Tottenham Hotspur produced a ruthless second-half display to brush aside Tranmere Rovers on Friday night, booking their place in round four of the FA Cup with a 7-0 win at Prenton Park.
Fernando Llorente scored three of Tottenham's six second-half goals after Serge Aurier had opened the scoring 40 minutes into the match.
Aurier doubled his tally during a quick burst of Spurs goals, while Son Heung-min added to his two assists by scoring one of his own and was later joined on the scoresheet by substitute Harry Kane.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded on Merseyside with Sports Mole's live text updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup third-round tie between Tranmere Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur at Prenton Park. One of the standout weekends of the entire sporting calendar begins right here as last season's beaten semi-finalists Tottenham make the trip to Merseyside for what is a potential banana skin fixture.
Visiting boss Mauricio Pochettino is expected to make mass changes to his starting lineup this evening, with a vital EFL Cup tie with Chelsea and a Premier League clash with Manchester United on the horizon. Tranmere will consider this a free hit of sorts, meanwhile, and with a weakened Tottenham XI expected this has all the hallmarks of possibly being a famous night under the Prenton Park lights.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Gazzaniga; Foyth, Sanchez, Davies; Aurier, Skipp, Dele, Walker-Peters; Lucas, Llorente, Son
SUBS: Vorm, Alderweireld, Eyoma, Marsh, Sissoko, Eriksen, Kane
Pochettino makes eight changes to the side that started the comfortable 3-0 win over Cardiff City on New Year's Day. Among those to retain their place in the starting lineup is Dele Alli, who is handed the captain's armband for the evening, while Davinson Sanchez is also included once again in the heart of defence. Son Heung-min is the other retained star, with Pochettino seemingly keen to use to South Korean in every match before he departs for the Asian Cup.
Spurs fans have already got a glimpse of up-and-coming midfielder Harry Skipp this season, and the academy product is handed his first appearance in the FA Cup tonight. Paulo Gazzaniga, and not Michel Vorm, returns in goal after impressing in Hugo Lloris's absence earlier in the season, joined in the starting lineup by Serge Aurier, Juan Foyth, Ben Davies, Kyle Walker-Peters, Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente.
Llorente has made 10 appearances for Tottenham this season but just one start, coming in the 3-1 win over West Ham United in the EFL Cup on Halloween, and there is a chance that this could be his final match for the club if certain reports are to be believed. Llorente is not the most prolific of goalscorers, though in Dele, Son and Lucas, the Lilywhites have plenty of attacking players capable of breaking down the opposition.
Plenty of Tottenham supporters will be disappointed by the absence of Troy Parrott, who has been pushing for inclusion in cup matches after starring for the age-grade sides, though at the age of just 16 he is probably a year short of breaking into the first team. Elsewhere, there is no Harry Winks in the matchday squad, while the likes of Jan Vertonghen (thigh), Mousa Dembele (ankle), Erik Lamela (illness) and Victor Wanyama (knee) are also absent. Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen are on the bench, though.
TRANMERE ROVERS TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Davies; Ellis, Monthe, McNulty; Caprice, Harris, McCullough, Gilmour, Ridehalgh; Norwood, Jennings
SUBS: Passant, Bakayogo, Buxton, Sutton, Stockton, Mullin, Banks
Switching focus to the home side, boss Micky Mellon has opted to stick with prolific striker James Norwood up top, a player boasting 16 goals in League Two this season and three more in the FA Cup. Norwood fired twice against Oxford City in a 3-3 draw, before netting again to help decide the return match. Connor Jennings is another player who knows where the net is, scoring four times in all, and he is one to watch tonight.
There are two changes from Tranmere's most recent outing, a 1-1 draw with Macclesfield Town on New Year's Day, as Harvey Gilmour and Steve McNulty return to the starting lineup. McNulty will shuffle into the backline, which is expected to comprise of five players, with Liam Ridehalgh and Jake Caprice being given permission to push forward from wing-back. On-loan Doncaster Rovers ace Luke McCullough has been cleared to feature tonight, meanwhile, but midfielder Ollie Banks is only fit enough for a place on the bench following his recent injury absence.
Dele, Son and Lucas all start for a fairly-strong Tottenham side that shows eight changes from their 3-0 win over Cardiff City a few days ago. Dele is one of the three players to retain his place and skippers the Premier League title challengers at Prenton Park, while Kane and Eriksen are on the bench and will be called upon should they be needed.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! This will be the first meeting between Tranmere Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur since the 2001-02 season when Spurs won 4-0 here in an EFL Cup third-round tie and then 4-0 at White Hart Lane in round five of the FA Cup a few months down the line.
Pochettino admitted in his pre-match press conference yesterday afternoon that he has grown to learn about the importance of the FA Cup during his six years in English football. The Argentinian coach has confessed in the past that he does not believe winning this competition, or indeed the EFL Cup, is a defining achievement, citing the relegations of Swansea City and Wigan Athletic - FA and EFL Cup winners in recent times - as perfect examples.
There is no doubt that Tottenham and Pochettino could do with some silverware this season, however, and they have a great chance of adding a trophy to the cabinet, which has not been opened since their EFL Cup triumph in 2007-08. That said, it could be argued that, at this moment in time, the FA Cup is the bottom of Pochettino's priorities, with the EFL Cup taking on added significance now that it has reached the semi-final stage.
Spurs will take on Chelsea over two legs before the end of the month, with the first leg pencilled in for next week, and there is also the small matter of the Premier League and Champions League. The Lilywhites are six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool with a little over half of the campaign played, yet they have effectively been written off by pretty much every neutral - and indeed many of their own supporters - due to the strength of the two sides that they are competing with for the title.
Even so much as finishing in the top four would have to be considered a good achievement for Tottenham, though, with Pochettino having to operate with one arm tied behind his back this season. The former Espanyol and Southampton boss was not backed in the summer transfer window, with Spurs becoming the first Premier League side to fail to bring in a single new recruit since the window was introduced well over a decade ago.
Tottenham will not give up hope of catching Liverpool until it becomes impossible to do so, and a return of six wins from their last seven matches - and 13 from their last 16 - suggests that they could well push the top two all the way. There is a argument to be had that Pochettino and Spurs, even now, do not get the credit that they deserve. Perennial qualifiers for the knockout rounds of the Champions League and regulars in the Premier League top four, all they need to do is go all the way in one of the cups and they will finally - surely - receive widespread praise.
Questions will continue to be asked about Pochettino's future in North London until the end of the season, having been made the bookies' overwhelming favourite to succeed Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. It does not help, either, that Real Madrid are reportedly on the lookout for a new manager, just a couple of months on from giving Santiago Solari the job. If Pochettino is to be persuaded to stay on, the club quite simply have to back him in the next two transfer windows.
There is another big week ahead for Pochettino's men, as they follow up this trip to Prenton Park with back-to-back home matches against Chelsea (EFL Cup) and Man United (Premier League) over the next nine days. It is tough to work out which of those matches will take priority, with Tottenham still alive in the top-flight title race but also in desperate need of some silverware. All going to play, this will be the second of four successive wins in the space of 11 days.
Tottenham also have trips to London rivals Fulham (Premier League) and Chelsea (EFL Cup) on the horizon, and then focus can turn back to the Champions League as they face Bundesliga pacesetters Borussia Dortmund over two legs in the last 16 - what a tie that should be! Pochettino's decision to give a number of his star players a rest today is entirely understandable, then, though the inclusion of Eriksen and Kane on the bench suggests to me that he does not fancy a replay.
Tottenham are unbeaten in eight previous meetings with Tranmere Rovers in all competitions, knocking tonight's opponents out of the FA Cup in 1952-53 and 2001-02 at the second attempt, scoring 14 goals and conceding just two across those three matches.
DID YOU KNOW? Tottenham Hotspur have progressed from 17 of their past 18 FA Cup ties against lower-league opposition, the exception being a 2-1 loss at Leeds United six years ago. Spurs were held by Newport County in round four and Rochdale in round five last season, however, before earning 2-0 and 6-1 wins respectively in the replays.
Pochettino's charges then went on to beat Swansea in the quarter-finals, but they fell short against Man United in the semis, putting a dampener on what was otherwise another impressive campaign on the whole. Tottenham are eight-time winners of the FA Cup, but they have not gone all the way since 1990-91, and it has now been 11 years since they last won a major honour of any sort. That, whichever way you look at it, needs rectifying.
Tranmere head into this match sitting ninth in the League Two table, four points adrift of the playoff places but just a couple of bad results away from slipping into the bottom half of a congested division. Rovers earned promotion back into the English Football League last season and have performed well on their return, but they have won just one of their last five matches, drawing each of the last two.
Rovers drew against Yeovil Town here and away to Macclesfield Town either side of New Year's Day. Their 3-1 triumph against Morecambe on Boxing Day is one of only two occasions that they have collected all three points in a nine-match run stretching back into early November. Melon's side take on two sides below them in the table in their next two matches, though, and should they take points off Cheltenham and Swindon they will be right in the picture for a top-six finish.
This FA Cup third-round tie against Premier League big boys Tottenham is a distraction of a good kind for Tranmere, who show only two changes from their last outing and will therefore give this a real go. Rovers were dumped out of the competition early on by Peterborough last season and have made hard work of things this time around, drawing 3-3 at home to Oxford City and 1-1 to Southport here, before earning 2-0 wins in the away replays.
Tranmere have lost just one match at Prenton Park this season, with MK Dons and Bury the only League Two sides with better home records, but they have failed to win any of their last five FA Cup games at this ground since a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers in November 2014. The Merseysiders have not made it to round four since 2003-04, meanwhile, when beating Bolton Wanderers in round three.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS! With kickoff now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Micky Mellon: "We've had five games in 14 days which has been tough, but there's a massive game at the end of it, and that's Tottenham. It's great that you can have a group of players that were playing in the National League now playing against what the Premier League table says is the second-best team in England - it's brilliant. It's what football should be all about."
Mauricio Pochettino: "It's a positive challenge for us. We know very well if we are not at our best then it's going to be a very difficult game. We are going to be competitive and have a very good team. We need to be sure we that we show our best face and that we show we're competitive and have the right attitude. That's going to be the key in this type of competition like the FA Cup. If you're not right and you don't take it the right way then you can struggle.
Pochettino admits that Tottenham cannot afford an off day if they are to make it through to the fourth round. The Lilywhites were held in away games against Newport and Rochdale last season and required replays to make it through, with the fixture congestion not helping matters as they battled on a number of fronts. The same is true this time around - a nice, straightforward evening would therefore be ideal for Spurs, who have huge games against Chelsea and Man United on the horizon.
Both sets of players are now out on the field at Prenton Park and kick off is just moments away. Tranmere will see this as a big chance to pull off a major shock and, as any football fan will know, FA Cup third-round weekend does tend to provide us with a fair few shocks. Will it be a comfortable night for Tottenham, or will they be pushed all the way by their League Two opponents? We are about to find out...
KICKOFF: Tottenham Hotspur get their FA Cup campaign up and running at Prenton Park! The visiting side are expected to dominate possession this evening, and they have already got the ball into the box a couple of times.
Tottenham's latest cross is helped behind for a corner. It is half-cleared to Aurier, who cannot quite make clean contact with his shot. Tranmere will have to dig deep to keep the Premier League side out for 90 minutes.
The Lilywhites have been unable to really get in behind in the early exchanges. As expected, the hosts will go with five across the back this evening, with cult figure McNulty included in the backline - his battle with Llorente is one to watch.
CHANCE! Pochettino's men have been a little sloppy in possession early on. From out of nowhere, though, Son is played through one-on-one, but the in-form forward is denied by the legs of Davies. McNulty was at fault there for Tranmere.
That was a massive chance for Son, and one that you would have backed him to convert in the form that he is in. Davies the hero for Tranmere with his smart stop down low, bailing out teammate McNulty for his error. That aside, Rovers have looked pretty solid.
Dele is playing in more of a central midfield position tonight, with Lucas and son joining Llorente in the frontline. Tottenham are bossing possession in the final third of the field, but they are not really troubling Tranmere's defenders.
CHANCE! A second big chance in the space of six minutes goes begging for Tottenham. Son this time turns provider, slotting the ball through for Lucas, who fails to wrap his foot around the ball when one-on-one with Davies. A weak shot in the end, hit straight at the Tranmere keeper.
SAVE! Tranmere are struggling to get the ball out of their own half. McNulty pulls on the shirt of Llorente inside the box but it is not spotted by the referee. Ben Davies then got a decent shot away from range, which namesake Scott got two hands to.
Spurs are completely dominating the match and have already created two big chances, neither of which they could take advantage of. Ben Davies also had that shot kept out by Tranmere's keeper a couple of minutes ago and Llorente had a penalty shout turned down - the hosts may need to change system.
Replays show that McNulty was very fortunate not to concede a penalty for a shirt pull on Llorente in the box. Tottenham could do with converting one of their chances, as with nearly a quarter of the match played on Merseyside we are goalless.
It is worth pointing out that VAR is not in use tonight, though it will be used in certain other third-round ties across the course of the weekend. Had Andre Marriner had the technology available to him, Spurs may well have had a penalty.
Son and Lucas have missed one-on-ones for Tottenham, but the match has gone stale over the last five minutes. Tranmere are starting to show a little more bite and they are no longer being penned back deep in their own half.
All of a sudden it is Tranmere who are the side on top at Prenton Park. The hosts have yet to create anything of note, but they are at least managing to keep Tottenham in their own half of the field. Jennings strikes a sweet volley into Foyth.
SHOT! I wonder what Pochettino will make of the opening half an hour of the match? Tottenham were dominant for the first 20 minutes or so, but Tranmere have been on top since then. Norwood shoots into the side-netting when he had Harris alongside him.
A big cheer from the home fans as the high press from their side forces Tottenham to go back to Gazzaniga. Tottenham are struggling to grab a foothold on the match - those early missed chances could well come back to haunt them at this rate.
CLOSE! Ellis produces a superb challenge to prevent Lucas from charging clean through on goal. From the corner, Davies picks out Llorente, who volleys the ball over the crossbar from 12 yards - another decent opportunity.
Tottenham were cruising by this stage against Cardiff on New Year's Day, but they are struggling to find a way through tonight - despite Dele, Lucas and Son all being among their starters. Tranmere boss Mellon will be delighted with the way this match is panning out.
Tranmere supporters are in good voice, spurring their side on as we enter the final 10 minutes of the first half. It works, as the League Two side burst forward and win themselves a corner, which is turned behind by Lucas towards the front post.
SAVE! From their second corner, Monthe get his head to the ball. The distance was against the defender, though, and it was a pretty comfortable save for Gazzaniga as the attempt from 15 yards was right down the middle.
Tottenham have been poor over the past 15 minutes. Dele, playing in a deeper position tonight, loops a cross out of play. Pochettino may well be tempted to make a change at the interval, desperate to avoid a replay at Wembley later this month.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (SERGE AURIER)
I clearly spoke too soon - Tottenham look as though they will take a lead into half time, scoring arguably against the run of play. It was a brilliant strike from Aurier, sending the ball spinning out of Davies's reach from 20 yards, possibly with the help of a small deflection. If it was a clean strike, then the spin put on the ball was phenomenal.
And just like that, Rovers find themselves a goal down and needing to chase the game in the remaining 45 minutes. Pochettino will be delighted with that Aurier strike, which did take a small touch off Monthe on its way through.
Norwood could have done a let better with his hold-up play in the build-up to Tottenham's goal. The home side now need to hold on for the remaining seconds of the first half - do that and Pochettino will still have one or two things to think about at the break.
HALF TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 0-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tottenham Hotspur take a one-goal lead into the break, courtesy of a deflected strike from Aurier. The visitors are good value for their half-time advantage, even if they did fade out of the match in the 15 minutes leading up to their breakthrough goal.
The Premier League side squandered two big opportunities in the early stages as Son Heung-min was kept out by the legs of Scott Davies and Lucas Moura shot right at the Tranmere keeper, with neither player able to convert the one-on-one. Ben Davies was the next Tottenham player to test namesake Scott in the Tranmere goal, sending a well-struck shot down the middle, while Fernando Llorente volleyed a corner over the crossbar from 12 yards.
After being completely outplayed in the opening quarter of the match, however, Rovers soon grew into the contest and came close through a James Norwood shot into the side-netting and Emmanuel Monthe's long-range header, which lacked the power to beat Paulo Gazzaniga.
Tottenham's goal therefore came somewhat against the run of play when it arrived five minutes before the interval, with Serge Aurier's shot clipping Monthe and spinning away from Davies - his first goal for Spurs since netting against Bournemouth last March. At 1-0 down Tranmere are by no means out of this third-round tie, however, setting up what should be an entertaining second half on Merseyside.
BENCH WATCH!
TRANMERE ROVERS SUBS: Passant, Bakayogo, Buxton, Sutton, Stockton, Mullin, Banks
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Alderweireld, Eyoma, Marsh, Sissoko, Eriksen, Kane
KICKOFF: Tranmere Rovers, trailing to Aurier's strike late in the first half, get us back underway at Prenton Park! No changes made by either manager at the interval, so it is as you were for the start of the second period.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (FERNANDO LLORENTE)
As ruthless as you like from a Tottenham side fired up at the start of the second half, as Llorente doubles their tally. Son gets in behind down the right and lays it on a plate for his teammate, who fired into an empty net from close range.
CLOSE! Tranmere are not giving up hope of pulling off an upset just yet. The ball is helped into the middle and Gilmour makes contact, firing his shot on target but seeing the ball clip Aurier on its way through. The ball ends inches over the crossbar.
Another disappointing set-piece from the hosts, who are not making the most of the deal-ball situations. That said, Tranmere are currently enjoying their best spell of the match, desperate to find a route back into the match.
PENALTY APPEAL! Lucas is played through on goal and tries to take the ball around Davies, who got a touch to the ball before bringing down the Brazilian. A great spot by referee Andre Marriner, who was quick to wave away the penalty appeals.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-3 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (SERGE AURIER)
Like a (North) London bus, Aurier goes 10 months without finding the net and then scores twice in the space of 15 minutes or playing time. Son created it with a sublime Cruyff Turn on the edge of the box before playing in Aurier, whose shot beat Davies and a covering player on the line.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-4 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (SON HEUNG-MIN)
Tranmere have completely fallen apart. A minute or so after playing in Aurier for Tottenham's third, Son carries the ball past a couple of opposition men and slots it past Davies to get his name on the scoresheet, maintaining his impressive run of form in front of goal.
TRANMERE ROVERS SUB! Mellon makes the first change of the evening, bringing on Banks for Harris. This third-round tie has been completely killed off by those quickfire goals from Aurier and Son.
SHOT! A long-range shot from Banks is kept out by Gazzaniga. Tranmere then have another good opportunity to pull one back, but Caprice dragged his shot wide of the target after racing clear down the right. Pochettino is holding off from making a sub.
Tottenham Hotspur are cruising into the fourth round of the FA Cup after scoring three goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half. Fernando Llorente scored the visitors' second of the night with a close-range finish.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Pochettino has the luxury of being able to bring on another one of his youngsters, with George Marsh on for man of the moment Son. Tottenham could well add a couple more goals to their tally.
SAVE! Dele shows good footwork in the box but cannot get a shot away. Lucas did, but his drilled shot is pretty much right at Davies, who is able to not only keep the ball out but keep hold of it.
Tottenham are showing no signs of slowing down as we enter the final quarter of the match. Pochettino has a couple more substitutes available to use should he wish, and it would be a surprise if another youngster is not brought on.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-5 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (FERNANDO LLORENTE)
Skipp cuts the Tranmere defence open with his through-ball and Llorente keeps his composure by tucking the ball past Davies. Tottenham have a fifth and may well go on to get a sixth and seventh at this rate.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-6 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (FERNANDO LLORENTE)
This really has been a ruthless showing from Tottenham in the second half. It is another fine finish from Llorente, as he pokes the ball through Davies following some good play from Lucas. The Tranmere keeper could have done better then.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! Dele waltzes his way through and hammers the ball high and wide of the target. Incredibly, with his side six goals in front, Pochettino brings on Kane for hat-trick hero Llorente. Good luck, Rovers.
Tottenham have finally taken their foot off the gas, going more than a couple of minutes without managing a shot! What was shaping up to be an awkward evening for Pochettino's men has turned out to be one of their finest displays of the season.
Pochettino appears to be readying another change for the final 10 minutes or so, with Sanchez possibly the player being replaced. Opposite number Mellon will want to hear the full-time whistle - his side have been completely blown away.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS! Eyoma is the second Tottenham youngster to make his debut tonight, taking over from Sanchez at the back. There is still time for the visitors to bag a seventh goal.
GOAL! TRANMERE ROVERS 0-7 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (HARRY KANE)
Tottenham score their sixth goal of the most one-sided second half you are ever likely to see. Dele slips it through and Kane brilliantly lifts it over Davies, who has the task of picking the ball out of his net once again. A reminder that it was goalless after 40 minutes!
TRANMERE ROVERS SUB! Jennings has been replaced by Mullin for the final stages of the match. Tottenham have seven goals and you would not bet against them getting eight - they are scoring every time they get forward.
YELLOW CARD! Banks with a nasty challenge on Skipp to earn himself a late yellow card. Tranmere are desperate to hear the full-time whistle now, as they have been pretty much from the moment Llorente put Tottenham two goals in front early in the second half.
Two minutes to play at Prenton Park and Aurier is determined to complete his hat-trick. After firing over the bar a couple of minutes ago, his latest attempt from range is blocked. Gilmour has picked up and injury and play is stopped.
Just the one minute of added time to be played at Prenton Park - the referee clearly has sympathy for Tranmere. Sixty seconds for Tottenham to score an eighth goal of the contest.
FULL TIME: TRANMERE ROVERS 0-7 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Referee Andre Marriner brings the game to a close after just a minute of stoppage time - that pretty much says it all! Tottenham run riot at Prenton Park, scoring six times in the second half, with Fernando Llorente bagging three of those. Serge Aurier also chipped in with a couple from his wing-back position and was later joined on the scoresheet by Son Heung-min and Harry Kane.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from this opening match on FA Cup third-round weekend. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again tomorrow for updates from more fixtures from football's oldest club competition. See you then!
