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      I’m one of FA Cup’s top scorers looking to cause a shock but I only play football part-time and have very different job

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      JOE TAYLOR is a sales executive aiming for glory in the FA Cup.The Ramsgate FC striker is set for the biggest crowd in his career in the second-round clash against a League Two side.
      Joe Taylor is hoping to cause a shock in the FA CupCredit: Louis McLaren
      Ramsgate will play AFC Wimbledon at Plough LaneCredit: Getty
      The Isthmian South East league outfit have been on a magical run in the FA Cup, having knocked out multiple teams above them.
      The club have already played seven games in the competition, including three qualifying rounds to make it to the first round proper.
      They made it past the first round after coming from behind to beat National League side Woking 2-1 at the Southwood Stadium.
      Ramsgate are currently three tiers below their next cup opponents AFC Wimbledon.
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      Taylor, 32, has been a key member of the “total football” playing side and he has insisted that Ramsgate are relishing being the underdogs.
      He told SunSport: “As a team we have beaten a lot of opposition from higher levels which has been particularly pleasing.
      “It doesn’t feel like we have had an easy game at any point, we have only faced one team that is at a lower level than us.
      “We have been up against it and been underdogs the whole way and we have embraced that.
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      “It has been really good and really fun.
      “When it comes to Wimbledon, we won’t freeze up and we won’t be outclassed.”
      Football is not Taylor’s full-time job, as he works for a construction company as a sales executive.
      He started working there when it was owned by his father. However, it has since been sold to new owners.
      Taylor has netted nine goals in the FA Cup already this seasonCredit: Louis McLaren
      Taylor works as a sales executive in his day job
      But away from the office and on the pitch, Taylor has been in fine form in the FA Cup, having netted nine goals which is one less than the competition’s top scorer.
      He said: “If I get one more, I will share the trophy, and if I get two I might get to go Wembley and pick up the Golden Ball trophy.
      “On a personal level, it would be amazing for me.”
      Taylor is looking forward to the match as he will be swapping average crowds of 1,000 spectators for a potential crowd of over 9,000 at Plough Lane.
      Taylor will be swapping Ramsgate’s Southwood Stadium for the next FA Cup clashCredit: Dan Whitehead
      To make the occasion even more special, the game at Wimbledon will be televised on ITV on December 4.
      He said: “That will beat the most attended crowd that I have ever played in front of.
      “There is so much excitement, we are riding the wave.
      “As soon as I saw the draw, playing at a ground like that is lovely and will be a real occasion.
      “We will fill out the away end and we will never forget playing there live on tele.”
      As part of Taylor’s pre-match ritual he always gets a fresh haircut before a match.
      He joked that he might get the FA Cup cut into the side of his hair to celebrate the day.
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      “My team-mates always take the mick out of me because I always get my hair cut before every game without fail”, he said.
      “I best get a haircut that weekend, maybe I will get a little FA Cup in the side of my hair for that game in particular.”
      Taylor will be getting a haircut before the matchCredit: Twitter
      Taylor gets a fresh trim before every gameCredit: @JoeTaylor28 More

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      FA Cup tie involving former winners postponed as club forced to turn back on motorway after INVESTIGATION launched

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      FOREST GREEN ROVERS were forced to turn around on the MOTORWAY last night after their FA Cup second round clash at Blackpool today was postponed due to an FA investigation.SunSport understands the FA are looking into a potential player paperwork issue involving League Two club Rovers during their first round victory over National League North side Scarborough Athletic.
      The tie between Blackpool and Forest Green Rovers is OFFCredit: Getty
      Rovers are expecting to hear an outcome of the investigation by the end of the weekend.
      In a statement, Forest Green Rovers said: “We will comply with the FA in their investigation and will provide a full update to supporters in the coming days once the investigation is complete.
      “Forest Green Rovers apologises to both FGR and Blackpool fans who planned to attend tomorrow’s fixture.”
      Rovers’ players and coaching staff were on the team bus last night halfway through their 188 mile journey from Gloucestershire to Lancashire when they heard the news before heading back home.
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      Should Rovers be found guilty, sixth tier Scarborough could take their place in the second round and face Blackpool at a later date.
      Rovers drew 1-1 away to Scarborough on November 4 before beating them 5-2 in a first round replay on November 14.
      The news comes just over a week after Barnsley were removed from this year’s FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player during their first round replay against Horsham on November 14.
      Forest Green Rovers and the FA were approached for comment.
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      There will be no match at Bloomfield Road this weekend after the shock news was revealedCredit: PA
      Forest Green Rovers are under investigationCredit: Getty
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      In a statement, Blackpool wrote: “The club can confirm Saturday’s FA Cup second round tie at home to Forest Green Rovers has been postponed.
      “This decision has been made by the FA due to an investigation in relation to a matter involving Forest Green Rovers.
      “Blackpool Football Club would like to apologise to supporters for the inconvenience this has caused and is disappointed to be informed of this news at such short notice.
      “Further details on the outcome of the investigation will be announced in due course.” More

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      I used to eat snakes and hunt birds to live, now I’m chasing FA Cup glory with non-league minnows

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      GEORGE ELOKOBI used to eat snakes, hunt birds and scavenge trash cans to put food in his belly.So the once-hungry kid from the Cameroonian town of Kumba is not daunted by managing National League South Maidstone against a League Two Barrow side 46 places above them in the pyramid.
      Maidstone United boss George Elokobi gets ready to beat the odds again
      George Elokobi was a cult hero at Wolves and famously scored against Manchester United in a 2-1 win to end their 29-match Premier League run without a loss
      Elokobi, 37, is no stranger to beating the odds as his incredible journey took him to becoming a Premier League star at Wolves — and recently appearing in hit TV comedy Ted Lasso alongside Pep Guardiola.
      The Molineux cult hero spent six years at the club and famously scored in a 2-1 win against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United to end their 29-game run without a league loss in 2011 as they romped to the title.
      He told SunSport: “Life was tough as a kid. My dad died when I was 10 of diabetes. He was my role model.
      “I sometimes had to go without meals. I was having to eat out of trash cans. I was a scavenger. 
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      “Also I hunted birds. I’d either used a catapult or set traps. I also had to catch and eat snakes or digest raw potatoes taken from the ground without even washing them.
      “I had to make do with anything I could put in my stomach.
      “Sometimes we had no electricity for weeks and had to read with candlelight.
      “It was a life without having real running water, where we had to walk miles to fetch water, then miles back.” 
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      Elokobi and his friends even played football without a proper ball because they could not afford one — having to make do with kicking carrier bags wrapped around each other or plastic bottles while in bare feet.
      He said: “We played on the streets, in the backyard, on concrete. We even played on a pitch the local brewery owned.
      “There was broken glass everywhere and, because we were in bare feet, we’d get lots of cuts. We just had to crack on with it.
      I hunted birds. I’d either use a catapult or set traps. I also had to catch and eat snakes or digest raw potatoes taken from the ground without even washing them.”George Elokobi
      “All of these things are something I’m not ashamed about because it made me the person I am today. It taught me determination, resilience and bravery.”
      After the death of his dad, Martin, his mum Irene left Elokobi and his 12 older siblings in Cameroon as she sought work in the UK to help better support her family.
      And after six years she managed to get Elokobi a visa to study in the UK — which proved a pivotal moment.
      He joined the Dulwich Hamlet youth system but aged 18 was spotted by Colchester scouts and got signed after a trial by now Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.
      George Elokobi takes training ahead of Maidstone’s big FA Cup clash with Barrow
      Wolves cult hero George Elokobi is in his first managerial job at Maidstone United
      Then after four years with the U’s Elokobi got a huge break when Mick McCarthy signed him for Wolves in 2008 for £500,000 — and despite suffering a serious knee ligament injury that kept him out for most of the 2008-09 season got promoted to the top flight with the club.
      Elokobi said: “It’s something I was so proud of because until I moved to England aged 16, I had not received any coaching. In Cameroon I didn’t have access to that.
      “I owe my whole football career to my mum because she got me over here and has been my rock.
      “As a youngster, I was a rough diamond and made up for any limitations in my ability with sheer hard work when I came to England.
      “From the moment I joined Colchester to the day I moved to Wolves I didn’t take a single day off. I spent every day improving myself.”
      Elokobi ended up making 103 outings for Wolves before moving on to Bristol City, Oldham, back to Colchester, Braintree, Leyton Orient and Aldershot before hanging up his boots with Maidstone.
      During his career he won promotion FOUR times and despite being a defender has scored in every single division from National League South to the Premier League.
      Also he played for Cameroon and when appointed Maidstone boss in March became the first person from the West African state to ever manage an English side.
      And earlier this year he played as a Manchester City player with Jay Bothroyd in Ted Lasso with Pep Guardiola managing the team at the Etihad against fictional team Richmond FC.
      George Elokobi appears as a Manchester City player in TV smash comedy Ted Lasso
      Fictional Richmond FC boss Ted Lasso greets Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola
      Elokobi said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to be part of that episode.
      “I hadn’t taken over as Maidstone manager yet so had a bit of time for such projects — and it was great to not only be part of the cast but see how it all works in the filming industry.
      “And of course it was an honour to be part of that scene with Pep and Manchester City — and spending a day filming at the Etihad. 
      “Ted Lasso is a great show. I love that it paints a picture of a manager mucking about with football who becomes a master at the end. 
      “In a lot of ways, it paints something that can happen for real. Anything is possible.”
      And does that extend to Maidstone beating Barrow and progressing to the third-round for the first time since the club was reformed in 1992?
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      Elokobi said: “Of course. We’re going to give it our best shot. We know Barrow are a good side but no-one should write anyone off.
      “As you can see from my own journey, write me off at your peril.”
      Mick McCarthy is my life mentorGEORGE ELOKOBI says he owes a debt of gratitude to Mick McCarthy for plucking out a rough diamond and making him into a Premier League star.
      The defender was playing in the Championship for Colchester when McCarthy snapped him up for Wolves in a £500,000 deal.
      And Elokobi ended up playing in the top flight at Molineux during six happy years at the club.
      He said: “Mick and I still keep in touch and in fact he was the first person to congratulate me when I got the Maidstone job.
      “I was a rough diamond, not the finished article, when he signed me from Colchester. I’ll forever be grateful to him for giving me a chance.
      “Working for Mick was really easy. He was someone who just wasn’t a manager, he provided great support to all the players and staff. Everyone felt close to him.
      “He’s a great football man. He always had time to help the players develop and was one of those who just saw raw talent in me and wanted to make me better.
      “Mick assembled a young squad of hungry players and provided a great environment for us to flourish.
      “I feel so privileged to have played in some of the most wonderful stadiums in this country and Mick is still very much my life mentor.” More

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      FA Cup second round tie POSTPONED after pitch inspection following extreme weather sparking fears for weekend clashes

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      THE FA Cup second round clash between Crewe and Bristol Rovers has been postponement.It comes after a pitch inspection found the ground to be unsafe earlier today.
      FA Cup second round clash was postponedCredit: AP
      Crewe’s pitch was deemed unsafe by an EFL officialCredit: Getty
      The game was due to take place tomorrow, December 2, at 3pm.
      However, at 1:15pm today an EFL referee deemed the pitch at Mornflake Stadium to be unsafe following an inspection.
      A statement from Crewe said the pitch had been hit by a “prolonged spell of sub-zero weather conditions this week”.
      There are fears for more football fixtures across the weekend with some areas of the country set to be hit with up to 5cm of snow.
      But the new fixture for the date has already been revealed.
      The re-arranged cup tie will be played on Tuesday, December 12, at 7:45pm.
      A potential replay for the tie will be carried out on Tuesday, December 19.
      High profile Premier League clashes such as Newcastle vs Man Utd and Manchester City vs Tottenham could be disrupted by travel chaos.
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      Meanwhile, games lower down the footballing pyramid face being called off entirely due to the freezing conditions.
      The Met Office has extended its ice warning into the weekend.
      Some places could fall to as low as -10C.
      Hilly areas including the North Yorkshire Moors and parts of Scotland have seen more snowfall this morning.
      Those in certain areas of London have seen the first snowfall of the year today, with flurries spotted in Queen’s Park and Highgate. 
      The “severe weather” has also sparked delayed train services between York and Edinburgh.
      Residents in the north east of England were also forced to bring out their de-icer as rows of houses awoke to frozen windshields and snow covered roads.
      Full FA Cup second round fixture list:

      Notts County v Shrewsbury Town
      York City v Wigan Athletic
      Alfreton Town v Walsall
      Maidstone United v Barrow AFC
      Wycombe Wanderers v Morecambe
      Blackpool v Forest Green Rovers
      Cambridge United v Fleetwood Town
      Bolton Wanderers v Harrogate Town
      Peterborough United v Doncaster Rovers
      Gillingham v Charlton Athletic
      Stevenage v Port Vale
      Newport County AFC v Barnet
      Oxford United v Grimsby Town
      Sutton United v Horsham
      Eastleigh v Reading
      Chesterfield v Leyton Orient
      Aldershot Town v Stockport County
      Wrexham AFC v Yeovil Town
      AFC Wimbledon v Ramsgate
      Crewe Alexandra v Bristol Rovers More

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      When is FA Cup third round draw? Stream FREE, TV channel and ball numbers as Premier League teams enter competition

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      IT’S almost time for football fans to find out who their teams will be paired against in the FA Cup third round draw – and Premier League sides have now joined the equation.Manchester City lifted last year’s trophy on the way to their incredible treble in the 2022/23 season.
      Manchester City won the FA Cup last seasonCredit: Sunday Times
      But teams such as bitter rivals Manchester United, record-holders Arsenal and in-form Liverpool will be determined to dethrone them.
      Find out all the info for the FA Cup third round draw below…
      When is the FA Cup third round draw?

      The FA Cup third round draw is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 3.
      It is scheduled to get underway at approximately 1pm GMT and the build-up will take place between Eastleigh’s second round tie with Reading
      Premier League teams now enter at this stage which will make the draw a little more interesting.

      How can I watch it for FREE?

      ITV will have official coverage of the FA Cup third round draw.
      Fans can also watch the FA Cup third round draw for FREE on the Emirates FA Cup Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts.
      Alternatively, tune into SunSport’s live blog for latest updates as the pairing are announced.

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      What are the ball numbers?
      Here are the ball numbers ahead of the third round draw:
      1. AFC Bournemouth2. Arsenal3. Aston Villa4. Birmingham City5. Blackburn Rovers6. Brentford7. Brighton & Hove Albion8. Bristol City9. Burnley10. Cardiff City11. Chelsea12. Coventry City13. Crystal Palace14. Everton15. Fulham16. Huddersfield Town17. Hull City18. Ipswich Town19. Leeds United20. Leicester City21. Liverpool22. Luton Town23. Manchester City24. Manchester United25. Middlesbrough26. Millwall27. Newcastle United28. Norwich City29. Nottingham Forest30. Plymouth Argyle31. Preston North End32. Queens Park Rangers33. Rotherham United34. Sheffield United35. Sheffield Wednesday36. Southampton37. Stoke City38. Sunderland39. Swansea City40. Tottenham Hotspur41. Watford42. West Bromwich Albion43. West Ham United44. Wolverhampton Wanderers45. Maidstone United or Barrow46. Wycombe Wanderers or Morecambe47. Notts County or Shrewsbury Town48. Chesterfield or Leyton Orient49. Aldershot Town or Stockport County50. Alfreton Town or Walsall51. Blackpool or Forest green Rovers52. Cambridge United or Fleetwood Town53. Bolton Wanderers or Harrogate Town54. Wrexham or Yeovil Town55. Crewe Alexandra or Bristol Rovers56. Peterborough United or Doncaster Rovers57. Eastleigh or Reading58. Gillingham or Charlton Athletic59. Stevenage or Port Vale60. Newport County or Barnet61. Oxford United or Grimsby Town62. York City or Wigan Athletic63. Sutton United or Horsham64. AFC Wimbledon or Ramsgate
      Are there replays in the FA Cup third round?
      If scores are level after 90 minutes plus additional time, replays remain in place for the FA Cup third round.
      However, if the reverse fixture is level after 90 minutes plus added time, an extra 30 minutes will be played with the potential for a penalty shootout if there is still no breakthrough.
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      Fixtures for the third round will take place across the weekend of Saturday, January 6 and Sunday, January 7. More

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      I was axed from FA Cup final squad after fight with Fabrizio Ravanelli – now I’m plotting major cupset

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      NEIL COX’S biggest regret was missing the 1997 FA Cup final for Middlesbrough following a punch-up with team-mate Fabrizio Ravanelli hours before kick off.And York City’s assistant manager is hoping to deliver another knockout blow to former winners Wigan on Friday.
      Neil Cox is hoping for an upset against WiganCredit: Getty
      He missed out on Middlesbrough’s FA Cup final squad in 1997Credit: Getty
      He had a bust-up with Fabrizio Ravanelli before the matchCredit: EPA
      Twenty-six years ago, Bryan Robson’s Boro had just been relegated from the top flight before facing Chelsea in the Wembley showpiece.
      Italian striker Ravanelli was their top scorer but had missed the last two league games with a hamstring injury.
      And former defender Cox told SunSport: “I was asked in an interview before the final what the team should be and I picked Mikkel Beck up front over Ravanelli because he’d been away in Italy for ten days.
      “He read the article just before we had a team picture taken in our suits on the morning of the game, and he wasn’t happy.
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      “I’d just said we needed a fit team but he took offence to it. He spat at me first, throwing a few haymakers before I retaliated before it all got broken up.
      “As it turned out, our friend Ravanelli played 20 minutes without making a run and then his hamstring went. That cost us the game.
      “I had missed a couple of games with a hamstring problem but I was hoping to be a sub, though that incident probably changed the manager’s mind.”
      Roberto Di Matteo’s stunning goal after 43 seconds put the Blues ahead before Eddie Newton made it 2-0 late on.
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      Cox added: “Not being involved is a huge regret as growing up the FA Cup final was one of the biggest games you could be involved in.
      “We’d lost the League Cup final as well, so what could have ended up being one of Middlesbrough’s best seasons in history turned into a nightmare.
      “But that all happened in 1997. I don’t really look back and we’ve got a huge opportunity tonight against the past winners of the competition. We’ve got nothing to lose.”
      Cox moved to York alongside manager Neal Ardley in September, with the Minstermen languishing towards the bottom of the fifth tier.
      While they are still in a relegation dogfight, tonight offers the players a golden chance to put themselves in the hat for the third round.
      York, who have not got that far since 2011, have seen off Needham Market and Chester so far.
      Veteran goalkeeper David Stockdale, 38, will be looking to roll back the years, while top scorer Dipo Akinyemi will provide their greatest threat up front.
      And Cox said: “I had my time, now it is up about us settling our stall out and hopefully getting that bit of luck.
      “It’s going to be tough if they turn up but you never know so it’s about us staying in the game.
      “It doesn’t matter how old you are, the FA Cup is so important, especially for clubs lower down.
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      “Can we get to the third round and have a trip to an Old Trafford or an Anfield?
      “That’s what we’re looking for.”
      David Stockdale will feature for York CityCredit: https://www.instagram.com/yorkcityfc/ More

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      Who is Dorking Wanderers boss Marc White?

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      DORKING Wanderers boss Marc White set up the club in 1999 and has seen the team rise through the ranks ever since.But who is the man at the helm and does he have any coaching badges? Here’s everything you need to know.
      Marc White pictured during a Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Dorking WanderersCredit: Getty
      Who is Marc White?
      Marc White, born October 1, 1973, is an English businessman who is best known for being the founder, chairman, former player and football manager of Dorking Wanderers.
      White founded Dorking Wanderers with friends in 1999 and entered the fledgling team into the Crawley and District League.
      He initially played for the team, as well as running the club and went on to become first team manager.
      White has overseen 12 promotions in 23 years and has seen the club move from the seventeenth-tier of English football to the fifth.
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      In October 2023, fans were left in stiches after the Dorking Wanderers boss went viral following an epic post-match meltdown.
      Dorking lost 2-0 to seventh-tier minnows Horsham in the FA Cup’s fourth qualifying round following goals by Daniel Ajakaiye and Shamir Fenelon.
      And White didn’t hold back when criticising his players.
      He told DWTV: “At the end of the day, they [Horsham] fully deserve to be in the draw and I really hope they get something amazing and life-changing.
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      “So my f*****g s**t players can learn a f*****g lesson because they were so poor.
      “And I will tell you one thing: I will always put my hand up, it’s not about availability, injuries, who was returning, who wasn’t – it wasn’t about that at all.
      “It was about the fact that that team let the fans down 100 per cent, wholeheartedly.
      “Sometimes I get the management team that take the blame part, part blame, some blame, whatever…
      “Today was wholeheartedly a bunch of players that were absolutely s**t.”
      And football fans were left in absolute stitches with what some consider the “best post-match interview of all time”.
      One supporter wrote: “This is the best post-match manager reaction I’ve ever seen.”
      Another commented: “Love your honesty. Managers too often take the can for players’ poor performances.”
      Meanwhile, a third said: ”Need more like Marc. Says it like it is, honest and doesn’t care if he offends. Heart well and truly on sleeve.”
      What role does Marc White play at Dorking Wanderers?
      According to Dorking Wanderers official website, Marc White is currently listed on the senior management and committee section as chairman.
      The website also states that White is the manager of Dorking Wanderers first team, a role he takes on alongside assistant manager Dean Milton.
      Does Marc White have coaching badges?
      As of September 2023, White did not hold any coaching badges.
      A clip of him on the Under The Cosh podcast, explaining in no uncertain terms that he has no plans to get them any time soon, went viral that same month. More

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      Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2: Son Heung-min has hat-trick of goals disallowed as Villans leapfrog Spurs into fourth

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      HOW El Tel would have loved this thriller – if not the result.This was breathless, bonkers, barn-storming football fit to please any crowd.
      Watkins’ goal saw Villa leapfrog above Spurs in the tableCredit: Getty
      The in-form England man hit his seventh of the seasonCredit: Reuters

      And an appropriate tribute to the man who delivered us England 4 Netherlands 1 at Euro 96 with some of the most entertaining attacking play our nation has ever produced.
      Tottenham, the club most associated to the late, great Terry Venables, conjured up most of the thrilling fare, at least in a relentless first half.
      Ange Postecoglou had gone full Ange with his team selection after the disappointing defeat at Wolves before the international break.
      With the handbrake off, his Spurs side scored one but should have had four. They conceded two, yet it could have been five.
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      Playmaker Giovani Lo Celso, making his first league start in more than two years, got the ball rolling with a deflected blast.
      But his former Villarreal team-mate Pau Torres headed home in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time.
      It sent Villa boss Unai Emery, who managed them both at the Yellow Submarine, potty in celebration.
      Emery’s half-time tactical tweaks then came up trumps as Ollie Watkins hit a second-half winner.
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      Pau Torres’ header levelled the score going into the breakCredit: Getty
      He headed home well from a brilliant Douglas Luiz free kickCredit: Reuters

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      It pushed Villa into fourth, just two points off top, and saw them leapfrog Spurs, who for all their exciting play have now lost three on the bounce with Manchester City away to come next week.
      Tottenham were 1-0 up at Wolves a fortnight ago heading into injury time, but somehow lost it 2-1. 
      Postecoglou admitted this week he did not like his team’s performance at Molineux nor how his side ‘looked’.
      The Aussie has not been afraid to make bold calls in his brief tenure so far and did so again here, despite injury and suspension robbing his team of several key men.
      He benched the more conservative Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, played a back four full of full-backs, moved Dejan Kulusevski to No10 and brought in the wiry Bryan Gil.
      The brave approach saw his side make an electric start, playing the kind of football Venables, who passed away yesterday (SUN) at 80, would have appreciated.
      El Tel spent four great years at Spurs between 1987-91, presiding over an FA Cup-winning side blessed with Gary Lineker’s goals and Paul Gascoigne’s genius.
      The home crowd gave the much-loved Venables, who also played more than 100 times for the club, a heartfelt send-off by chanting his name and applauding his memory for a minute before kick-off.
      The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium paid respects to Terry VenablesCredit: PA
      With both sets of players leading the minute-long applauseCredit: Reuters
      Then began the madness as Spurs’ players, wearing black armbands in honour of their former manager, made a blistering start that threatened to overwhelm Villa.
      Destiny Udogie, back from a ban, should have scored inside three minutes when played through by fellow full-back Pedro Porro but blazed over.
      Seconds later, Kulusevski cracked the post, Brennan Johnson saw a rebound deflected and Villa eventually, just about cleared, albeit the ball appeared to bounce on Ezri Konsa’s arm in the process.
      Yet Villa missed a sitter to go ahead two minutes later as Torres rose to meet a Lucas Digne free-kick but somehow planted his header wide.
      Midway through the first half we finally had a goal thanks to Lo Celso smacking the ball in off Diego Carlos after Pedro Porro’s corner had fallen to the Argentine on the edge of the area.
      Lo Celso punched the air in celebration, as did his manager, and you were left wondering if this might be the moment at long last for his Spurs career to take off.
      Signed for a whopping £55million back in 2020, the 27-year-old has had an underwhelming stint in North London – and at one point was bombed out by Antonio Conte.
      But his talent on the ball is obvious and with Postecoglou’s style of play, it could be a winning match, particularly in the injured James Maddison’s absence.
      It was a frustrating day for Son, who had the ball in the net three timesCredit: The Sun
      Giovani Lo Celso looks to have breathed life back into his Spurs careerCredit: Reuters

      Watkins thought he had levelled 23 seconds later as he headed in Digne’s cross, but a forensic VAR check eventually adjudged him offside.
      Rodrigo Bentancur was making his first Spurs start since damaging his anterior cruciate ligament in February.
      So there was understandable anger from the home players when the Uruguayan was crunched by Matty Cash’s naughty tackle.
      It took its toll as on 32 minutes, Bentancur hobbled off and was replaced by Hojbjerg.
      Son Heung-min thought he had doubled the lead just before half-time with a peach of a strike, but again he had strayed offside.
      Torres then made up for his earlier wastefulness with a thumping header from Douglas Luiz’ free-kick with virtually the last touch of the half.
      Emery hauled off the booked Cash and the ineffective Moussa Diaby at the break, bringing on Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey who both had a quick impact.
      Bailey struck the woodwork when his shot was spilled by Vicario, who then kissed the loose ball as he gratefully scooped it up.
      Bentancur’s injury hell looks set to continue after being on the wrong end of a tackle by Matty CashCredit: Reuters
      The story of the game as Villa leapfrogged SpursCredit: The Sun
      While Tielemans played a smart one-two with Watkins just after the hour, allowing the England striker to fire past Vicario and put Villa back ahead.
      Villa came close to another as Digne’s dangerous free-kick was tipped away and Watkins then flicked agonisingly wide.
      Yet Postecoglou’s men pressed on just as he wants them to, no matter the scoreline, and Emi Martinez had to be at his best to deny Johnson and then Hojbjerg from range. 
      Spurs had the ball in the net again with five minutes to go but once more it was ruled out for offside Son, who had turned home the rebound after Porro hit the post.
      It was not to be for the hosts who are now going through a rough patch of results after such a fine start to the campaign – even if the entertaining football keeps on coming in N17. More