BBC football pundit Mark Lawrenson has shared his prediction ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup third round.
Tottenham Hotspur make the trip north to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Boro, who are managed by former Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate currently find themselves in sixteenth place in the Championship table.
Realistically, the FA Cup represents Tottenham’s best chance of winning silverware this season having already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup to lower league opposition.
Ironically, it was Woodgate who was the hero when Spurs last won a competitive trophy back in 2008 with his injury time header proving to be the winning goal against Chelsea in the League Cup final at Wembley.
Lawrenson believes that Spurs are in for a tough match on Teesside and will need to be careful in facing a side who are currently in a good run of form.
He has tipped Spurs to be held to a 1-1 draw, whilst predicting that the Jose Mourinho’s side would win the replay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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The former Liverpool defender told BBC Sport: “Tottenham might find it tough against Middlesbrough too. They will be without Harry Kane (hamstring) and were not having a good time of it anyway.
“Spurs boss Jose Mourinho will have to be careful in this tie – I was at Deepdale on Wednesday when Boro beat Preston and they are a strong team physically, with plenty of height in their attack, and they have found a bit of form too.
“Prediction: Middlesbrough v Tottenham: 1-1 (away team to win at home in the replay).”
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