by Marcus Bennett

Stevenage 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fifth Round Proper
2pm, Sunday 19 February 2012
Broadhall Way, Stevenage FC
Live on ITV1
Each club will receive the live TV broadcast fee of £212,000
Winning club will receive £180,000 from The FA prize fund

Stevenage fought bravely to hold Tottenham to a goalless draw at Broadhall Way to keep their hopes alive of a first-ever FA Cup quarter-final.

The League One side were not overawed by their Premier League opponents but breathed a sigh of relief as a second-half Louis Saha goal looked like it would send the North Londoners a step closer to Wembley before being disallowed for offside as the ball hit Scott Parker on the goal line.

A scrappy but entertaining first half saw the home side take an expected early long ball assault on Tottenham’s defence. But this soon graduated into more industrious attacking play through the midfield with Michael Bostwick and Luke Freeman impressing in particular.

Just as against Watford in the previous round, Spurs were not being allowed to find their rhythm. The North Londoners resorted to their own long ball tactics to an increasingly isolated Jermain Defoe, much to Redknapp’s frustration on the sidelines. The blustery conditions were not helping either side's efforts, although Stevenage looked the more comfortable.

The visitors were not able to put enough pressure on the League One side but soon realised that Danny Rose was the best outlet on the left flank where he had the beating of Stevenage right-back Ronnie Henry. And it was from Rose that came Tottenham’s best effort of the first half when he made half a yard on Henry to put in a dangerous cross to the on-running Kyle Walker. The wing back leapt well in between the Stevenage defenders but glanced his header just wide.

Stevenage ended the first half with a confidence-building period of pressure, striker Chris Beardsley with one of the best chances as he came within inches of getting his head onto a low corner that made its way across the six-yard area, only for the Tottenham defence to clear.

Within the first minute of the second half, Tottenham gave the home side a reminder of their quality when Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale made a surging 20-yard run towards the Stevenage penalty area. As the defence parted from the decoy runs of Defoe and Saha, Bale shot powerfully towards goal, but Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day was its equal with a fine save to tip the ball round the post.

Ten minutes into the second half, Tottenham thought they had finally broken the deadlock. Dangerman Rose once again pushed for the byline and whipped in a low cross that Day could only parry. Saha was quickest to react and struck the ball into the net. But assistant referee Darren Cann did well to spot the ball hitting Spurs midfielder Scott Parker on the goal line before going in, ruling the effort offside.

Stevenage also began to up the tempo with Joe Byrom finding more and more space just outside the Spurs penalty area. Twice he was allowed time to turn and unleash two thunderous left-footed strikes to trouble Carlo Cudicini, one whistling just over the bar.

Redknapp made two substitutions as he tried to avoid the possibility of a replay. Niko Kranjcar and Aaron Lennon came on for Walker and Rose respectively as the manager looked to freshen things up in the midfield and push for a winner. But Stevenage began sit back and defend deep in the final period of the game as manager Gary Smith started to eye a lucrative replay, which they eventually did earn.

Stevenage
16 Chris Day, 25 Ronnie Henry, 5 Jon Ashton, 14 Mark Roberts, 3 Scott Laird, 2 Lawrie Wilson, 24 Michael Bostwick, 13 Joel Byrom, 15 Luke Freeman (6 Phil Edwards, 88), 20 Chris Beardsley (12 Ben May, 67), 4 Darius Charles (18 Don Cowan, 87)
Substitutes not used 1 Alan Julian, 8 Stacy Long, 11 Jennison Myrie-Williams, 10 Craig Reid

Manager Gary Smith

Tottenham Hotspur
23 Carlo Cudicini, 20 Michael Dawson, 33 Ryan Nelson, 4 YounesKaboul – 28 Kyle Walker (21 NikoKranjcar 64mins), 29 Jake Livermoore, 8 Scott Parker, 3 Gareth Bale, 25 Danny Rose (7 Aaron Lennon 81mins) – 15 Louis Saha, 18 Jermain Defoe
Substitutes not used 24 Brad Freidel, 26 Ledley King, 36 Bongani Khumalo, 45 Massimo Luongo, 42 Simon Dawkins

Manager Harry Redknapp

Referee Phil Dowd
Assistant Referees Darren Cann & Michael McDonough
Fourth Official Anthony Taylor