Trip on north east of United Kingdom didn't pass very well for North London club. Something which should be easy win and qualification for next round of FA CUP turned out to life or death fight to claim right for playing replay. In yet another bad display from Spurs Middlesborough scored first, while Lucas equalized and brought this fascinating fight for 4th round of FA Cup to London.
Struggling Championship side which is now around 16th place on the table, which to be honest won W.B.A. and Preston recently, had great chance in first half. It was save who is alive situation in Spurs penalty box with Gazzaniga deflected shoot from close range and defenders managed to block next few attempts by Boro players. Nets stood still in first half.
Soon after start of second half in 50th minute Ashley Fletcher scored goal for Middlesborough on assistance from George Saville. Long high ball, Spurs failed to make offside trap and Fletcher came alone in front of Gazzaniga and scored opener. Fortunately for Tottenham fans equalizer came soon. In 61th minute Lucas Moura and Serge Aurier proved that big wonders are still possible. Last one ran on right side, got perfect ball and sent perfect cross straight to Lucas Moura's head who made shot which ended in Boro's net. There are two wonders here first is perfect cross made by "car crash", because his crosses always goes either behind the goal in goal out either straight in goal keeper hands, or got blocked by first opposition player in the box. However this one was perfect like automated rocket with navigation toward Moura's head. Other wonder is Moura's goal by head. He's one of the shortest players in Spurs whose headers often goes outside goal without any control. This one was just good enough for 1:1.
Spurs made some effort to win this game, but couldn't score second. That will bring this clash to London in about a week. Winner of that game will face Southampton in 4th round.
We saw Dele's brother playing for Spurs again, problems in defense and impotency in attack. Mourinho said "You can make Kane from Son or Lucas" because they are not strikers like H.Kane. With that in mind I don't understand why he didn't give chance for play to Troy Parrot at least in last 10-15 minutes. Players close to his age are already playing in some other clubs and if he can't get chance for play in FA cup against club from lower division in absence of H.Kane then he'll probably never get a chance. Why Tottenham then don't let this player on loan ? I think lad could be hardly worse than Llorente was last season when Kane was injured. At least I am confident he wouldn't score own goal or miss dead chances like Fernando did.
Other thing which made me wonder is did Hartlepool scouts watch this game ? Middlesborough is not far away from Hartlepool and this lad Aurier is not for better club than Hartlepool. I hope their long interest in this player will culminate after this great cross and that they will take him out from Spurs in January. Thing which Mourinho said he will be here for much longer frightens me a lot! He is just a "car crash" and one great cross can't fix all his previous mistakes.