Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the
FA Cup fourth round replay between
Tottenham Hotspur and
Newport County. The Welsh side managed to claim a 1-1 draw in the first game, but can they cause a monumental upset at Wembley Stadium? Let's see who
Mauricio Pochettino and Michael Flynn have selected in their respective starting lineups...
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Vorm; Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Rose; Wanyama, Winks, Sissoko, Lamela, Son; Llorente
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBSTITUTES: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Sanchez, Walker-Peters, Eriksen, Alli, Kane
NEWPORT COUNTY XI: Day; Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler, Tozer, Bennett, Labadie, Willmott, Nouble, Amond
NEWPORT COUNTY SUBSTITUTES: Bittner, Dolan, McCoulsky, Reid, O'Brien, Sheehan, Hayes
During the build-up to this game, Pochettino acknowledged that he would rotate his squad and the Argentine has kept his word. As many as 10 changes have been made, with only Son Heung-min keeping his spot in the starting lineup from the Premier League fixture with Liverpool.
The big news is the return of Toby Alderweireld in defence. The Belgian international has been absent since the win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on November 1. The centre-back initially declared himself fit last month but it has taken until tonight for Pochettino to throw him back into the first XI.
Danny Rose also makes an appearance after a spell on the sidelines.
Michel Vorm takes the place of Hugo Lloris between the sticks, while Serge Aurier and Juan Foyth make up the remainder of the defence. Foyth has been left out of the club's Champions League squad so he was always going to be given an opportunity this evening.
In midfield, Victor Wanyama is given just his fourth start of the campaign in all competitions, while Harry Winks comes back into the fold after missing the last six weeks through injury. The young Englishman has not featured since playing the final six minutes of the Boxing Day win over Southampton.
Further forward,
Erik Lamela starts for just the fourth time this season, while
Fernando Llorente is making just his eighth start in a Spurs shirt. Both will be desperate to get on the scoresheet this evening.
Pochettino has named an extremely strong bench, with many of his youngsters having gone out on loan. Kyle Walker-Peters will likely be first in line for an appearance later in the match having effectively been the odd one out all season.
As for Newport, Flynn has been able to name the same side which started the first fixture. Ben White had been the biggest doubt but the centre-back has passed a late fitness test to feature at Wembley.
The winner of tonight's tie will travel to Rochdale, who recorded a surprise triumph over Millwall last night.
Click here to read the report from that game.
Staying on the topic of Rochdale and their manager Keith Hill has made it clear as to who he wants to play in the fifth round.
Click here to read what he has to say.
Tottenham have won each of their seven home fixtures in this competition against opposition who have been playing in League Two or the old Division Three. Spurs are averaging over five goals per game in those matches...
In stark contrast to that, Newport have only won one of their seven FA Cup fixtures at top-flight grounds. That came all the way back in 1949 when they made the long trip up to Huddersfield Town.
Earlier in the season, much was made about Spurs' record at Wembley but all things considered, they have recovered well. They have put together a 12-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League, with their only Wembley defeat since the loss to Chelsea in August coming against West Ham United in the EFL Cup.
It hasn't been too long since Newport last played at Wembley. In May 2013, they overcame Wrexham in the Conference playoff final to secure their return back to the Football League.
Earlier, we mentioned about Walker-Peters being the odd one out. On the opening day of the season, the youngster put in a man-of-the-match performance in the 2-0 win at Newcastle United but since then, he has played just eight minutes of Premier League football, and made three starts and one substitute outing in FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League matches. It feels like a wasted campaign for the 20-year-old.
Llorente will probably feel the same. He had high hopes of building on an impressive first year in English football but the forward has netted just twice in a Spurs shirt and played just 217 minutes of Premier League football. He would have been aware of having to play second fiddle to Harry Kane, but Pochettino has not shown too much trust in him.
The next few months feels like an important period in the career of Winks. The midfielder earned rave reviews at the start of the season but he has not done much since making his England debut in October. It's still early days in his career but if he wants to be on that plane to Russia, the passmaster needs to make more of an impact. Tonight sees him make just his 16th start of the season in all competitions.
In the build-up to this game, Pochettino has been outspoken over comments made about simulation. Dele Alli was again cautioned for diving at the weekend, but Pochettino feels that too much is said about that part of the game.
Click here to read his comments.
Ahead of this game, Newport boss
Mike Flynn has been rewarded for his excellent 11 months at the club by being given a new contract. As you can imagine, he is ecstatic.
Click here to read his comments.
Newport naturally hit the headlines for holding Spurs to a draw 11 days ago and deserved all of the praise which they received, but they are currently on a four-game winless run in all competitions. They also haven't won by more than a one-goal margin since December 3.
One player who is familiar with Spurs is forward
Frank Nouble. During the early stages of his career, he spent time at fellow London clubs Chelsea, West Ham United and Charlton Athletic, and he will be relishing the chance to try to remind his previous employers of his attributes.
However, it was
Padraig Amond who netted the all-important goal in the first match between these clubs. The Irishman has made a habit of scoring on a regular basis in the Football League, but he has just 11 to his name in all competitions this season.
PREDICTION! Pochettino has made numerous changes ahead of the North London derby but that should not influence the end result. Newport will relish the chance to play at the national stadium but expect an easy night for Spurs, who we think will prevail by a 3-0 scoreline.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's meeting represents just the sixth competitive match between the sides, with Spurs possessing an unbeaten record which includes four wins and a draw.
The one draw obviously came 11 days ago, but before then, the other fixtures took place in 1946, 1959 and 1960. In the latter years, the teams met in consecutive seasons in the FA Cup.
Before the two teams come out, we should point out that Pochettino is taking charge of his 200th Spurs match this evening. His record currently stands at 109 wins, 47 draws and 43 defeats.
It's time for some football! The two teams walk out onto the pitch to be greeted by a sparse Wembley crowd but there will still be somewhere in the region of 20,000 to 30,000 in attendance tonight. That's my guess anyway!
A reminder of the team news...
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Vorm; Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Rose; Wanyama, Winks, Sissoko, Lamela, Son; Llorente
NEWPORT COUNTY XI: Day; Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler; Tozer, Bennett, Labadie, Willmott, Nouble; Amond
KICKOFF! Newport get us underway.
It's been a decent start from Newport. They haven't seen much of the ball but they are pressing Spurs back into their own final third. There isn't much urgency from the home side.
SHOT! This is just plain greedy from Son. He runs at the right-back before trying to score from an acute angle. The ball goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
Spurs are a right mess at the back. They are barely at walking speed as Newport aggressively press them. Noble almost takes full advantage but Vorm manages to get the ball away to his left.
BOOKING! Sooner or later, this was always going to happen. A poor pass from the back puts Wanyama in trouble and he goes in late on a Newport player, who was looking to move in on goal.
It's Willmott who takes the set piece from 30 yards but his strike hits the wall and is cleared by Spurs.
When Spurs get the ball on the halfway line and beyond, Newport are packing everyone behind the ball. There's very little space for the home side to work in.
Right now, this is a very even game. Almost everyone predicted Spurs to take advantage of the big Wembley pitch but if anything, Newport look better suited. Flynn looks to have got his tactics spot on.
We are through the first quarter-of-an-hour in North London and the only real shot has been Son's speculative effort from the left-hand side of the penalty area. Newport goalkeeper Day has had nothing to do.
Pipe needed to be careful to avoid fouling Sissoko as he approached the penalty area but the defender got his tackle just right. Spurs eventually won a corner but it came to nothing.
Nouble gets the chance to break down the left flank but rather than playing a through ball towards Amond, he attempts to continue to advance down the flank where he is tackled. Poor choice.
More poor play from Nouble but I suppose you could say he was unlucky. He attempts to hold his run before advancing on his own down the left but his left leg is in the Spurs half. Good decision by the assistant.
CHANCE! Half a chance for Spurs. Sissoko's cross is deflected into the path of Rose, but the left-back's half-volley is drilled into the side-netting.
Spurs are beginning to have more of the play now. Opportunities remain few and far between but Newport are more content to sit in defence rather than show ambition to go forward.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newport County (Dan Butler own goal)
Disaster for Newport and for Butler. Sissoko delivers a low cross into the penalty area but it takes a huge deflection off Butler and goes inside the near post. Nothing that Butler or Day could do about that.
Newport need to be careful to not concede a second now. Spurs are in the ascendancy and look far more confident with that goal advantage in the bag.
CHANCES! Spurs want to wrap this tie up as soon as they can. First of all, Lamela has a volley well saved by Day before moments later, Day makes an even better block to deny Son from 12 yards out.
SHOT! Son's gone a few games without a goal and he is trying to bring that to an end. The South Korean attacker takes it upon himself to get a shot away from distance but his effort is always going wide.
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newport County (Erik Lamela)
It's going to be tough for Newport from here. Son goes on another direct run into the penalty area and flicks the ball to Lamela, who takes a touch before rolling the ball into the net from 10 yards.
Simply put, Newport cannot afford to concede another goal before the break. They were so impressive for the first quarter of this game but all that hard work has come to nothing.
While Spurs have been ploughing forward at will over the past 10 minutes, Llorente has barely had a kick. He just doesn't seem to be a natural fit to Pochettino's tactics.
Such is Spurs' dominance that Rose and Aurier are effectively being used as wide midfielders, giving Lamela and Son the chance to drift inside. The home side are overloading to great effect.
Out of nowhere, Newport break forward through Nouble and his low cutback almost finds the run of Labadie, who is prevented from getting a shot in from 12 yards by a last-gasp tackle from Wanyama.
SHOT! After his goal at the weekend, Wanyama has licence to shoot whenever he wants to. However, on this occasion, he miscues the ball wide from 25 yards.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newport County
The half-time whistle goes at Wembley and Spurs are coasting through to the last 16 of the FA Cup. An own goal from Butler and Lamela's first of the season have put the home side in full control. Newport impressed during the opening 20 minutes but they are being outclassed now.
Spurs' opening goal came in fortuitous fashion. Sissoko's low cross was heading towards the six-yard box but with everyone heading towards the back post, Butler's deflection towards the near post ultimately led to the ball going into the net.
The second came via the boot of Lamela, who benefitted from the direct running of Son before keeping his composure inside the penalty area to find the bottom corner from 10 yards. The goal arrived on his 15th outing since returning from a long-standing hip injury.
Newport have threatened on occasions but they have not done enough with the ball, especially down the left flank when Nouble has got beyond Aurier. This game isn't out of Newport's reach just yet, but it is going to take something special to get back into this match.
It's time for the two teams to start making their way back out. It doesn't appear that any changes have been made.
KICKOFF! Spurs get us back underway.
For the first time in the match, Newport get to use the long throw of Tozer but Spurs defend it well. Bit more ambition from the League Two outfit.
Spurs have soon moved back onto the front foot. Son remains desperate for a goal but after twisting and turning inside of the penalty area, his curler is blocked.
It's been a subdued start to this second half. It's probably going to remain that way unless Newport can cause some excitement at the other end.
Sissoko gets down the right flank and his low cross is put behind for a corner by a defender. The resulting set piece is an inswinger from Lamela but Day does well to claim.
Nouble hasn't had a lot of success this evening but he continues to work away. The former West Ham man just took the ball past Aurier and Sissoko down the left but Alderweireld drilled the ball clear.
CHANCE! An outswinging corner from Lamela finds the head of Wanyama, but the Kenyan gets no power in his header and Day makes an easy save.
Spurs are getting closer. Aurier gets into the penalty area and his low cross is begging to be converted by Llorente. However, a defender gets across to prevent a tap in from a couple of yards out.
SUBSTITUTION! Newport's first change sees Dolan replace Tozer. There's one coming up for Spurs as well.
SUBSTITUTION! Son has picked up a bit of a knock so Pochettino decides to switch the attacker with Eriksen.
Newport have barely touched the ball over the last five minutes. It's turning into a training exercise for the home side. Newport need to throw caution to the wind.
As I say that, Nouble gets himsef one on one with Foyth but the young South American does well to force the winger into a mistake.
CHANCE! It should be 3-0 to Spurs. Llorente and Lamela find themselves in a two-on-one situation and the former plays in the latter, he has the chance to score from 12 yards. However, Day stays big to block from the midfielder.
SUBSTITUTION! A second alteration for Newport sees Pipe replaced by McCoulsky. The right-back has an issue with his hamstring.
CHANCE! Another opportunity goes begging for Spurs. Lamela plays in Rose down the left and the defender manages to pick out the run of Eriksen. However, the substitute sends his first-time effort wide of the near post.
With 20 minutes left, I'm starting to wonder if and when Walker-Peters will get a run out for Spurs. You'd imagine that Pochettino will rest his other outfield players.
Chance here for Newport. Foyth commits a foul by the corner flag and the visitors have an opportunity to get the big men forward.
The ball into the middle is a good one but it's Foyth who manages to head clear. When the ball returns, Vorm gets it away from danger.
It looks like Spurs are going to be travelling to Rochdale in the fifth round. The two teams have never faced each other in a competitive fixture. Rochdale's pitch has also hit the headlines. I'm not sure that it will suit the visitors.
Llorente gets the chance to power a header into the far corner but his effort misses the target. He's onside but the assistant put his flag up. That would not have gone down well had he found the back of the net.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Newport boss Flynn has decided to introduce O'Brien for White, who has done well to play with a bit of a knock this evening. For Spurs, Alli is on for Wanyama.
CHANCE! Llorente gets another chance and misses the target yet again. The Spaniard runs onto Eriksen's cross but his volley from close range misses the far corner by inches.
Less than 10 minutes to go now. Spurs still want a third but Newport are doing all they can to keep the scoreline down to a respectable level.
CHANCE! Another chance goes begging for Spurs. Eriksen plays in Alli and he has all the time in the world to score from inside the penalty area but his rising shot hits the crossbar and goes over.
SUBSTITUTION! Walker-Peters gets a token four minutes plus added-on time. Off comes Rose.
CHANCE! Alli remains in the thick of the action but after being picked out at the back post, his volley is saved by Day low down to his right.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
SHOT! Walker-Peters gets into a shooting position on the edge of the area before firing an effort marginally wide of the left-hand post.
FULL TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newport County
The full-time whistle goes at Wembley Stadium, after Amond sees a 12-yard strike brilliantly saved by Vorm with the last effort of the game. Spurs deserve their win but Newport deserve lots of credit for keeping their hosts to just the two goals.
That will be all from
Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.