Tottenham 6-0 Millwall
Christian Eriksen (31’) Son Heung-Min (41’, 54’, 90’+2’) Dele Alli (72’) Vincent Janssen (79’)
Man of the match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
The chant was heard for the first time just before the interval.
“We’re the famous Tottenham Hotspur and we’re going to Wembley,” the home support sang after Son Heung-min had given their side a 2-0 lead in the 41st minute of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Millwall.
This 6-0 thrashing of the League One outfit saw Mauricio Pochettino’s men book their place in the last four of English football’s foremost cup competition, with their semi-final against one of Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United or Chelsea set to be held at the national stadium next month. The Argentinian would no doubt prefer it if his team could play the match at White Hart Lane, however.
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■ Read more: Harry Kane injures ankle, could miss time
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Tottenham have been utterly dominant at their own stadium in 2016/17. They are unbeaten this season at the ground they have called home for the last 118 years, with victory secured in 16 of 18 fixtures across all competitions.
It has been a different story at Wembley, where Tottenham have held their home games in the Uefa Champions League and Europa League due to the construction of a new 61,000-capacity arena on the same site as White Hart Lane. Pochettino’s charges won only one of four encounters at their adopted home this term, which contributed to their early exits from both continental tournaments.
April’s semi-final will provide Tottenham with an excellent opportunity to improve upon that record ahead of their probable move to Wembley for the entirety of next season as the development project gathers pace.
The quality of opposition cannot be ignored, but the north Londoners will take some stopping if they can replicate Sunday’s showing in six weeks. The hosts were rampant and relentless from the very first whistle, as Millwall struggled to cope with wave after wave of Tottenham attacks.
The visitors’ goal was peppered with 32 shots in total, 15 of which found the target. An ankle injury suffered by Harry Kane took some of the gloss off this resounding win, but Tottenham did not seem to lose any of their attacking firepower when their top scorer departed.
Son and Dele Alli both shone in Kane’s absence, contributing four of Tottenham’s six goals and generally proving too hot for Neil Harris’ defence to handle. Christian Eriksen was also excellent, creating chances for his teammates and converting the opener with a fine drive into the far corner, while Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier and Jan Vertonghen were largely unruffled at the back.
There was even time for substitute Vincent Janssen to score his first goal from open play since joining the club last summer, the Netherlands international calmly slotting home with his left foot after being set up by the superb Son.
“This was a game we took very seriously,” Pochettino said in his post-match press conference.
“We knew it would be a difficult game, but it’s true that we played very well and were very focused.”
The gulf in class was evident throughout, yet Tottenham have performed with a similar sort of swagger against far superior opposition at White Hart Lane this term. The stadium has become a fortress for Pochettino’s side, who will now be hoping to transfer their fantastic home form to Wembley — both for the FA Cup semi-final and beyond.
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