Mauricio Pochettino: 'In the last 10 minutes we made some mistakes. I'm very disappointed to be out of the FA Cup'

Published: 25 January, 2015
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

FA Cup, Fourth Round
SPURS 1, LEICESTER CITY 2

SPURS crashed out of the FA Cup in dramatic fashion after Leicester City pulled off a sensational last-gasp victory at White Hart Lane.

Spurs had led through a first-half Andros Townsend penalty and were on cruise control, until two late goals from their visitors – including a stoppage-time winner – kicked them out of the FA Cup for another year.

Speaking after the match, Spurs' head coach Mauricio Pochettino said: “We are disappointed. We played well, but if you have the opportunity to kill the game, you have to do it.

“In the last 10 minutes we made some mistakes. I'm very disappointed to be out of the FA Cup.”

In the opening 15 minutes, stand-in goalkeeper Michel Vorm pulled off two great stops that suggested he was in for a bust afternoon, not helped by the fact he had Tottenham's second-string defence in front of him. But after Spurs took a 17th-minute lead via Townsend converting a penalty won by Roberto Soldado, Spurs enjoyed a half of comfortable dominance, though it lacked what would later prove to be the vital cushion of a second. 

In the second period, Spurs kept hold of the ball well and created chances at leisure. Soldado went close after creating space for himself, Erik Lamela tested City keeper Mark Schwarzer and Paulinho drove narrowly over. 

In return, Leicester were limited to a couple of breaks and a fifth-round tie beckoned for Spurs. However, it all changed in the 83rd minute. A rare Leicester attack saw a poorly cleared corner sent back in and then turned home by Leonardo Ulloa. 

An unwanted replay beckoned – until Tottenham's inability to make their possession count proved disastrous. In stoppage time, a calamitous piece of goalkeeping saw the otherwise steady Vorm fumble a weak effort from Jeff Schlupp. The goalkeeper allowed the tame shot to trickle over his body and across the line to send Spurs crashing out of the FA Cup. 

SPURS: Vorm, Kaboul, Fazio, Chiriches, Rose, Capoue, Paulinho, Lamela, Townsend (Eriksen, 64), Soldado, Dembele (Kane, 84).
Subs: Friedel, Adebayor, Dier, Kane, Eriksen, Stambouli, Davies.
Attendance: 35,548

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Mauricio Pochettino's team selection showed he had one eye on Wednesday's Capital Cup semi-final second leg away at Sheffield United. He made eight changes – but still featured a host of expensive talent, a strange mixture of the last ones standing from the Redknapp/AVB period, and the Bale money purchases that haven't yet worked out.

The defeat will mean this game is looked back on with a jaundiced eye – but until the 83rd minute, the benchwarmers were performing well.

While the great Roberto Soldado goal drought continues, he looked the most accomplished player on the pitch. 

He won the penalty and was at the centre of all things neat, showed grace in possession and industry out of it. 

Paulinho offered glimpses of the talent that made him a regular in the Brazilian national team, while Erik Lamela's speed and dynamism was also eye-catching. Spurs now need to move on, get their first-teamers to step back up and put the semi-final against United to bed.