Opinion: Five players who were outstanding against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup

Tottenham Hotspur picked up their first win of the new year tonight as they defeated Middlesbrough 2-1, but the clean sheet eluded them once more.

Spurs have booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup where they will take on Southampton later this month.

Let’s take a look at five Tottenham players who did the fans proud tonight:

Japhet Tanganga – 

The man of the match. After a sensational Premier League debut against Liverpool at centre-back, this time Tanganga lined up at right-back for his FA Cup debut. However, the youngster was perhaps even more impressive. He showed the same intensity, strength, and mature defending, but also managed to present a great turn of pace to get up and down the flank all game. Different class.

Giovani Lo Celso –

Finally reaching his best in a Spurs shirt. The ball stuck to his feet like glue tonight as he showed all the grace, technique, and creativity of the Eriksen of old. However, Lo Celso was also not afraid to get stuck in, demonstrated by his opening goal when he won the ball high up the pitch. This lad could be very special.

Erik Lamela – 

I just have a feeling that, if fit, Lamela is going to be very much a Jose Mourinho kind of player. You know what you are going to get with him, 100% effort, passion, creativity, ball retention, and someone who can commit players and drag the team up the pitch. Already linking up well with his fellow Argentine Lo Celso.

Paulo Gazzaniga – 

Made some very smart stops tonight in the Tottenham goal, including some fast reactions that spared the blushes of Davinson Sanchez in what could have been a nasty own goal. Gazza’s distribution on the break was also top-notch, and he even had the confidence to come rushing off his line to win the ball in the second half.

Ryan Sessegnon – 

I still feel he has a lot more to offer, but the young man simply does not put a foot wrong at the moment. I get the feeling that he chooses to remain defensively solid for the time being, rather than unleashing his full pace and power down that left-wing.

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