Has Tottenham Hotspur’s Victor Wanyama blown his chance of starting FA Cup semi-final?

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Tottenham Hotspur disappointed in their 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Tottenham Hotspur failed to get a confidence-boosting win ahead of their FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United as they were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Brighton and Hove Albion.

Mauricio Pochettino made several changes to the side which lost 3-1 to Manchester City last weekend, giving some of his squad players the ideal platform to stake their case for a start in the FA Cup semi-final.

Among those hoping to impress was midfielder Victory Wanyama who came in for Eric Dier, but the former Southampton man failed to dazzle as Spurs struggled to gain any control in midfield.

As shown by the table provided by Opta Stats, Wanyama produced very little in possession, while as the holding midfielder protecting the back four he disappointingly registered just one tackle and one interception.

Dier and Mousa Dembele both struggled to perform against City last Saturday, but the latter’s place in the eleven is almost assured considering what he offers on the ball in terms of his powerful running.

Wanyama is seemingly in competition with Dier for that other spot in Tottenham’s midfield two, and he had every opportunity to impress against Brighton as 24-year-old Dier hasn’t really been at it bar the Chelsea game.

But the 50-capped Kenya international didn’t stand out at the Amex Stadium, and he wasn’t the only one as winger Lucas Moura was also hit and miss while Moussa Sissoko disappointed.

It leaves Pochettino with a bit of a selection headache ahead of the United clash, and not the good kind of selection headache where two players ultimately vying for one spot are bang in form.

The safe option would be Spurs regular Dier, but recent performances suggest that the north London club could do much better and it’s an area Pochettino must look at strengthening this summer.