Antonio Conte’s men have been notoriously slow starters this term, conceding the opening goal in 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions. The Premier League outfit had an early scare when Reeco Hackett-Fairchild showed tremendous athleticism to direct an overhead kick at goal, but it was swallowed up by Fraser Forster. Spurs were lacklustre throughout the first half, failing to register a single shot on target and were perhaps fortunate to head into the interval with a full complement of players, after Oliver Skipp’s heavy challenge on Michael Morrison went unpunished.
As ever, the hosts would need to turn up the heat after the break if they were to dodge an FA Cup banana skin. Clearly unfazed by the task in front of them, the Spurs players responded, and Emerson Royal headed against the post within five minutes of the resumption. Moments later though, the same luck wouldn’t fall Portsmouth’s way as the clinical Harry Kane struck. The England forward played an intricate one-two with Ryan Sessegnon before firing into the far corner in devastating fashion.
The visitors were now hanging on with Spurs threatening a second. Skipp really ought to have doubled the lead when the ball rather fortuitously fell his way inside the area, but the midfielder blazed over the bar from close range. A second goal they so craved would not arrive, but Conte’s side faced no real jeopardy in the closing stages to reach round four. In the process, Kane moved just one goal behind the great Jimmy Greaves on the Spurs all-time top goalscorer list - a record he could break when he next takes to the field in the North London Derby against Arsenal.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
