FA Cup: Spurs invade Newport

Newport vs Tottenham
Venue: Rodney Parade

Kick off: 6:30PM
Tottenham could be forced to make a number of changes when they travel to Newport County in the fourth round of the FA Cup this evening.
Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose are both doubts along with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Christian Eriksen and Serge Aurier.
“We will take the best players to try to win,” said manager Mauricio Pochettino. “Only thinking about trying to go to the next stage. It will be difficult because the FA Cup is always difficult to play in.
“It’s not about the level or if you play against a Championship, League One or League Two team. It’s one game, it’s Newport and a difficult pitch to play on.
“We need to be ready and be aware that we need to compete and be at the same level as them, with our motivation and aggression, and adapt our game in a difficult stadium and pitch.”
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino is the first choice for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez if he ever has to replace Zinedine Zidane
Spurs have won five of their last seven games in all competitions, including a 3-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon in the last round of the FA Cup. After this weekend they face Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Juventus over the next month.
Newport beats Leeds in the third round and are eighth in League Two, having won three of their last four league matches.
Newport captain Joss Labadie and Matty Dolan could both return and Ben White is also expected to be available.
However, Tom Owen-Evans (dead leg), Sean Rigg (hip) and Marlon Jackson are out.
Alderweireld (hamstring), Rose (knee), Lloris (illness), Eriksen (illness), Harry Winks (ankle), Erik Lamela (bruised gluteus muscle) and Aurier (calf) are doubts for Spurs.
Newport will be facing Tottenham for the first time since consecutive FA Cup meetings in 1959 and 1960, with Spurs winning both games, scoring four in each.
Newport County are hosting a top-flight side at home for the first time since October 1986, when facing Everton in a League Cup second leg match at Rodney Parade, losing 5-1.
The Exiles haven’t won a FA Cup match against a top-flight opponent since January 1964, beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 in a third-round match at home.
Tottenham has progressed in each of their last 15 FA Cup ties as a top-flight side against teams from the fourth tier or lower.