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19 min: Kinsky does ever so well in claiming the catch from the throw. He looks the part: so far.
18 min: Oof, shot from McGlinchey, and the ball comes off Archie Gray and behind. A corner, rather than a throw.
16 min: Jeers as Maddison makes time and space to shoot and can only thwack it wide.
14 min: Ever-vigilant Liverpool fans would like me to point out that their team was beaten in the Carabao Cup and it was only the first leg. So there.
13 min: Well, that Tonks throw is some weapon. Kinsky is left exposed as it missiles into the box and the ball comes loose, and bounces off the post and out. To Tottenham relief.
11 min: Kieren gets in touch: “Today has a distinct “anything could happen” magic to it, and not just because Spurs won their last match. Nearly dropped my phone at the tip yesterday when Plymouth won. They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but after Tamworth went straight down and forced Kinsky to save, you never know...
“In other news, on Boxing Day I mentioned in the Newcastle v Ipswich ‘clocko’ a girl in my lectures I hoped to ask out. Well, from the looks of things she’s just broken up with her boyfriend. Like I said, anything can happen...”
10 min: Some high-grade booing from the Tamworth locals. Not had a “you what, you what, you what” yet.
Answer: “you heard, you heard you heard, you heard.”
See also the “woaaaaah” roar for Kinsky’s kicking.
8 min: Spurs dominating possession, going down the slope. Maddison gets turn to spin and shoot.
7 min: Maddison sends Sarr away. Werner and Moore find Brennan Johnson, and it’s a poor effort. A 3g bobble?
5 min: Spurs settle into possession, using the 3g, which looks a tad patchy. Isn’t that when your phone goes to “E” and you know you’re getting nowt.
3 min: Corner forced after Porro finds Reguillon. Maddison takes, and Jas Sing the goalie makes a fine save, and that’s followed by a quick break. The result is a throw and Tom Tonks will launch this one. It’s cleared.
Finally...we're away in Tamworth
1 min: And the first shot is from Tamworth, whose left winger bursts down the edge of the box and forces a save from Kinsky. The attacker’s name? Beck-Ray Besongbap Enoru, he’s from Cameroon.
Ange is giving it back to the hoons, and laughing away. In the goal net, the Tamworth goalie and their tallest defender are glueing back on the net. Oh, this is glorious stuff. All we need is Jimmy Hill to come on and run the line.
Delayed kick-off at Tamworth
The goal nets look to have been tampered with. Behind Ange, a load of bloody hoons, to quote Alf Stewart, are making a nuisance of themselves, giving it the big one.
The teams take to the field. It looks brass monkeys in Tamworth. James Maddison is carrying out the team talk in the Tottenham huddle.
It’s cramped in the tunnel, and Ange Postecoglou looks determined. The 3g pitch beckons.
Bob Andrews, the Tamworth chairman, has spoken to the BBC: “It is the biggest day in the club’s history. We thought Wembley was good in the FA Vase but this tops it. To have a Premier League club of this stature at Tamworth is fantastic. It is just nice to get all the crowd here. I wish we could get more in but we are full to capacity.
“The money from this game is going to help us develop the ground itself. We need better dressing rooms, we need a stand down the bottom end - we need various things. It’s tidy but it needs upgrading.”
So, how were the changing rooms? Timo Werner seems chipper enough as he states that in Germany, the smaller team always hosts the cup tie.
Tamworth team is here
Tamworth: Singh, Crompton, Cullinane-Liburd, Hollis, Cockerill-Mollett, Tonks, Milnes, McLinchey, Morrison, Enoru, Creaney. Subs: Phillips, Curley, Digie, Fletcher, Finn, Wreh, Williams, Tshikuna, Sundire.
Reguilon, Sarr, Maddison, Johnson, Werner, Moore in, Djed Spence, Son, Solanke, Kulusevski and Bergval out, with Bentancur on the sidelines, too. Kinsky continues in goal.
Tottenham team is here - six changes.
Tottenham: Kinsky, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Reguilon, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Johnson, Werner, Moore. Subs: Austin, Spence, Dorrington, Bergvall, Olusesi, Kulusevski, Son, Solanke, Lankshear.
Here’s Ben Fisher’s excellent story on Tamworth FC.
Nickname: The lambs.
To the slaughter? Let’s see.
Preamble
Tamworth, a busy, proud market town in the west Midlands, full of history, its best known son the arch-drude Julian Cope, hosts the mighty Tottenham. They’re 16th in the National League so play a decent standard of football, so can Ange’s boys have it all their own way. After that tough night in beating Liverpool in the FA Cup, a thin squad will be rotated. This is the tie of the round for those who like to see the minnows host the elite.
Kick-off is at 12.30pm UK time. Join me.
