Spurs 4 Posh 0

Peterborough crashed out of the FA Cup at White Hart Lane, losing 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in a cup tie that was dominated by the home side.

Any thoughts that Harry Redknapp would take this competition lightly and field a weakened side were washed away when the teams were announced. Harry had pulled the wool over our eyes and his side looked to be the strongest he could have picked. On the bench for our hosts was young Master Rose who spent a period on loan at London Road earlier this season.

For Posh, Cooper, without the cup-tied duo of Geohaghan and Simpson, welcomed back Ryan Bennett at the heart of his defence after the youngster recovered from his mild bout of concussion. Missing though was want-away striker, Aaron Mclean who had reported ill on Friday.

With the following mantra from Mark Cooper ringing in their ears,

‘We haven’t come here to make the numbers up. We want something from the game.”

the action got underway.

The first half with Posh offering a defensive 4-1-4-1 formation, with only Craig Mackail-Smith up front, saw Spurs mount an onslaught pushing Posh back. The early exchanges saw Jermain Defoe hit the bar and Lewis, having recovered from the injury he sustained last time-out, saved a Tom Huddlestone free kick.

It only seemed a matter of time before the Posh defence was breached but somehow Posh lasted until the thirty-fifth minute and when it was breached it was courtesy of a classy strike.

Spurs Croatian international, Niko Kranjcar burst from midfield and drove a shot across the face of the goal into the top corner. However, Posh didn`t buckle and managed to keep the score at 1-0 until half time although, with no sign of the onslaught stopping, George Boyd and Charlie Lee both picked up yellow cards courtesy of the referee, Lee Mason.

The second half saw Spurs continue to dominate and it was to be that man Niko Kranjcar who was to double Spurs lead three minutes before the hour mark when he finished off neatly from a Gareth Bale pull back.

Posh had a chance though to get back into the game but Gomes in the Spurs goal thwarted Craig Mackail-Smith. Seeking t get back into the game Mark Cooper introduced Shaun Batt with sixty-eight minutes gone but the game was done and dusted when in the seventieth minute Jermain Defoe tucked home a Gareth Bale cross, there really was no way back now.

With Spurs through to the fourth round our day was compounded when Chris Whelpdale brought down Rose in the penalty are and Robbie Keane scored from the spot.

All credit to Joe Lewis though who with some sparkling saves kept the score decent.

No time to get down-hearted though folks, we`ve a relegation battle to fight starting at Hillsborough next weekend!