Spurs target FA Cup Progress as Ho previews London City Clash

Tottenham Hotspur Women head coach Martin Ho has outlined his squad’s ambition, mentality, and preparation ahead of Monday night’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup fifth-round clash against London City Lionesses at Hayes Lane.

The fixture, which kicks off at 19:30 and will be broadcast live on TNT Sport, represents another key test for a Spurs side seeking to establish themselves a genuine contender in domestic cup competition.

Team News

Ho confirmed that Spurs will travel with a largely unchanged squad from the previous match, with one positive development:

“The same as the last game. Charli Grant is back in contention. She’s trained extensively this week and will be available for selection. Aside from that, we are as we were”.

Drew Spence will remain sidelined with her final game of a three-match ban following a red card sustained in January, but all other players remain in contention for selection in the FA Cup.

FA Cup Ambition

The Spurs boss was clear about the importance of the competition and the club’s long-term objectives:

“It’s a distinguished competition. We want to go deep in it. If we want to be a successful club, we must consistently aim to be in the later stages of tournaments like this. Staff and players all understand how important the FA Cup is”.

Ho emphasised that Spurs are not entering the competition merely to participate, but to compete seriously for honours.

Respect for the Opposition

Reflecting on previous meetings and the evolution of London City Lionesses, Ho acknowledged the scale of the challenge:

“They have excellent squad depth, a strong mix of youth and experience, and a new coach who has changed their style. They’ve been competitive against top teams recently, and they’ve invested well in their squad”.

He added that defensively they must be alert to avoid repeating the mistakes made against the independent side earlier this season:

“We know it will be difficult. We must turn up, perform, and correct areas that hurt us before - particularly defensively”.

Lessons from the Villa Victory

Spurs’ recent 7-3 win at Villa Park drew praise for attacking quality but also prompted defensive reflection:

“The attacking performance pleased me-the energy, the creativity, the ruthlessness. But conceding three goals isn’t acceptable at the highest level. Two of them were preventable, and if you do that consistently, you rely on outscoring opponents. That’s not sustainable”.

Ho stressed that defensive responsibility is a collective, with teamwork being at the forefront of his vision:

“It doesn’t start and end with the goalkeeper. It starts from the front. Defence is a team process”.

Cathinka Tandberg praise

Ho praised Cathinka Tandberg following her brace in the previous match. Despite coming on as a second-half substitute, the Norwegian forward impacted the game and showed passion and belief when she put herself on the scoresheet:  

“She’s a diligent worker, she loves Tottenham, and her goals were proof of her quality. She’s been managing her recovery well, and her time will come. Selection will depend on what’s best for the team and the game plan.”

Mentality Shift

The Spurs manager described a cultural evolution within the squad: 

“I’d describe us as more ruthless now. More aggressive. Harder to play against. You need that edge to be successful. We’re building a team that’s competitive mentally as well as technically.”

Club Recognition 

Spurs Women’s recent award nominations were also addressed, with credit given to the staff and team as a whole, rather than Ho’s individual recognition of his award: 

“I’m proud, but it’s a collective effort. The players, staff, and backroom team do an incredible amount of work. Football success is never individual-it’s always shared.”

Focus on the Task Ahead

Despite wider ambitions, Ho made clear the immediate priority:  

“We don’t look too far ahead. If you do that, you fail. The focus is London City Lionesses. If we get through this, then we focus on the next challenge.”

Broadcast Stage

With the match being televised nationally, Ho welcomed the exposure to the women’s game but reminded that it brings pressure to perform and grow viewership for the club:

“It’s a great opportunity for the players. We want to put on a strong performance for everyone watching and represent the club properly”.