Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou calls out ‘vile’ abuse from Tamworth fans during FA Cup win | OneFootball

Spurs head coach says some of the comments he heard crossed a line

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says he was subjected to “vile and detestable” abuse and had objects thrown at him by a minority of Tamworth supporters in Sunday's FA Cup tie at the non-League club.

Postecoglou playfully interacted with supporters ahead of the match but says some of the comments he heard crossed a line.

"As I said after the game, credit to Andy [Peaks, Tamworth boss] and his players and the people of Tamworth at the football club," Postecoglou said.

Postecoglou, here arriving at the Lamb Ground on Sunday, says he was subjected to ‘detestable’ abuse

AFP via Getty Images

"I thought they did themselves proud on the day with the way they presented everything, 90 per cent of the crowd were very good and enjoyed the banter.

"There was 10 per cent who were pretty unacceptable.

"The stuff I heard was pretty vile and detestable, and getting things thrown at me, not a great experience, mate but we’re kind of expected to be the bigger person. I would have loved to have turned around and not be the bigger person in that moment, but you deal with it and go on."

It will be very different surroundings for Postecoglou's Spurs on Wednesday, when they face rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a crunch north London derby.

Postecoglou is yet to beat Mikel Arteta's team in three attempts, with Spurs going down 1-0 at home in September, and he believes this week's derby is "as big as they come" for the club, who are 12th in the table and 16 points behind their neighbours going into the match.

Asked about the rivalry, Postecoglou said: "I felt it was intense from the moment I arrived but at the same time I've never tried to be disingenuous about this stuff and say 'this means the world to me' when I've literally just arrived.

"But you get the context of the game and what it means to the club and supporters and what it means for our season. From that perspective, right from the first time we played them, I was well aware.

"It's like being up in Glasgow, you're well aware of know what it means and the ramifications of both the positive and negative. I've been on it for the first game. This year is as big as they ever come, especially for us and our season. We have to start winning games in the League and no better place to start.

"I don't like framing games in terms of turning points because then you've got to go up to Everton and face David [Moyes] at the weekend.

"So there's no easy games. But in the position we're in in the league, irrespective of turning points we need to start winning games and moving up the table. While this is a massive challenge tomorrow night, it's an opportunity for us to do that."