Soccer

Andy Peaks says Tamworth must bring Tottenham ‘down to our level’ in FA Cup tie

The Lambs sit 16th in the National League and have already seen off two EFL clubs on their run so far.

Tamworth boss Andy Peaks is hoping to bring Spurs down to their level on Sunday
Tamworth boss Andy Peaks is hoping to bring Spurs down to their level on Sunday (Bradley Collyer/PA)
By Sunny Badwal, PA

Tamworth boss Andy Peaks says he wants to bring Tottenham “down to our level” as his National League side prepare to face the Premier League outfit in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

The Lambs sit 16th in the National League and have already seen off two EFL clubs on their run so far, having beaten League One Huddersfield and Burton to earn their right to face Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Tottenham will travel to the Lamb Ground, with a capacity of around 4,000, and the experience will be much different to the Premier League treatment they are used to on a weekly basis, as they will be greeted by a 3G artificial pitch.

Peaks signed a new full-time contract with Tamworth ahead of the Spurs tie that will run to 2027, and he is looking forward to welcoming their top-flight opponents on the weekend.

He said: “We have to try and use that (home conditions and facilities) to our advantage.

“They’ll get that respect from me and my players before and after but during, we have to be competitive.

“We have to fight for every ball and make it an intimidating place, bring them down to our level and make it uncomfortable for them.

“You’d like to think it (plastic surface) would be a leveller, it will be to a degree but they have technically good players.

“Perhaps if it was any of the other clubs maybe at step two or step three where you have grass, and at this time of year it might be muddy, that would be even more of a leveller, to be honest.”

Tamworth have reached the third round of the competition for the first time since 2012 and will be the first non-league opponents that Spurs have played since they defeated Marine back in 2021 – four goals in 13 first-half minutes on that day helped Spurs to a 5-0 win.

Peaks admits Spurs have the quality to “steamroll” his team but is hoping not to be embarrassed come the 90th minute on Sunday.

He added: “It’s going to be tough, I’m not going to lie.

“Yes, there’s a bit of apprehension because they could absolutely steamroll you and I know that because I don’t want it to be embarrassing for the players or anyone at the club but football is football, isn’t it?

“They have got loads of good players so it is going to be tough but you need to look forward to it.”