Steve Davies scores dramatic last-gasp equaliser against Tottenham to earn Rochdale FA Cup replay

Rochdale 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2: Harry Kane's penalty had seemingly clinched victory when Steve Davies lashed in a finish off the post to book a date at Wembley

Steve Davies celebrates his stoppage-time equaliser (Getty Images)

For the second time in five days, Tottenham Hotspur recorded a 2-2 draw on their travels, but that in itself does not tell the story of a week that neatly summed up this club's recent history.

After arguably producing the most impressive performance of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure so far against Juventus, his side were held to the same scoreline by lowly Rochdale, bottom of English football's third tier and yet still in the FA Cup fifth round.

It was no less than Keith Hill's League One stragglers deserved, with a performance of ambition and conviction that belied the 63 league places which separate these two clubs. Steven Davies was Spotland's hero, the substitute striking in the third minute of stoppage time to cancel out Harry Kane's late penalty and earn his club an evening at Wembley.

Harry Kane seemed to have clinched victory (AFP/Getty Images)

Tottenham's complacent first-half showing had left Rochdale hoping for more still, as Ian Henderson put Hill's side ahead shortly before the break with an expertly taken finish. A debut goal from Lucas Moura brought the visitors back into it and when Dele Alli won a contentious penalty late on, Kane dispatched from the spot.

Their quarter-final spot appeared secure but Davies had other ideas. Improbably, after a wretched Toby Alderweireld failed to deal with one last hopeful Rochdale cross, the substitute fired in a late equaliser.

From sublime on Tuesday to the sub-par on Sunday, but perhaps the discrepancy between the two displays in question was to be expected. Not a single player from Pochettino’s starting lineup in Turin was retained for this tie, meaning Alderweireld was recalled in the centre of defence and Lucas, the £23m signing from Paris Saint-Germain, earned his first start.

Keith Hill took on Mauricio Pochettino (AFP/Getty Images)

Even with so many changes, Tottenham should have had enough firepower to put away a team like Rochdale. Instead, the hosts were the better side for the majority, treating this as a red letter day in an otherwise difficult season.

For much of the first half, it was only the League One outfit's finishing that let them down. Henderson was presented with his first excellent opportunity to open the scoring after a quarter of an hour following a quick counter attack but, under pressure, he shot straight into the arms of Michel Vorm.

Minutes earlier, Rochdale had seen a penalty appeal turned down when Andrew Cannon turned Alderweireld. The bamboozled centre-half fell to the floor, his arm brushed the ball and the home crowd roared for spot-kick. Referee Bobby Madley did not see it as deliberate.

Ian Henderson slots the opener (Getty Images)

Tottenham’s defence, and Alderweireld in particular, were rattled but at least Pochettino’s incisive attack looked capable of easing this difficult start. Both Son Heung-min and Fernando Llorente should have done just that just before the half-hour mark, but after the former shot straight at Rochdale’s goalkeeper Josh Lillis, the latter placed a miserable follow-up wide.

Henderson spurned another chance shortly after, turning Callum Camps' delightfully lofted through ball high and well wide, but as 45 minutes came up on the clock, Rochdale's captain ended a first half of defined by wastefulness with a supreme, clinical finish.

The opener owed much to Mark Kitching, who brilliantly dispossessed Harry Winks in midfield to initiate the move, another penetrating Rochdale counter. Cannon's slide-rule pass from the right flank was just as impressive and invited the composed, first-time finish that followed it. Vorm was left helpless.

Pochettino did not panic and kept his powder dry after the interval, leaving Kane and his like on the bench, and an equaliser duly arrived just before the hour mark.

Danny Rose on the ball for Spurs (Getty Images)

When Harrison McGahey stepped up a little too soon to close down Victor Wanyama, he allowed Lucas to nip in through on goal unmarked. Wanyama duly found the new recruit, who lifted a left-footed over Lillis for his first Tottenham goal. Those on the visitors' bench celebrated in relief.

Kane was eventually introduced with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, by which point Rochdale's first-half threat had all but disappeared. Tottenham sensed blood and, with just four minutes remaining, established a lead by way of a controversial penalty.

McGahey was the culprit again, felling substitute Dele Alli, but Rochdale complained that the Tottenham player had made the most of the challenge. After several unsuccessful complaints to Madley, the hosts were left to watch Kane convert from the spot. Sighs of resignation went around the home support.

Yet in the world's oldest cup competition, the unfancied always seem to retain a chance. The golden opportunity came in the penultimate minute of added-on time, from a cross that should have been comfortably cleared. Alderweireld capped off his wretched afternoon by only nodding the ball into Davies' path. The Rochdale substitute netted his fourth goal in as many FA Cup appearances, one that will live long in Spotland's memory.