Skip to main content

Football

Wycombe Wanderers 1-4 Tottenham: Bale, Winks and Ndombele see Mourinho's men through cup scare

gareth-bale_1w9ba9mq7euwe1fs3tdl8rxbhf.jpg

Tottenham were forced to come from behind before securing a 4-1 FA Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers.

The Championship's bottom club stunned their Premier League opponents when Fred Onyedinma capitalised on fine work by Uche Ikpeazu.

Advertisement

Gareth Bale went close either side of the opener and was on hand to level in first-half stoppage time.

Spurs dominated after the break, although Jose Mourinho felt the need to introduce Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Tanguy Ndombele - the latter sealing a place in round five with a late brace after Harry Winks' classy 20-yard chip gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the 86th-minute.

Bale botched a glorious fourth-minute chance, heading wide unchallenged at the back post from Lucas Moura's corner.

The Real Madrid loanee then whipped a left-footed shot just wide from the edge of the box but Tottenham were behind in the 25th minute.

Ikpeazu spun Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez could only take the pace off a low cross, leaving Onyedinma to slam home.

Bale led the response, skipping past Joe Jacobson to shoot into the side netting before teeing up Moussa Sissoko for a speculative shot that looped off Darius Charles - on for the injured Jacobson - and against the post.

The equaliser was coming and it was no surprise to see the Wales star get it, hooking Lucas' teasing delivery over Wanderers goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Lucas and Bale each drove at the Wycombe defence and shot wide early in the second period, although their dominance did not translate into a lead and Mourinho called for Kane.

The England captain beautifully brought down Ben Davies' 70th-minute chip over the Wycombe defence but Allsop got enough on the shot for Jack Grimmer to hack out of the goal mouth.

Kane was thwarted by Allsop once more but, when the ball was scrambled clear, Winks stylishly capitalised.

Instantly the game was stretched and Son thrived in the resulting space to lay on Ndombele's fifth goal of the season.

That personal tally became six in injury time, with delicate footwork and a blistering finish a combination too strong for Wycombe's gallant and shattered backline.

 

What does it mean? People might soon start talking about the year ending in 1

Spurs won the FA Cup as part of a double in 1961, then lifted the famous old trophy in 1981 and 1991, having also won it in 1901 and 1921. The 21st century hasn't been kind enough to extend the quirk just yet, but Mourinho's EFL Cup finalists will travel to Everton in the last-16 with an eye on potential silverware.

Bale makes his case

Notwithstanding some erratic finishing, there were flashes of Bale's best here, as he hauled Spurs back into the match - alongside the similarly impressive Moura - when events briefly threatened to get away from them. Eight shots were double the next best from a Tottenham player and he completed all three of his attempted dribbles.

Ikpeazu makes life tough for Alderweireld

Spurs' Belgian defender will look back with no fondness on his role in Wycombe's goal and the imposing Ikpeazu gave him a thorough working over. Alderweireld won four out of seven duels and only two from five aerial duels.

What's next?

Tottenham entertain champions Liverpool in the Premier League on Thursday, while Wycombe have a tough trip to promotion-chasing Brentford at the weekend.

Upcoming Matches

competition-logo
English FA Cup
Saturday, 10 Jan
Round 3
03:30 AM
Wrexham-team-logo Wrexham
Nottingham Forest-team-logo Nottingham Forest
08:15 PM
Macclesfield Town-team-logo Macclesfield Town
Crystal Palace-team-logo Crystal Palace
11:00 PM
Wolverhampton Wanderers-team-logo Wolverhampton Wanderers
Shrewsbury Town-team-logo Shrewsbury Town
11:00 PM
Burnley-team-logo Burnley
Millwall-team-logo Millwall
11:00 PM
Bristol City-team-logo Bristol City
Watford-team-logo Watford
11:00 PM
Milton Keynes Dons-team-logo Milton Keynes Dons
Oxford United-team-logo Oxford United
11:00 PM
Ipswich Town-team-logo Ipswich Town
Blackpool-team-logo Blackpool
11:00 PM
Hull City-team-logo Hull City
Blackburn Rovers-team-logo Blackburn Rovers
11:00 PM
Cambridge United-team-logo Cambridge United
Birmingham City-team-logo Birmingham City
11:00 PM
Sheffield United-team-logo Sheffield United
Mansfield Town-team-logo Mansfield Town
11:00 PM
Doncaster Rovers-team-logo Doncaster Rovers
Southampton-team-logo Southampton
11:00 PM
Cheltenham Town-team-logo Cheltenham Town
Leicester City-team-logo Leicester City
11:00 PM
Boreham Wood-team-logo Boreham Wood
Burton-team-logo Burton
11:00 PM
Norwich City-team-logo Norwich City
Walsall-team-logo Walsall
11:00 PM
Port Vale-team-logo Port Vale
Fleetwood Town-team-logo Fleetwood Town
11:00 PM
Stoke City-team-logo Stoke City
Coventry City-team-logo Coventry City
11:00 PM
Preston North End-team-logo Preston North End
Wigan Athletic-team-logo Wigan Athletic
11:00 PM
West Ham United-team-logo West Ham United
Queens Park Rangers-team-logo Queens Park Rangers
11:00 PM
Grimsby Town-team-logo Grimsby Town
Weston Super Mare-team-logo Weston Super Mare
11:00 PM
Salford City-team-logo Salford City
Swindon Town-team-logo Swindon Town
11:00 PM
Swansea City-team-logo Swansea City
West Bromwich Albion-team-logo West Bromwich Albion
11:00 PM
Manchester City-team-logo Manchester City
Exeter City-team-logo Exeter City
11:00 PM
Fulham-team-logo Fulham
Middlesbrough-team-logo Middlesbrough
11:00 PM
Everton-team-logo Everton
Sunderland-team-logo Sunderland
11:00 PM
Sheffield Wednesday-team-logo Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford-team-logo Brentford
11:00 PM
Newcastle United-team-logo Newcastle United
Bournemouth AFC-team-logo Bournemouth AFC

Must Watch Video