José Mourinho full of praise for Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso | OneFootball

Tottenham got off to a flyer on Tuesday but had to hold on late as they advanced to the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough.

Argentines Erik Lamela and Giovani Lo Celso both scored within the first 15 minutes to put Tottenham in control from the onset.

It was Lamela’s first start in three months after suffering a hamstring injury early on while Lo Celso bagged just his second goal since his €60m loan-to-buy move from Real Betis.

After the match, manager José Mourinho praised the duo for their performance and continued perserverance.

“Do you want me to call them [Argentine Tottenham legends] (Osvaldo) Ardiles and (Ricardo) Villa? No. They played very well,” Mourinho said in his post-match press conference.

“Ardiles and Villa would not be ashamed of them for sure. They played very well. The team played very well especially in the first half.

“The second half we started ok but then gave some sloppy reactions to let them feel their way back into the game.

“Jonathan [Woodgate] was not sleeping, he was awake, he was reading the game. He brought on Gestede alongside Fletcher and they started playing long balls, second balls.

“They scored the goal and we had to defend. But the majority of the game our energy was there. We should have scored more goals and killed the cup tie.

“But I am happy with Lamela and Gio. Lamela was out for so long, he has been coming back step by step.

“Playing 20 minutes here, half an hour against Liverpool and 90 here. You could see his fitness is coming.

“Gio again has been step by step. He was so so good against Liverpool and so so good here again. I am happy with the boys.

“They played with intensity. And I am happy with result obviously.”

Tottenham will now switch gears and prepare to face Watford on the road this Saturday, with the Hornets having earned 13 out of their last 15 possible points.