Premier League title-chasers Tottenham Hotspur have been held to a shock goalless draw away to third tier Stevenage in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Spurs did put the ball in the net early in the second half but saw the goal ruled out for offside and now the club in third place in the Premier League must try again at home in a replay for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I’ve been around long enough to know what to expect,” said Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.
“I have managed teams in the lower divisions and seen Premier League teams knocked out.
“Stevenage are a difficult team to play and worked their socks off. The pitch was bumpy and the ball was bobbling everywhere – but they are a good side bang in form. They worked hard and are on a good run.
“We are still in the cup and are at home now. It gives us a big chance but I wouldn’t underestimate them by any chance.”
Redknapp is the favourite to become the next permanent manager of England but, asked about his chances of succeeding Fabio Capello, he said: “I’ve just got to get on with the job here (at Tottenham).
“We are sitting third in the league at the moment and I can’t take my eye off that because Tottenham have been fantastic to me. I’ve just got to keep doing the job.
“If I start thinking about other things it would relay through to the players. I can’t do that.”
Delighted Stevenage manager Gary Smith said: “We had one or two half-chances we should have made a little bit more of – our dead ball situations are better than that – but overall the performance was outstanding.”
As for the replay, Smith said: “We’ve got every chance…we’ll go there with a lot of energy and belief.
“They’ve got a very tough schedule coming up. They’ve got Arsenal and Manchester United, with us plugged in somewhere in the middle.”
Tottenham survived an early appeal for handball in the box when the ball struck captain Michael Dawson and the opening exchanges also saw Jermain Defoe stab just wide at the near post.
Spurs’ Louis Saha almost broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when he chested the ball down in the box but the challenges of two defenders saw the France international fire the ball over.
Dawson saw an effort hacked off the line and Stevenage’s counter attack took them all the way to the Spurs area and Scott Laird’s header from Luke Freeman’s free-kick had to be palmed over by goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.
Tottenham started the second half with a 25-yard drive from Bale that Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, a former Spurs player, did well to tip round his left-hand post.
Stevenage continued to retaliate, however, and Michael Bostwick was just too high with a long-range effort but they had linesman Darren Cann to thank for not falling behind in the 55th minute.
The home defence failed to deal with a Rose cross from the left and Saha applied a close-range finish that went in off Scott Parker on the line.
The England midfielder may have been trying to get off the pitch but only succeeded in getting the goal disallowed for offside.
Stevenage’s Joel Byrom fired just over and then forced Cudicini into a fumbling save that required New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen to clear before Chris Beardsley could pounce.
Home substitute Don Cowan fired wide in stoppage time before the final whistle confirmed Stevenage were in the quarter final draw where, if they win the replay, they will be at home to another Premier League side in Bolton.
