In one of the more shocking FA Cup games of the weekend, non-league Tamworth took Tottenham Hotspur to extra-time, which should be of great interest to Sunderland fans.
Of all the ties in the FA Cup third round, few would have expected National League outfit Tamworth to get anything from a home clash with Premier League giants Tottenham.
But, the underdogs frustrated Spurs for 90 minutes, and Sunderland invertedly had a big part to play in the way things turned out.
Indeed, Regis Le Bris must be pleased with what he saw from the game, as one Sunderland player out on loan was very impressive on the day for Tamworth.
Ben Crompton part of impressive Tamworth side that holds Spurs in 90 minutes
Ben Crompton ended up being one of the highest-rated Tamworth players in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham with a 7.0 rating from SofaScore, and the Sunderland academy product can hold his head high after his latest display for his temporary team.
Tamworth frustrated the supposedly superior Spurs for the full 90 minutes of normal time, and Crompton managed to keep the likes of Mikey Moore, Sergio Reguilon, and even Heung-min Son (in extra-time) at bay.
Crompton registered eight tackles on the day, plus a massive 11 clearances. Perhaps more impressive, though, is the fact that he only lost four duels throughout the game.
While Crompton will wish he had been more effective in his passing — he completed just 63% of his 19 passes — the youngster’s all-round game was exceptional, and he did not look out of place against top flight opposition.
MORE SUNDERLAND STORIES
What’s next for Ben Crompton?
Crompton is gaining valuable experience at a lower, yet highly-competitive and very physically demanding level in the National League this season, and it will serve him well for the future.
It’s hard to imagine him making the jump to the senior Sunderland squad next season, but a loan move to League Two or even League One is not unthinkable given the progress Crompton has made this season.
With Le Bris’ propensity for giving young talent a chance, you never really know what the next 12 months may hold for Crompton. He will surely get some kind of opportunity to at least show what he can do over the summer, but a lot will depend on what league Sunderland are playing in next term.