Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
A historic day this Afternoon as White Hart Lane plays host to its last ever cup game. The honour of who gets to share that billing is bestowed to Neil Harris’ Millwall as they make the relatively short journey to North London for this F.A Cup Quarter Final encounter.
Both teams know that they are just a game away from Wembley and although that may not be the best news for Mauricio Pochettino after the string of performances that Tottenham have had their this season the prospect of a Cup Semi Final is certainly an exciting one.
Tottenham come into this game off the back of two scintillating Premier League wins in front of their own fans. Sunday does seem to be very super for them as of late as they have not only made easy work of both Stoke and Everton but also disposed of Fulham in the previous round of the competition.
This competition always does offer the question as to whether managers will treat it with respect and you can say that Pochettino has done so with strong lineups in all of their previous cup encounters this season. The lineup against Fulham is surely testament to his intentions of giving this cup run a proper crack.
And with the club playing just once a week between now and the end of the season then there is little need to rest players due to a season still being competed on multiple fronts. So you would imagine that it would be a full strength lineup again this Afternoon. Good news for Spurs fans but perhaps not for that of Millwall.
That said Millwall will come into this game with not only nothing to lose but with confidence as well knowing that Wycombe ran Spurs very very close in the 4th Round while they themselves knocked out Premier League champions Leicester in the previous round.
Millwall may only be a game away from Wembley in this competition but there is still every chance they could get there through the League One play-offs as the South London club currently find themselves 6th in League One at the start of this weekend. (Article written before Saturday, I do have SOME social life)
Not only that but they have not lost any of their last 10 matches, a run of form which has seen them record 5 wins and 5 draws with their last two league outings against both Peterborough and Milton Keynes Dons seeing them earn all three points.
There is not league points on offer this Afternoon but there is certainly the chance of a cup giantkilling. Not only that though their is no replay as they have been removed at this stage of the competition therefore the must be a conclusive result Today.
Millwall do have a chance of a cup giantkilling but how big is that chance, well you should never say never in this competition that is something we have all learned by now. But even with all the potential cliches that could be served up I still think Tottenham will have enough to progress to a “home” Semi Final.
