Spurs' Cup dream on hold after Stevenage stalemate

STEVENAGE, England, Feb 19, 2012 (AFP) - Premier League title-chasers Tottenham Hotspur were held to a shock goalless draw away to third tier Stevenage in the fifth round of the FA Cup here on Sunday.

Spurs did put the ball in the net early in the second half but saw the goal ruled out for offside and now the club in third place in the Premier League must try again at home in a replay for a place in the quarter-finals.

Stevenage, who entered the Football League two years ago, won promotion from fourth tier League Two to third tier League One at the first attempt and knocked Newcastle United out of the FA Cup in the third round last season.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp named a strong starting line-up that included Gareth Bale, Scott Parker and Jermain Defoe.

Ryan Nelsen, the New Zealand international who left Blackburn Rovers on transfer deadline day, was handed a first start as part of a three-man defence, and Louis Saha, another newcomer, began in search of another goal to add to the two he netted in his first two games.

Tottenham survived an early appeal for handball in the box when the ball struck captain Michael Dawson and the opening exchanges also saw Defoe stab just wide at the near post.

Danny Rose's shot, which went out for a throw-in, did not improve the mood of an agitated Redknapp, who had seen his team struggle to beat Championship side Watford in the fourth round.

Saha almost broke the deadlock in the 35th minute when he chested the ball down in the box but the challenges of two defenders saw the France international fire the ball over.

Dawson saw an effort hacked off the line and Stevenage's counter attack took them all the way to the Spurs area and Scott Laird's header from Luke Freeman's free-kick had to be palmed over by goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.

Saha's block in the box saw another penalty appeal for handball ignored by referee Phil Dowd and rightly so as it had hit the forward on the chest and the half ended with Tottenham having to repel a Stevenage barrage.

Tottenham started the second half with a 25-yard drive from Bale that Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, a former Spurs player, did well to tip round his left-hand post.

Stevenage continued to retaliate however and Michael Bostwick was just too high with a long-range effort but they had linesman Darren Cann to thank for not falling behind in the 55th minute.

The home defence failed to deal with a Rose cross from the left and Saha applied a close-range finish that went in off Parker on the line.

The England midfielder may have been trying to get off the pitch but only succeeded in getting the goal disallowed for offside.

Joel Byrom fired just over at the other end and then forced Cudicini into a fumbling save that required Nelsen to clear before Chris Beardsley could pounce.

Stevenage substitute Don Cowan fired wide in stoppage time before the final whistle confirmed the hosts were in the quarter final draw where, if they win the replay, they will be at home to another Premier League side in Bolton.

str/jdg/pi