FA Cup
27 January, 2013
Leeds United
Jamie Ashdown
12
Samuel Byram
25
Lee Peltier
2
Tom Lees
4
Aidan White
14
Paul Green
7
Michael Brown
17
Rodolph Austin
8
Luke Varney
11
El Hadji Diouf
21
Ross McCormack
44
Substitutes
Jason Pearce
5
Davide Somma
28
Patrick Kenny
1
Michael Tonge
18
David Norris
19
Ryan Hall
30
Chris Dawson
32
Tottenham Hotspur
24
Brad Friedel
16
Kyle Naughton
33
Steven Caulker
5
Jan Vertonghen
32
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
6
Tom Huddlestone
8
Scott Parker
7
Aaron Lennon
11
Gareth Bale
22
Gylfi Sigurdsson
2
Clint Dempsey
Substitutes
28
Kyle Walker
19
Moussa Dembele
45
Jonathan Obika
20
Michael Dawson
1
Heurelho Gomes
29
Jake Livermore
31
Andros Townsend
Referee: Kevin Friend
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The game ended in a penalty area melee with Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel rising in the Leeds penalty area to meet a free-kick. In truth, he looked about as likely as anyone in a Tottenham shirt to get them back into the game in the final half-hour. The big boys were humbled by a resolute and clinical performance from a Leeds side who never looked less than 110% committed to rolling over their illustrious rivals. Luke Varney opened the scoring with a composed finish, having sprung Spurs' offside trap and carried the ball from forty yards out on the left to slot past the American veteran, who was impressive on his return to the side. The visitors responded with long passages of possession that too often ended in errant marksmanship in the final third. Misfiring performances by Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson, and the absence of the rested Jermain Defoe, added to the case that Andre Villas-Boas must add more firepower to his squad. Too often reliant upon the trickery of Gareth Bale Tottenham looked toothless, and Leeds showed their opponent's how to do it shortly after half-time when Ross McCormack ran onto a high pass, cut inside Jan Vertonghen and unleashed a curling shot that Defoe himself would have been proud of. From then on it was always likely to be tough for Spurs, despite responding quickly when Dempsey looped a Bale cross over Jamie Ashdown with his head five minutes later. Leeds grew in confidence though, sticking to their gameplan and manufacturing the best opportunity of the final half-hour, McCormack yet again bringing the best from Friedel in a one-on-one situation. The tie ended in compelling fashion as Spurs pushed hard for the equaliser without ever really troubling a stout home defence. Lee Peltier's last-ditch tackle on substitute Jonathan Obika was a well-deserved way to round off an entertaining passage into the fifth round.
It's all over, Leeds put Tottenham out of the cup!
Lee Peltier was the hero there, diving in on Obika to save his team at the death. The seasoned campaigner that he is, Neil Warnock is making another time-wasting substituion, this time Davide Somma for McCormack. Bale is again halted by Byram and then a long throw into the area only falls to a Leeds player.
Oh, Jonathan Obika has a gilt-edged chance for the visitors as a long ball puts him through but the defence rallies to put him off. Then two corners come to nothing for the men in black as Leeds bring on Jason Pearce in place of Diouf.
A couple of step-overs and then Bale pings an adventurous cross out of play as a lacklustre Spurs side struggle to find any inspiration out there. It looks like Leeds' day. They've battled hard and taken their chances, quite the opposite of their opponents' performance.
Diouf wins a free-kick in canny fashion and still Leeds are unchanged, though an impressive performance by nineteen year-old Sam Byram has left him limping a little. It is now very much an even contest. Spurs need some magic from the likes of Bale to pull a replay out of the bag.
Leeds continue to hold their own with McCormack and Varney holding the ball up well for their side. Tottenham do not look the type of side desperate to win this one. They've put in a shift themselves and the game is slowing down.
Jan Vertonghen and El Hadji Diouf both go into the referee's notebook in quick succession and Spurs break with Obika who is stopped in his tracks by Brown and a lovely sliding tackle. There's ten minutes for Leeds to hang on.
Dempsey gets a sight of goal after Tottenham had broken from a decent Leeds attack. The football has been a little scrappy of late but the drama is compelling with both teams threatening to change the complection of the game. Now Jonathan Obika has the ball whipped off his toes in the area at the last moment.
Ross McCormack is through once again and Friedel has to come to the rescue after the striker had left Assou-Ekotto for dead before Bale once again causes havoc in the Leeds box. It's a fine open game now.
Tottenham have looked sloppy at the back this afternoon and they again look at sixes and sevens when attempting to clear the ball from their penalty area, before Bale makes a mockery of Sam Byram with an impudent drag-back and spin to win a corner.
Kyle Walker will also offer more of an attacking threat for Tottenham. El Hadji Diouf lofts in a free-kick which is cleared easily but Leeds retain possession and McCormack puts in a low cross which is also scrambled away as the home side enjoy a decent spell.
Now Kyle Walker enters the fray in place of Kyle Naughton. Spurs are continuing to dominate possession but Leeds are growing in confidence and the game is opening up at both ends.
Michael Brown upends Scott Parker in midfield. It has been a good contest between two honest, old-fashioned professionals. The introduction of Dembele will hopefully allow the visitors to penetrate their stubborn opponents a little more.
Villas-Boas has thrown on Moussa Dembele and Jonathan Obika in place of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tom Huddlestone. The home crowd have been subdued by that Spurs goal but it will no doubt be a great final half-hour for the neutral to enjoy.
Gareth Bale clips a cross onto Dempsey's head at the near-post and he guides the ball over Ashdown for a swift reply by Tottenham. The crowd are suddenly quiet and Spurs are back in this one.
Spurs respond. Dempsey scores.
A howler for Spurs now! Lennon gets to the by-line and squares the ball strongly in to Dempsey in the six-yard box but the American flashes at it and misses the target. He had a lot to do but should have done much better.
A stunning striker from McCormack! Diouf lobbed a ball over the top on the half-volley and the striker beat Vertonghen, cut back and curled a left-footed shot round Friedel in fine style from inside the area. Surely it's Leeds' game to lose now.
2-0!!! Ross McCormack, brilliant!!!
Luke Varney has a shout for a foul in the area waved away and then McCormack tries to beat Vertonghen to a lofted through-ball as Leeds enjoy the better of early second-half exchanges.
Leeds force a corner right from the off which is scrambled away. There are no changes to either side and you'd argue that Andre Villas-Boas will have to stick with this eleven to carry the most threat as there are few really potent options on his bench.
Welcome back to Elland Road where Leeds stand forty-five minutes from a fine victory and a place in the fifth round. We're back underway.
The half ends with in a cacophonous racket at Elland Road as Ross McCormack narrowly misses out on extending a lead given to Neil Warnock's men by Luke Varney's cool finish after a quarter of an hour, as he ran onto a defence-splitting pass and lashed the ball past Brad Friedel. Since then Spurs have had all sorts of possession but failed to find a way past a spirited Leeds side. It will be a supreme effort if they can hang on until the final whistle. You wouldn't rule it out though. Join us shortly for the resumption....
Again McCormack is through and this time it's a clear sight of goal. A good flick-on and he has only Friedel to beat but the veteran keeper smothers the ball brilliantly. I can't remember a better chance for either side in the game so far. That's the whistle for half-time.
Tottenham continue to press as we approach half-time. Despite their dominance they have looked a little toothless in the final third and, without Jermain Defoe, they look like they lack a game-changer from the bench should they need one later on.
A rare sight of goal for Ross McCormack as he runs onto a long ball but Vertonghen tidies up and Spurs respond with a rasping Dempsey drive from distance that stings Jamie Ashdown's palms. It's going to be a very, very long second half for the Whites if they can't find some sort of outlet to relieve the relentless Tottenham pressure.
There's something about Gareth Bale that seems to put a certain look in defenders' eyes and young Aidan White is the man in question today with the two of them having a right old tussle, and Bale has twice had decisions go against him to the delight of the noisy home fans.
It's all Spurs at the moment and Leeds continue to work hard to repel a succession of attacks. The Premier League outfit can't seem to find the final ball though as Aaron Lennon drifts onto the left but slashes his cross past the near-post.
Aaron Lennon bursts at the Leeds defence and Tom Huddlestone's trickery almost engineers a chance before Bale does likewise. Each time some solid intervention by the home rearguard denied them as the hosts start to play a little deeper and try to contain Tottenham.
Leeds boss Neil Warnock has had his fair share of cup drama in the past and he'll be desperate to preserve this lead until half-time and then his team are really in with a shout of securing this tie. Spurs really look in the mood today though, Scott Parker is spraying the ball around beautifully. You feel just the one will not be enough for United, as their Manchester counterparts found out last Sunday against Spurs.
Tottenham respond and work it to Aaron Lennon in the area who can't find any of his well-placed teammates. Then Benoit Assou-Ekotto tries his luck from 25 yards out to no avail Spurs have resumed their dominance but it was lax on the part of their defence to allow the Leeds goal and Varney is again allowed to get a shot away in a decent position. There's goals in this one, no doubt about it.
Luke Varney springs the offside trap on the left,coolly bears down upon Friedel and, though the winger had a simple lay-off to McCormack for a tap-in, he took it on himself and beat the American with impunity from five yards. The home side are ahead, albeit against the run of play. This is what the cup is all about!
Leads leed!!! I mean Leeds lead!!!
Gareth Bale is in behind a high Leeds back-line once again. He's roving the advanced positions and the hosts simply aren't picking him up. Bale will make them pay if they continue to give him the freedom of Elland Road. Then Dempsey is unmarked from a corner and a free header goes begging. Leeds have to tighten up if they want to contain the visitors.
Clint Dempsey finds himself in an inviting position on the left of the penalty area but drags a cross poorly out of play as Tottenham begin to exert some dominant possession football.
Michael Brown has something to prove against his old side today and in Diouf and Ross McCormack Leeds have the big game players to trouble their opponents, though Luciano Becchio has been left out after the speculation surrounding him this week. Gareth Bale almost reaches a clever through-ball and then Jan Vertonghen has a great chance to head the opener ten yards out but he can't connect effectively. Spurs should really have scored there.
Immediately Luke Varney goes down the left and wins a corner which is swung into a dangerous area and cleared away for goalkeeper Brad Friedel to take the goal-kick on his return to the side. A big home crowd will expect a big performance from their men today.
Here we go Leeds in their home white, Spurs the change black and grey.
Welcome to Elland Road for this afternoon's fourth round game. Brentford's heroic 2-2 draw with Chelsea has put the whiff of upset in the air, and with the real possibility of a shock here today. Tottenham take nothing for granted and field a strong side in light of that. We're about to get underway and the two teams will line up as follows... Leeds: Ashdown, Byram, Lees, Peltier, White, Green, Austin, Brown, Varney, Diouf, McCormack. Subs: Kenny, Pearce, Tonge, Norris, Somma, Hall, Dawson. Tottenham: Friedel, Naughton, Caulker, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Lennon, Parker, Sigurdsson, Bale, Dempsey. Subs: Gomes, Dembele, Dawson, Walker, Livermore, Townsend, Obika.
An intriguing prospect in store at Elland Road as the hovering vultures get to have a look at how the much talked-about Luciano Becchio fairs against a Premier League defence. Neil Warnock will no doubt look forward to seeing the Argentine let his feet do the talking after a week of wage-related verbal wrangling that has so far failed to persuade the striker to prolong his stay in Leeds following at least two bids from foreign clubs. Spurs are finding form at just the right time, unbeaten in their last eight, and will certainly be fancied to do well in this competition. Becchio was on the score sheet when the two sides last met in the FA Cup back in 2010, but a Jermaine Defoe hat-trick saw Tottenham through after they had shared a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane.
El-Hadji Diouf's 76th minute penalty secured Leeds' passage into this stage of the competition as they came from 1-0 down to win away at Birmingham. Their promotion challenge has faltered after a promising start, though a run to the quarter-finals of the League Cup, beating Everton and Southampton along the way, suggests they have some pedigree in the knock-out format of the game. Becchio will be in contention despite the speculation surrounding his future, but Arsenal loanee Ross Barkley is ineligible. What price the Argentine adds a little more to his value with a match-winning performance for his side?
Tottenham are three points clear in the fourth Champions League spot after a battling draw against Manchester United last Sunday showed a spine a spine in Andre Villas-Boas' side that previous Spurs outfits arguably lacked. An easy 3-0 home win against Coventry means they are as yet untested in this season's FA Cup. The return of Scott Parker just as they lost Sandro for the season has been a blessing that will make all the difference to their run-in, though the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor, and a host of injuries, mean the Londoners can ill-afford to have their numbers dwindle too much more. The quest to sign Schalke's Lewis Holtby before the summer goes on, with the German club holding out for a hefty price tag for the highly-rated youngster. William Gallas has returned to training and will challenge Michael Dawson to partner Steven Caulker at the back.