Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou commended his team for their composure and persistence during a challenging FA Cup match against Tamworth. The Premier League side faced a spirited National League opponent, who managed to hold them to a goalless draw after 90 minutes at the Lamb Ground. Despite the tough conditions, Tottenham's quality eventually prevailed in extra-time.Nathan Tshikuna's own-goal broke the deadlock, followed by goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson, securing Tottenham's victory. Postecoglou expressed satisfaction with his players' attitude under pressure. "It was a challenging game as we expected it to be," he told ITV. "They made it hard for us. With the surface, it was about us staying calm and being persistent in our football."The manager noted that his team anticipated finishing strong as Tamworth began to tire heading into extra-time. He acknowledged the potential pitfalls of such matches but praised his players for maintaining focus. "We knew we would finish strong, and you could see they were tiring a bit [heading into extra-time]. It's a game of football you go into it with trepidation, and knowing you can slip up with the challenges."Defender Archie Gray admitted that Tottenham had to work hard for their win. He praised Tamworth for pushing them to extra-time despite their league position. "I think the most important thing is we got the win," he said. "Credit to them, they took us to extra-time being where they are in the league, and credit to them."Gray acknowledged that several players struggled during regular time but highlighted how their fitness shone through in the final stages. "We were not good enough for 90 minutes - quite a few of us were not at the races today," he added. "The quality shone through in the last 15 minutes."

Gray also reflected on playing on difficult pitches, recalling similar experiences from his youth. He appreciated the fans' support throughout the match and embraced the challenge of playing in such conditions. "We have all played on these pitches when we were younger, so it is not different for us," he mentioned.Postecoglou concluded by acknowledging Tamworth's commendable performance and expressing satisfaction with achieving their goal of advancing to the next round. "Tamworth did really well and should be proud of their efforts," he stated. "For us, we move on."