Tottenham-Portsmouth is an FA Cup third round match and is played on Saturday at 13:30: likely line-ups, predictions, live TV and streaming.
The reaction was there. And a vehement one at that. The Tottenham players have clearly got the message from their coach, Antonio Conte, after the two worrying missteps against Brentford and Aston Villa, which caused Spurs to slip out of the top four, overtaken by Manchester United. If the former Juventus and Inter Milan coach’s aim was to shake up the environment, then it must be said he has succeeded in doing just that.
But let’s rewind the tape for a moment. Conte, at the end of the match against the Villans – corsairs in the London stadium – had said in no uncertain terms that Tottenham’s current squad cannot aspire to a more prestigious objective than fourth place, urging the management to spend more money in order to keep up with the other Premier League bigwigs and become competitive for the title. A ‘j’accuse’ whose effects could be seen practically immediately: on Wednesday, Spurs made mincemeat of Crystal Palace, scrambling Patrick Vieira’s Eagles 4-0 at Selhurst Park. Captain Harry Kane, who scored a brace, made the cover, but the Korean Son also made an appearance. It was a victory that improved the league table, with the Londoners having extended their lead over Liverpool and remained on the heels of the Red Devils, who have two more points (and one game less).
The last time Tottenham won the FA Cup was in ’91
For Tottenham there is now their FA Cup debut, a competition that Spurs have won eight times in their history, but their last success dates back to 1991. Conte historically does not have a good relationship with cups but it would be important to get to lift one as he leads a club that has not won a trophy since 2008.
The Portsmouth players’ jubilation
In the third round a noble decadent, Portsmouth, await. Long gone are the days when Pompey frequented the Premier League: today they are confined to the anonymity of League One – the equivalent of our Serie C – and, like last year, have no great expectations. At the moment they are twelfth, far from the playoff zone and have just exonerated coach Danny Cowley. In his place in London will be the ferryman Bassey.
The Prediction
Conte’s turnover is expected to be substantial, although the Italian coach has no intention of stopping again after the impressive and convincing success against Crystal Palace in the league. The Londoners’ victory is not in question: we predict a match of at least three goals in total, with Spurs expected to prevail in both halves of the game.
The Tottenham v Portsmouth likely line-ups
- TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Forster; Tanganga, Sanchez, Davies; Spence, Bissouma, Sarr, Sessegnon; Gil, Kane, Son.
- PORTSMOUTH (4-3-3): Griffiths; Swanson, Raggett, Morrison, Ogilvie; Hackett, Morrell, Mingi; Koroma, Pigott, Jacobs.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0
