Ange Postecoglou cracks as Tottenham suffer historic embarrassment

A brutal, viral fan video said it all as Ange Postecoglou’s team blundered its way to something only seen four times in history.

For 90 minutes, the brutal chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” were right.

Aussie manager Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have become just the fourth Premier League club in FA Cup history to be taken to extra time by a non-league team.

Watch every BBL game LIVE and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Spurs narrowly avoided disaster with three quickfire goals in extra time, but, for the agonising first 90 minutes, the Australian manager must have been thinking the same thing as the crowd sledging him from metres away.

You can watch the moment the former Socceroos coach cracked in front of the fans in the video below.

Warning: Explicit language

There were incredible scenes as Tottenham, currently 12th in the Premier League, were pushed to the brink by Tamworth, a club 96 places below them in the fifth tier National League.

The supposed gap in quality was rarely apparent as Tottenham’s dismal display took them to the brink of a historic humiliation.

A part-time team whose players work day jobs alongside their football careers and only train twice as week, Tamworth matched their highly-paid and supposedly superior opponents for long periods on the Lamb Ground’s sloping artificial pitch.

They should have caused one of the FA Cup’s greatest upsets in normal time but their missed chances proved crucial.

Tamworth fans give Ange Postecoglou a warm welcome. Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP.

Nathan Tshikuna’s extra-time own goal and late strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson sent Tottenham into the fourth round.

Tottenham last won a major trophy in 2008, but the under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou boasts he always wins silverware in his second season at a club.

Having beaten Liverpool 1-0 in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday, Tottenham remain in contention for a domestic cup double despite a troubled season.

“It was a challenging game as we expected it to be,” Postecoglou said. “They made it hard for us, with the surface it was about us staying calm and being persistent. In the end, we got the job done.” Tamworth boss Andy Peaks added: “Disappointed because we were that close to causing a massive upset.

“Everyone put a shift in and when you look at the team we were up against, it was unbelievable from our boys.” Tottenham were only the fourth Premier League side since 1992-93 to be taken to extra time in an FA Cup game against a non-league club.

Tottenham’s 101st-minute breakthrough was in keeping with their scrappy performance as Johnson’s cross deflected in off Tshikuna as he tried to stop Dominic Solanke making contact.

Kulusevski killed off plucky Tamworth six minutes later, taking Son Heung-min’s pass and firing past Jas Singh.

Ange Postecoglou had a day. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images.

There was still time for Johnson to put a flattering gloss on the score for Tottenham with a clinical finish in the 118th minute.

Despite progressing, it must surely have been one of the most wild days Postecoglou has faced.

Standing on the touchline just metres away from the vocal locals, Postecoglou was sledged mercilessly.

One fan video captured the moment the 59-year-old stared the heckling crowd down before cracking a smile as the chants of “w***er” got louder and louder.

Football reporter Dom Smith also noted on X that Postecoglou was under attack from those in the seats behind him right from the start.

“Ange Postecoglou in good spirits,” Smith posted on X.

“ He’s gesturing like he’s conducting an orchestra, as the Tamworth fans taunt him with chants of “FAT AUSSIE B***TARD” and “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.

His job is safe for now.

Tottenham face West Ham away in the next round of the Cup.

— with AFP

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou cracks as Tottenham suffer historic embarrassment