Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media on Friday before today's FA Cup game.

He said that he was hoping to give some game time to teenage striker Mikey Moore, who recently returned from a long injury lay-off and starts today. However, there was not scope for significant rotation as Spurs are "still limited in terms of numbers" - explaining their strong line-up here.

"It's an opportunity to put out a team that will win a game of football for us. The ones who play will be the ones that I think will do that," he said.

Asked whether the visit to Tamworth will be a shock to his players, Postecoglou said his players are not "multi-million-dollar" stars but "good human beings" with some deriving "from far worse places".

He expects Tamworth to "do their best to create an atmosphere where they will be proud of their ground and their facilities".

However, the Spurs boss said it is up to his players to be ready for the challenge and that they will go into the game "with the understanding that every game is important".

With the cup tie on artificial turf, Postecoglou explained his players would train on a similar surface on Saturday in preparation for matchday.

Tamworth XI: Singh; Crompton, Cullinane-Liburd, Hollis, Cockerill-Mollett; McGlinchey, Tonks, Morrison, Milnes; Enoru, Creaney

Subs: Phillips, Curley, Digie, Fletcher, Finn, Wreh, Williams, Tshikuna, Sundire

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Brett Walton, of the Tamworth FC Social podcast, speaking to BBC 5 LIve Breakfast this morning: “It’s been a long time coming now, since the draw was made. It’s been the longest five weeks ever.

“It’s all everyone’s been talking about now for weeks. There was a massive clamour for tickets. It’s got everybody together.

"The club has galvanised the whole town. It’s been a momentous cup run. It’s just the cherry on top of what’s been two really good seasons for us."

On the players to look out for today: “I think Jas Singh the goalkeeper has been our cup hero.

"Ben Mills our captain; Dan Creany, he’s our leading scorer and has close to a hundred goals for the club now so he’s got a really good chance to make a name for himself in Tamworth folklore today.

"Jordan Cullinane-Liburd, the centre back, he’s someone who likes to wind up the opposition so looking forward to seeing how he is on the cameras today."

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou makes six changes from the side that beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg - but that's a line-up that still looks strong with James Maddison coming back as captain.

Antonin Kinsky continues in goal but Djed Spence, Lucas Bergvall, Heung-Min Son, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski drop to the bench. Rodrigo Bentancur is not involved after suffering concussion against Liverpool.

Sergio Reguilon, Mikey Moore, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Pape Matar Sarr are in the starting line-up.

Spurs XI: Kinsky, Porro, Dragusin, Reguilon, Gray, Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison, Johnson, Werner, Moore.

Subs: Austin, Spence, Dorrington, Bergvall, Olusesi, Kulusevski, Son, Solanke, Lankshear.

Hull have got the worst home record in the Championship this season but they have picked up a couple of wins under new manager Ruben Selles and then rescued that late point against Leeds last time out.

Doncaster have Billy Sharp up front for them, who has been such a great goalscorer down the years. He is a wily old fox, but I am backing Hull here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

The only previous FA Cup meeting between Hull and Doncaster came in the 1980-81 third round, the Tigers winning 1-0 at Boothferry Park.

Hull have gone out at the third round stage of the FA Cup in each of the past three seasons, last reaching round four in 2019-20.

Image source, Getty Images

Doncaster travel to Hull in our other early game and we might just have the necessary ingredients for an upset.

The Tigers are out of form and 22nd in the Championship table - although they did impressively draw 3-3 with Leeds in their last outing.

Doncaster are in a decent position in League Two, taking up the last play-off spot.

They lost their last game against high-flying Port Vale, although they dominated the possession and shooting stats and looked decent throughout.

I was at Tamworth to see them beat Huddersfield in round one and Tommy Tonks' long throw got them the winner that night.

Tonks launches it from anywhere inside the opposition half, and it is such a great weapon.

So, poor old Ange Postecoglou knows what is coming his way too. His Spurs defenders are going to get the same treatment, and we are going to find out whether Spurs can cope.

It is a basic thing, a long throw, but I am not convinced Spurs have the players to deal with it. Their centre-half pairing for part of their defeat to Newcastle was Djed Spence and Archie Gray, so its not as if they have got people like Tony Adams and Steve Bould, who would relish that kind of test.

I actually think Tamworth will score. When they beat Huddersfield they were well organised, and they beat them well.

The other thing Tottenham will have to deal with is a terrible pitch, so this tie is far from straightforward, but I also believe that, unlike Huddersfield, Spurs will create enough opportunities to win it.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Founded in 1933 and nicknamed the Lambs, Tamworth have spent their existence bouncing around various non-league divisions. Their midlands location means they have played in regional north and south leagues in their time.

In the 21st century, they have spent some time in the National League, but were down in the seventh-tier Southern Premier Central as recently as 2022-23.

But back to back league titles have taken Andy Peaks' side into the top level of non-league - and a starring role in this FA Cup third round weekend.

There weren't too many FA Cup upsets yesterday, in fact heading towards the end of the 3pm kick-offs we were looking at very slim pickings.

But in the 82nd minute at Brentford, Morgan Whittaker stepped up to create history for Plymouth Argyle against a side 35 places above them in the football pyramid.

Can anyone match the Pilgrims today?

As always, we are keen to hear your thoughts on everything FA Cup related today. Are you heading to a game? Perhaps multi-screening at home? And any nostalgic memories of FA Cup days gone by, we'd love to hear those too.

Get in touch using the details above.

Here's what's on the menu today:

Hull City v Doncaster Rovers (12.00)

Tamworth v Tottenham Hotspur (12:30)

Arsenal v Manchester United (15:00)

Crystal Palace v Stockport County (15:00)

Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers (15:00)

Newcastle United v Bromley (15:00)

Southampton v Swansea City (16:30)

Sutton United against Coventry City in 1989. Hereford versus Newcastle United in 1973. Shrewsbury Town beating Everton in 2004. Wrexham over Arsenal in 1992.

Tamworth v Tottenham in 2025?

Could we see an all-time FA Cup third round upset today? We shall soon find out.

Image source, Getty Images