their Way to Wembley')

1995 v Altrincham (FAC) Won 3-0(Spurs overcame non-League opposition and reached the semi-final of the Cup)

2004 v Birmingham City (Prem) Won 4-1
(Dalmat’s two goals and performance were the highlight of his time at Tottenham)

The highlight of the away record for this day is a 2-0 victory at Highbury in 1967 with goals from Jimmy Robertson and Alan Gilzean.

The last time Spurs played on 7th January was in 2007 when they travelled to Cardiff to play City in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.  The result was a scoreless draw.

The one disappointment and black spot is a Cup defeat against Bradford City in 1989.  The FA Cup 3rd Round visit to the 2nd Division side ended with a 0-1 defeat.

May this be a note of caution to the Spurs team playing against Cheltenham Town at White hart Lane this afternoon.  I trust that at the end of the game Spurs' record will still be in tact.