Lawrenson predicts FA Cup score – Thinks Boro will ‘fancy their chances’ of beating Spurs

Mark Lawrenson believes Middlesbrough will fancy their chances of beating Tottenham this evening if Antonio Conte does not field a full-strength team.

Tottenham will travel to the Riverside Stadium this evening, knowing that a victory will book a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Antonio Conte has admitted that while he hopes to take Spurs all the way, winning the trophy will not be easy, given the number of top teams still left in the competition (Football.London).

Boro won on penalties against Manchester United at Old Trafford at the start of February to book their place in the fifth round.

Lawrenson thinks the Championship club will believe they can overturn the Lilywhites at the Riverside Stadium after getting past the Red Devils.

While he predicted Tottenham to book their place in the quarter-final, the pundit admitted that the result could depend on which Spurs side turn up and the line up that Conte names.

Lawrenson told BBC Sport: “Middlesbrough knocked Manchester United out in the last round and I’m sure they will fancy their chances of another shock here, especially at home.

“Boro’s charge for the play-offs has stuttered a bit because of their poor away form – they lost at struggling Barnsley on Saturday, which shows you what the Championship is like – but they have won seven in a row at Riverside Stadium.

“This is going to be a very interesting tie because I don’t have a clue what sort of side Tottenham boss Antonio Conte will put out, or whether they will turn up, performance-wise.

“Spurs rolled Leeds over on Saturday but we can’t read too much into that result because of the number of goals Leeds were conceding before Marcelo Bielsa’s departure.

“If Tottenham play like they did at Turf Moor against Burnley last week, Boro have got every chance. The same applies if Conte leaves out his best players.

“Whether Conte picks Harry Kane and Son Heung-min or not will tell us a lot about Tottenham’s targets this season. Does he fancy a cup run, or is it all about making fourth place in the Premier League?

“My thinking there is that Spurs don’t play again until next Monday when they host Everton. So why not go strong to try to win this one and get in the hat for the quarter-finals? Prediction: 0-2.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think there is any chance of Conte not starting with a full-strength team. Not only do we not play again until Monday but the Italian will want to do everything possible to win the FA Cup, now that we are out of Europe and a top-four finish looks to be an uphill task.

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