Mauricio Pochettino hailed the patience of his Tottenham Hotspur side after they scored two late goals to see off Aston Villa and book a spot in the Emirates FA Cup fourth round.
The Premier League side struggled to break down their stubborn opponents, before Ben Davies neatly headed Georges-Kevin N’Koudou’s cross past new Villa goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Forward Son Heung-min wrapped the tie up nine minutes later with a calm finish from inside the area, and Pochettino admits he was delighted his side were finally able to overcome such a resilient outfit.
“It's always difficult in The FA Cup, but we played a team that had very good organisation and it was tough to break them. We had lots of possession but a lot patience to try and build from the back,” he said.
"I was very pleased in the end. It’s never easy to win in The FA Cup. It was a good opportunity for many players to show their quality.
"At 0-0 we changed the system a bit to try and change the game and from that we scored.
"I'm pleased for the players that haven’t played too much, it’s important for them to build their confidence."
The match came to life in the second period after a slow first half, as Spurs moved the ball quicker in the final third and started to create chances.
Kieran Trippier’s deep cross picked out Son but he missed a glorious opportunity from six yards out, before forcing Johnstone, on loan from Manchester United, into a reflex save with a rasping shot minutes later.
Villa remained dangerous on the break but Spurs broke through when Davies guided substitute N’Koudou’s pin-point cross expertly into the bottom corner.
And they wrapped it up shortly after as Moussa Sissoko and Trippier combined down the right, before the former cut it back for Son to find the net.
“We had to defend well and run a million miles because they are a very good side,” said Villa boss Steve Bruce.
"I was a touch disappointed with the goal because they didn’t have to do much, one cross into the box and we didn’t deal with it.
"You need your goalkeeper to play well and Sam Johnstone looks a very good young goalkeeper - I think he’ll relish the challenge to play week in, week out.
"They are a very good side and that has to be the aspiration for us at Aston Villa."
Tottenham Hotspur: 13 Michel Vorm, 38 Cameron Carter-Vickers, 4 Toby Alderweireld, 27 Kevin Wimmer, 16 Kieran Trippier, 15 Eric Dier, 29 Harry Winks, 33 Ben Davies, 17 Moussa Sissoko, 9 Vincent Janssen, 7 Son Heung-min.
Substitutes: 20 Dele Alli for Janssen 60, 14 Georges-Kevin N’Koudou for Alderweireld 70, 25 Josh Onomah for Sissoko 84.
Substitutes not used: 5 Jan Vertonghen, 12 Victor Wanyama, 30 Pau Lopez, 37 Kyle Walker-Peters.
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Goals: Davies 71, Son 80
Aston Villa: 34 Sam Johnstone, 21 Alan Hutton, 12 James Chester, 2 Nathan Baker, 23 Jordan Amavi, 37 Albert Adomah, 8 Aaron Tshibola, 25 Mile Jedinak, 7 Leandro Bacuna, 40 Jack Grealish, 11 Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Substitutes: 39 Keinan Davis for Adomah 77, 19 Andre Green for Bacuna 77, 44 Ross McCormack for Agbonlahor 77.
Substitutes not used: 1 Pierluigi Gollini, 6 Tommy Elphick, 15 Ashley Westwood, 28 Aly Cissokho.
Manager: Steve Bruce
Attendance: 31, 182
Referee: Mike Dean
