Wycombe Wanderers 1-4 Tottenham: Jose Mourinho wants to fight in every competition

Jose Mourinho insists Tottenham will “not give up any competition” after late goals from Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele ensured Spurs overcame a scare against a spirited Wycombe side to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

But Gareth Bale marked a rare start with the equaliser just before half-time, hooking in Lucas Moura’s cross.

Tottenham upped the pressure in the second half, but Wycombe repelled numerous attacks as they looked set to take the game to extra time.

However, with Mourinho having sent on key players Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Ndombele, the away side’s quality eventually told as Winks curled home to give Spurs the lead with four minutes to go.

Ndombele ensured there would be no late drama when he finished from close range and then stabbed home a fourth in injury time to set Tottenham up with a fifth-round tie at Everton.

Spurs have already reached the final of the Carabao Cup and are also in the knockout stage of the Europa League.

They also host Liverpool in the Premier League on Thursday and Mourinho said not choosing to rest Kane, Son and Ndombele for that fixture highlighted his determination to win in every competition they play in.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Even when we had to play four matches in one week and people thought we were going to give away Europa League or Carabao Cup we didn’t. We fought. Today we brought the whole squad – only Hugo Lloris stayed at home. We are going to fight.

“We want to keep going. February we have to play three competitions because FA Cup and then comes Europa League. Of course it will be very hard but we have to try.”

Ndombele continues Spurs revival

There were times last season when Ndombele appeared to be heading for the Tottenham exit as he struggled to make an impression following his move to Spurs for a club record £53.8m in the summer of 2019.

However, he is proving to be one of Spurs’ best players this season – arguably as crucial as Kane and Son – and he once again showed his quality with his late cameo.

His first goal allowed Tottenham to breathe easy but his second was one of real quality, confusing the Wycombe defence with superb footwork before firing in at the near post.

It was yet another piece of inventive play from the France midfielder, who scored a brilliant hooked finish against Sheffield United on 17 January.

Ndombele has now scored four goals in his past six appearances for Spurs, having hit four in his 48 games prior to that, underlining his impressive revival at the club.

“He is very creative,” added Mourinho. “He is one of those players that can break the balance.

“They tried to get him man against man but he can break that – plus on top of that he can score a goal for us.”

‘I am flattered they had to put some big names on’

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth on BT Sport: “The scoreline is probably not a reflection of the game although they were fantastic at the end – I am flattered they had to put some big names on to get in front.

“We looked tired. We have given everything and there is no disgrace from our boys, really proud – we will take a lot of heart from this.

“We go again, it’s not going to be the FA Cup but I am determined to stay in the Championship.”

Spurs’ cup record continues – the stats

• Tottenham have progressed from 21 of their past 22 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division.
• Wycombe have lost 15 of their 26 games in all competitions this season, three more than they did in 43 matches last season.
• There were just 72 seconds between Harry Winks giving Tottenham the lead and Tanguy Ndombele making it 3-1.
• Fred Onyedinma has scored in back-to-back appearances for Wycombe in all competitions (both in the FA Cup), having scored in none of his first 24 games this season.
• Gareth Bale has been involved in nine goals in his past six starts in the FA Cup for Tottenham (four goals, five assists), with his equalising goal tonight his first in the competition in 2,942 days since netting vs Coventry in January 2013.
• Harry Winks has scored two goals in his past nine games for Tottenham in all competitions, as many as he had in his first 151 appearances for the club.
• Lucas Moura has been involved in 10 goals in 12 FA Cup starts (four goals, six assists), more than any other Spurs player since his debut for the club in the competition in February 2018.
• Tanguy Ndombele became the first substitute to score twice in a match for Tottenham since Roman Pavlyuchenko against Birmingham in May 2011.