Tottenham 2 Newport 0: Erik Lamela scores first goal in 16 months as Argentinean stars in comfortable FA Cup win

THE backslapping could have lasted a lifetime.

Mauricio Pochettino’s hug will remain with Newport County manager Michael Flynn forever.

The League Two side were magnificent out there.

Newport are out, beaten by this classy, stylish and composed Spurs side in this FA Cup replay.

They had one bite at the cherry before Harry Kane saved them at Rodney Parade.

Spurs, fast becoming the complete team, were not about to give them another go at it.

They face another test next, heading to back to the muck and bullets of another lower league ground when they face Rochdale.

At Spotland, where the playing surface is covered in sand after a bitter Lancashire winter, these stylish Spurs players will be in for another culture shock.

They are turning into a hardy bunch, finally overcoming Newport in this awkward replay after Dan Butler put through his own net and Erik Lamela scored the second.

Newport, with their travelling fans dreaming of the mother of all upsets at Wembley, can be proud of this performance.

They could not match Tottenham – few can at the minute – but this was their night under the lights.

In the end, no matter how much energy Newport could muster, Tottenham were far too good for them.

The insurance policy – Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli – started this one on the bench.

Tottenham did not need that match-winning combo to ease their way towards their televised tie at Rochdale.

Instead some of the lesser lights came out of the shadows to seal Tottenham’s place in the fifth round.

There will be a few complaints from Newport County, justified in the case of Victor Wanyama’s crunching first half challenge.

Newport captain Joss Labadie was the victim, flattened when the Tottenham midfielder clattered into him.

It was a god-awful tackle, instantly worth of a yellow card and maybe even more.

Wanyama walked the tight-rope after that.

Newport were on the hire wire, with this tie delicately balanced after that mesmeric draw down at Rodney Parade.

Their fans were magnificent, greeting every stray Spurs pass with a raucous cheer as they tried to unsettled the Premier League.

When referee Stuart Attwell gave a decision their way, there was an instant roar of approval.

For a while they believed, growing in confidence every time they tried to get the ball into the feet of Padraig Amond up front.

He was a willing worker up there, tirelessly chasing lost causes and trying to make life uncomfortable for Toby Alderweireld.

In the end, Totteham’s central defender had too much class.

So did Spurs, putting the pressure on this Newport defence in the build up to the opener.

It was coming, even if it did take a big deflection off the boot of left-back Dan Butler as he tried to drag his foot out of the way.

Moussa Sissoko will claim some form of assist because it was his 26th minute cross that eventually found its way past Newport keeper Joe Day.

It was rotten bad luck, there is no doubt about that.

Michael Flynn, the manager who prepared so meticulously for these two fixtures, can be proud of his players.

So can Newport’s fans, the thousands who travelled up to Wembley to watch these amber shirts in action.

They, too, played their part in these two games.

It is down to Tottenham from here on, especially after Lamela scored their second 34 minutes into the first half.

Heung-Min Son worked the opening, slaloming his way into the penalty area to find Lamela with the outside of his left boot.

The Argentinian forward did the rest, putting Spurs in control with a classy finish inside the penalty area.

Tottenham’s cushion gave them chance to experiment, with Fernando Llorente, Son and Lamela all liberated in the second half.

They suddenly had more time, more space and more opportunity to express themselves going forward.
When they arrive at Rochdale later this month, they will need all that and more to survive.