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Rochdale 2-2 Tottenham: Steve Davies' late goal secures Wembley replay

Steve Davies scored in stoppage time to secure a replay at Wembley for Rochdale
Image: Steve Davies scored in stoppage time to secure a replay at Wembley for Rochdale

Steve Davies' brilliant injury-time finish secured Rochdale an FA Cup replay at Wembley after a pulsating 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Spotland.

Davies took a touch and fired past Michel Vorm at the far post to cap an excellent performance from the League One side which saw them take the lead just before the break before fighting back following Spurs' second-half recovery.

Ian Henderson (45) gave the hosts a deserved lead, slotting home after a slick counter-attack having earlier missed two fine chances.

Ian Henderson put Rochdale into the lead just before half-time
Image: Ian Henderson put Rochdale into the lead just before half-time

Spurs improved after the break, and Lucas Moura marked his full debut with a fine finish on 59 to bring them level before Harry Kane (88) looked to have won it from the spot after Dele Alli was fouled in the box.

Rochdale were good value for their half-time lead, with Henderson shooting straight at Vorm and then slicing horribly wide when well placed as Spurs, showing 11 changes to the side that drew with Juventus in midweek, struggled for fluency with only Moura looking bright.

Team news

Mauricio Pochettino made 11 changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Juventus in Turin on Tuesday night. Toby Alderweireld returned to the starting XI as he continued his recovery from injury, with Harry Winks partnering Victor Wanyama in midfield. Up front, new boy Lucas Moura made his first start for the club after his late cameo in Italy in midweek.

Rochdale made one change to the side that lost 3-2 to Bristol Rovers last time out, with Harrison McGahey coming in for Scott Wiseman.

When the visitors did find their feet, Rochdale keeper Josh Lillis did well to save low down from Heung-Min Son, before the ineffective Fernando Llorente fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

But with the travelling fans voicing their frustration, Spurs were level when Moura latched onto Mousa Sissoko's pass and lifted the ball over the onrushing Lillis.

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Victor Wanyama then somehow contrived to lift the ball over from two yards at the far post, before Erik Lamela's deflected effort was headed off the line.

But with Alli and Kane introduced from the bench, Spurs upped the pressure and seemed to have done enough to secure their last-eight clash with Swansea or Sheffield Wednesday when Alli was felled by Harrison McGahey, allowing Kane to thump home the penalty.

Harry Kane scored from the spot late on to put Tottenham 2-1 up
Image: Harry Kane scored from the spot late on to put Tottenham 2-1 up

However, Rochdale, cast adrift at the bottom of League One, were not done and when a cross from the left was not dealt with by Toby Alderweireld, Davies was on hand to lash home and sent Spotland into raptures.

Opta stats

Tottenham have been taken to a replay in back-to-back rounds in the FA Cup for the first time since 2009-10, and have done so against sides from a lower division than themselves for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign when Hereford and Wolves took them to consecutive replays.

Player ratings

Rochdale: Lillis (7), McGahey (7), McNulty (7), Delaney (8), Rafferty (8), Cannon (7), Camps (8), Kitching (8), Done (8), Humphrys (7), Henderson (8).

Subs: Rathbone (6), Inman (6), Davies (8)

Tottenham: Vorm (6), Trippier (7), Alderweireld (5), Foyth (6), Rose (6), Wanyama (5), Winks (6), Sissoko (6), Lucas (8), Son (6), Llorente (5)

Subs: Alli (7), Lamela (6), Kane (6)

Man of the match: Callum Camps

Rochdale have gone six games unbeaten in the FA Cup (W4 D2) for just the second occasion in their history having previously done so in January 1976.

Spurs have lost just once in their last 22 FA Cup fixtures against sides from outside the Premier League; this was just the sixth time they have failed to win in those matches (W16 D5 L1).

Spurs have now drawn five consecutive away games in all competitions, the joint-longest such streak in their history (also April 1957, November 1973, February 1982, October 1988 and February 1999).

Man of the match - Callum Camps

Up against the Spurs midfield three of Victor Wanyama, Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko, Camps was integral to Rochdale's superb first-half performance as the League One side proved they could match Spurs' free-flowing football. The second half was inevitably tougher, but he did not give an inch.

What's next?

The replay means Spurs' Monday Night Football clash with Crystal Palace has been moved forward to next Sunday at midday, live on Sky Sports. Rochdale face MK Dons in League One action on Wednesday evening.

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