When Spurs finally came through their FA Cup fifth-round replay against Rochdale, they must have felt that they had been battling three sets of opponents. The League One side had given a good account of themselves in the first 45 minutes, while the home team had two goals chalked off via a lengthy and sometimes baffling VAR system.

The second half became a procession in terms of play, while heavy snowfall briefly threatened an abandonment. Finally, Spurs were through via a 6-1 scoreline and the north London side may well be the team to watch as we reach the quarterfinals.

Home Comforts?

Tottenham face a trip to Swansea in the last eight and the best chance of success for Carlos Carvalhal’s side lies in the first match at the Liberty Stadium. Because, while Wembley was something of a bogey ground for Mauricio Pochettino and his men, it’s now turned into something of a fortress.

Spurs are 9/4 second-favourites in bet365’s football betting markets to lift the FA Cup in May, marginally behind the frontrunners Manchester United. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have fallen away, while Chelsea also remain in contention but the key for anyone looking to back Spurs could lie in the venue.

Breaking the Curse

Facing a temporary switch to Wembley from their White Hart Lane home, the signs weren’t good for Mauricio Pochettino and his men. In the previous campaign, Spurs had performed poorly in European games at the Old Stadium and the 2017/18 season began in similarly ominous fashion.

An opening home defeat to Chelsea in the second week of the campaign was followed by a 1-1 draw with Burnley at the same ground seven days later. Fans may have hoped that the jinx had been broken with a 3-1 Champions League victory over Dortmund in the next match but a forgettable goalless draw against Swansea suggested otherwise.

Those dropped points may eventually cost Tottenham but since that point, they remained unbeaten at Wembley – discounting a loss to West Ham with a weakened side in the Carabao Cup – up to the end of February. In that time, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal had all been brushed aside in the league while the mighty Real Madrid were sent back to Spain nursing a 3-1 Champions League defeat.

Advantage Spurs?

Quite simply, facing Tottenham at Wembley is a daunting prospect for any team and whatever happens, Pochettino’s men will only have one more game away from home in the FA Cup this season.

The trip to Swansea could result in elimination or a possible replay at the old stadium while the semifinals and the final itself are all set to be held at, you’ve guessed it, Wembley.

Tottenham fans will be grateful, for many reasons, that a proposed switch to Milton Keynes didn’t come off. It took the club some weeks to adjust but a strong run at Wembley, together with the potential for what are effectively home ties in the final rounds, might just make it advantage Spurs for the FA Cup.