Colchester vs. Tottenham: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info

Sam RookeJan 28, 2016

Tottenham are on their worst run in the FA Cup since 1978 when they broke a six-year run of failing to move past the fourth round.

Since 2012, they've fallen to Leeds United, Arsenal and Leicester City in the early stages.

Having drawn League One strugglers Colchester United in this year's competition, they'll be hoping to improve on that record.

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Colchester are rock bottom, 24th, in League One. They've won just eight games this season, but three of those have come in the FA Cup.

None of their vanquished foes so far—Wealdstone, Altrincham and Charlton—are on Spurs' level, but their ability to rise in the cup should be noted.

Team News

Spurs have a trip to Carrow Road on Tuesday, a vital fixture in their Premier League campaign, and so will likely field a heavily rotated team against Colchester.

Jan Vertonghen is one player certain to miss this match, having suffered a knee injury against Crystal Palace, per The Guardian.

According to Liam Apicella of SportsMole.co.uk, Colchester rested experienced campaigners Nicky Shorey and Darren Ambrose in their last match, and both could return against Spurs.

Crystal Palace's English striker Connor Wickham (L) vies with Tottenham Hotspur's Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld (R) during the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in south London on Janu

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Alex Gilbey has been the subject of transfer interest from Bristol City, according to the Bristol Post's Dan Newman, but seems unlikely to miss the game.

Predicted Lineups

Tottenham

Goalkeeper — Michel Vorm

Defence — Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireld, Kevin Wimmer, Ben Davies

Midfield — Tom Carroll, Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli, Josh Onomah, Harry Winks

Attack — Heung-Min Son

Colchester

Goalkeeper — Jake Kean

Defence — Richard Brindley, Tom Eastman, Alex Wynter, Nicky Shorey

Midfield — Darren Ambrose, Alex Gilbey, Owen Garvan, George Moncur

Attack — Marvin Sordell, Chris Porter

Player to Watch

George Moncur's decision to leave West Ham for a permanent contract with Colchester in 2014 shows genuine self-belief. He has been a star in a struggling team since then, scoring 16 goals in two years from midfield. A former Tottenham schoolboy, too, he'll undoubtedly be desperate to show his best form in this fixture.

The knee injury suffered by Vertonghen in last weekend's victory over Crystal Palace threatens to undermine Spurs' excellent season.

His partnership with Belgian compatriot Toby Alderweireld has been the perfect foundation for coach Mauricio Pochettino's exciting young team.

Against Colchester, Kevin Wimmer will get a chance to play alongside Alderweireld, and they can begin to develop their own pairing. Wimmer's performance in this fixture will be an important indication of just how costly Vertonghen's absence could be.

Key Battle

With a mismatch like this one, the only real test should be to Spurs' motivation.

Colchester deploy with a four-man midfield and two traditional forwards, while Spurs will play five in the middle and utilise the tactically flexible Son to create overwhelming numerical superiority.

There is no chance of the home side competing in midfield. They will be quickly forced into a defensive posture where they will attempt to frustrate Spurs.

Should Colchester prove capable of resisting, their ability to hurt Tottenham on the counter will be key.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur makes a save during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on January 23, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

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Spurs' overwhelming numbers in attack against the opposition's attempted counterattacks has been the standard through the majority of their games this season.

That will be the key battle again in this match.