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After coming from behind to defeat Huddersfield 3-1 in the third round, Preston North End booked a 12th FA Cup meeting with Premier League (PL) giants Tottenham Hotspur, but the first since 1967/68, looking to even up the record (W4, D2, L5). On the Championship front, Ryan Lowe’s men kept their play-off hopes alive with a 2-1 win at Birmingham last weekend, but their return of just two wins across their last ten FA Cup games suggests reaching the fifth round for the first time since 2014/15 appears a longshot.
Playing against top-flight opponents doesn’t bode well for Preston either as they’ve lost their last five FA Cup games against PL opponents, though encouragingly they have managed to get on the scoresheet in each of the last three. If they are to end that run, the Lilywhites may need to end a run of five straight home games without a clean sheet (W1, L4), with a shocking 12 goals conceded during that time.
With his first-half winner against Fulham last time out, Harry Kane wrote his name in Tottenham folklore by becoming their joint-top goalscorer of all time with 266 goals from his 415 appearances. Kane is incredibly yet to win a trophy despite his club legend status, with manager Antonio Conte suggesting that the record is impressive, but it “could be more important if you win a trophy".
That historic trophy would also be Tottenham’s first since the 2008 League Cup, and while it could come in this FA Cup, they must not underestimate their Championship opponents after being stunned by Middlesbrough in the fifth round last season. That 1-0 extra time defeat was part of a run of just two victories across Spurs’ last seven FA Cup away games (W2, D2, L3), so Tottenham fans would be wise to temper their expectations for now, which might already be fairly low considering the downbeat feeling around the club at present.
Players to watch: A pair of one-club men will take centre stage as Preston’s Alan Browne looks to strike in consecutive FA Cup games for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Kane could be set for a historic evening if he can add to his 14-goal haul in his last 14 FA Cup appearances to eclipse Jimmy Greaves’ all-time top-scorer record for Tottenham.
Hot streak: Preston haven’t failed to score in an FA Cup home game since February 2014 (W3, D1, L4). #tottenham #spurs #FACUP