Spurs will host League Two Newport at Wembley in between crucial Premier League games against Liverpool and Arsenal, an extra game they did not need in during a busy month. But amid their Premier League and Champions League commitments, Dier said that the different challenge presented by the FA Cup made it a rich experience.
“Everything about it is different, but that’s the beauty of the FA Cup,” Dier said after Spurs 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade on Saturday evening. “The FA Cup is a beautiful thing in that sense. It’s a completely different challenge, for us and for them. It’s an enjoyable experience and we definitely didn’t want our journey to finish here.”
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Dier admitted that Spurs’ playing on high-quality pitches meant that they were less prepared for the challenge of a pitch that is shared with two rugby teams. “I've played on a lot worse, I think everyone has,” Dier said. “Obviously at the beginning you need to get used to it because nowadays we're spoiled in the sense that we never play on a pitch like this one. Once you get into the game, it goes to the back of your mind.”
The novelty of playing against a League Two side gave Tottenham a tactical problem to solve. “You never know what to expect from these teams,” Dier said. “Obviously you don't play against them very often so it's a completely new experience. You don't know if they're going to sit off or try to press.”
Dier put Spurs’ second half fight-back, forcing the replay, down to their mental strength and resilience. “The way we started the second half, I was always comfortable we would get back into the game,” Dier said. “We've done that a lot in the past and we believe in that. We back ourselves to get back into every games and today was no different.”
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