Tottenham v Sheffield United: Capital One Cup – live!
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Version 0 of 1. 9.52pm GMT21:52 Full-time: Spurs 1-0 Sheffield United Spurs take a skinny lead into the second leg thanks to a fortunate penalty. Sheffield United gave them a tough game and this tie is not over. Updated at 10.01pm GMT 9.49pm GMT21:49 90+1 min: Baxter picks out Murphy, who tries to recreate Norman Whiteside’s winner in the 1985 FA Cup final. But he’s no Norman Whiteside. 9.48pm GMT21:48 90 min: There’ll be three more minutes. 9.47pm GMT21:47 89 min: A vital interception by Walker deprives Murphy of an easy opportunity at the back post. Corner to United, but again it comes to nothing. 9.46pm GMT21:46 88 min: Creative Spurs interplay before Paulinho drives into the box. But McEvely forces him away from goal and clears the danger. 9.44pm GMT21:44 86 min: Campbell-Ryce hoists a long diagonal cross towards Baxter, who stretches out his leg but can’t make sufficient contact to direct the ball on target from a difficult angle. 9.43pm GMT21:43 85 min: Campbell-Ryce does brilliantly to come back and win the ball deep in his own half before sprinting all the way up the other end and winning a corner. Dembele clears. 9.41pm GMT21:41 83 min: Here comes United’s first change: McNulty off, Baxter on. Let’s see how he goes about unsettling those fancy dan Premier Leaguers. 9.39pm GMT21:39 81 min: Basham ushers Kane out of play as the striker attempts to create room for a shot. 9.36pm GMT21:36 79 min: A breather for United as Dier commits a dumb foul on McNulty to concede a freekick about 30 yards out. Harris curls it into the area. McEvely gets his head to it but nods over. 9.34pm GMT21:34 77 min: Spurs are pumped now. Looks like United’s task is to hang in and stop the tie from getting beyond them... 9.32pm GMT21:32 75 min: Stambouli, another who has struggled tonight, is replaced by Paulinho, who has been struggling for months. 9.32pm GMT21:32 GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Shefflled United (Townsend pen 74) Howard got a hand to it but the power took Townsend’s shot into the net. Updated at 9.46pm GMT 9.31pm GMT21:31 73 min: Soldado took down a cross from Vertonghen at the back post. McEvely tried to intervene but in his panic he hit the ball with his hand. Penalty to Spurs! Updated at 9.42pm GMT 9.28pm GMT21:28 69 min: A Townsend shot is deflected out for a corner. It’s taken short to Kane, who works space for a shot from the edge of the box. The ball ricochets around the area and pandemonium briefly breaks out. It could go anywhere! But amid the hullaballoo the ref spots a foul and awarded United a chance to clear the danger. 9.26pm GMT21:26 68 min: Ipswich and Forest have both cut their deficit to 3-2, while Celtic are now 3-0 up on Motherwell. Everything remains the same here at White Hart Lane, however, Tottenham huffing and puffing but finding no inspiration. 9.24pm GMT21:24 66 min: Another corner for Sheffield United, another disappointing one. “Following to neo-Platonism, this means we’re all born with the preconceived image of the ideal football team, and maybe that’s why we recognise and love ‘em, and yet they never quite reach the dizzy heights we crave as supporters,” frets Andy Doré. 9.22pm GMT21:22 64 min: Cheers around White Hart Lane ... because Adebayor is being replaced. In fairness, some fans applaud him off. Captain Ambivalent. Or maybe they’re clapping for Mason, who’s also being taken off. Dembele and Soldado are on. Updated at 9.23pm GMT 9.21pm GMT21:21 63 min: Townsend’s cross put out for a corner. Eriksen trakesa it short to Adebayor, who returns it to him. Eriksen then balloons the ball towards Valentino’s nightclub. Lordy. Updated at 9.40pm GMT 9.18pm GMT21:18 61 min: Stambouli and Dier gets themselves in a tangle trying to play out from the back. United’s pressing earns a corner. Walker nods clear at the near post but United regain possession and stay at the attacking end ... 9.16pm GMT21:16 59 min: Townsend - one of the few Spurs players to have matched United’s intensity - twists and turns down the right in search of openings. Eventually he flips it in-field to Eriksen, whose attempted through-ball to Kane is cut out. 9.15pm GMT21:15 57 min: Townsend overhits a cross. “Does all this philosophy talk mean that it would be better to watch Spurs in a cave?” wonders Dave Hill. Updated at 9.34pm GMT 9.13pm GMT21:13 56 min: McEvely flies into an attempted tackle and cleans out Townsend. Obvious booking. And a freekick in a good crossing position on the right. Eriksen fires it in low and inaccurately. United clear. Updated at 9.25pm GMT 9.12pm GMT21:12 54 min: Adebayor chases after basham in an attempt to regain the ball. He pulls the defender back to concede a freekick. He’s going to have to start keeping his arms to himself if he wants to avoid having to hand the armband to someone else after a red card. 9.11pm GMT21:11 53 min: Eriksen sends a loopy corner towards the far post. Kane jumps for it but MvEvely gets there first and put it behind for another corner ... at least, that’s what should have happened but the ref has awarded a goalkick. 9.09pm GMT21:09 50 min: Eriksen clips a dinky pass through to Townsend, who tires to lift it over the keeper from close range. It bounces wide ... and it wouldn’t have counted anyway, as the flag was up for offside (even though he wasn’t even in his own half). Updated at 9.18pm GMT 9.06pm GMT21:06 48 min: Kane is crowded out upfield and suddenly Sheffiled United launch a counter, with McNulty’s link play again crucial. Doyle wins a corner. Reed delivers and Tottenham clear it as far as the edge of the box before Doyle tonks a volley over the bar. 9.03pm GMT21:03 46 min: Regarding Gabriel Harry’s point about Spurs philosophy, Jezz Dresner offers this insight: “Lacan proclaims: ‘The Imaginary was the problem, the Symbolic the answer, so that “an entire segment of the analytic experience is nothing other than the exploration of blind alleys of imaginary experience.” That certainly describes Tottenham’s early season form. Is this representative tonight?” Pretty much, so far. And neither manager has made any personnel changes during the break - let’s see if Pochettino has managed to alter his team’s approach or mindset. 9.01pm GMT21:01 Elsehwere, Congo have beaten Gabon 1-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations to ascend to the top of Group A and set up a fascinating last round of games in that pool. Gabon-Equatorial Guinea promises to be a belter of a derby. 8.57pm GMT20:57 “As a Spurs fan I’m philosophical,” announces Gabriel Harry. “Did you know, for example, that Plato’s Theory of Forms states that objects in reality are imperfect imitations of their imaginary ideals?” 8.51pm GMT20:51 Half-time: Spurs 0-0 Sheffield United Excellent stuff from the League One side so far. They’ve pestered their Premier League hosts relentlessly and often had them in real bother. Spurs have been too predictable, their only chances coming from a couple of set-pieces and one counter-attack. Kane and Adebayor have barely been involved, except for when Adebayor botched the one opportunity that came his way, and Davies has struggled at the back. Pochettino has work to do. Might be a good time for some Aaron Lennon action. Updated at 8.58pm GMT 8.46pm GMT20:46 45+1 min: Freekick to Spurs midway inside the opposing half. Towsend whips it into the box. Dier again wins it in the air too easily but this time he can’t direct his header on goal and it flies a yard past the post. 8.44pm GMT20:44 44 min: Spurs knock the ball about for a bit. And then they run out of ideas, Mason donking a hopeful one into the box. It’s a recurring theme. 8.43pm GMT20:43 41 min: Having being bloodied in a clash, Jamie Murphy is now cavorting around the pitch with two long pieces of cotton protruding from his nose like misplaced tusks. 8.41pm GMT20:41 39 min: Spurs try to play their way out of the back but are again unable to contend with United’s pressing. Reed wins the ball off Davies - who, in fairness, is having a stinker so far - and the League one side work a shooting opportunity for Scougall, who hammers a fine effort inches past the post from the edge of the box. 8.37pm GMT20:37 37 min: Eriksen’s corner cleared at the near post and Spurs have to begin building again from the far end. 8.37pm GMT20:37 In other news, it doesn’t look like Ipswich will be going top of the Championship tonight: they’re 3-1 down at Brighton. Which is the same score by which Forest are losing at Fulham, thanks to a hat-trick from Ross McCormack. Celtic are 2-0 at home to Motherwell. 8.35pm GMT20:35 34 min: Spurs almost strike on the counter but Adebayor bangs his shot high and wide! Eriksen planted the ball on his foot from 45 yards and the Togolese took it down well before slashing wide with his left foot from 14 yards under pressure from McEvely. Updated at 8.48pm GMT 8.31pm GMT20:31 32 min: Campbell-Ryce races past Davies again and wins a corner. Reed clips in into the area, where Kane leaps to butt it away. 8.30pm GMT20:30 31 min: Kane miscontrols on the edge of the area. United clear. Spurs win it back and resume passing. But bluntly. It’s all been too pedestrian from the Premier League side so far. 8.29pm GMT20:29 29 min: United fans are oléing as their team circulate the ball in a way that is starting to vex the locals. 8.28pm GMT20:28 26 min: Kane sends a low rasper into Howard’s arms from 25 yards. “Am I the only one hoping Spurs will sign Abel Hernández this transfer window to pair him with Kane?” wonders David Dein. No, I hope so too. And not only for the Kane and Abel headlines, but because perhaps being in the London spotlight will help him spread the trend for footballers to wear wigs. It’s never really taken off despite the best efforts of Boris Mihailov. 8.25pm GMT20:25 24 min: Solid save by Howard! Townsend curled in a freekick from the right, Dier eluded the defence and sent a free header at goal from 10 yards. The goalkeeper pawed it behind for a corner, which Murphy clears. 8.23pm GMT20:23 22 min: Not for the first time tonight, Davis is found wanting in the left-back position. Campbell-Ryce scurries past him and flashes a low ball across the face of goal. A touch from a United player would surely have sent it into the net - but no one could get on the end of it. Spurs have had most of the ball, but the visitors have carried the greater threat so far. Updated at 8.45pm GMT 8.22pm GMT20:22 21 min: Spurs fans bay for a foul on Harris by Townsend at the edge of the area but the ref rightly waves play on, as Townsend just hurtled into his opponent. The spicy atmosphere in the stand is adding to the occassion. Updated at 8.39pm GMT 8.21pm GMT20:21 19 min: Clough and Pochettino have been having words since the Adebayor incident: it doesn’t look like an acrimonious exchange, just a happy natter about this and that. Put the kettle on and they could be there yakking all night. Updated at 8.37pm GMT 8.18pm GMT20:18 16 min: Adebayor’s first contribution to the game is ... a yellow card. United players and fans wanted a red but I reckon the ref got it right: the striker put a hand into the face of Reed in an attempt to hold him off; he did not fling it with force and I’m not even sure he was aiming for the face. Updated at 8.31pm GMT 8.15pm GMT20:15 14 min: Scougall fizzes a ball to McNulty, who jinks and dodges and gets off a shot from the edge of the area. Davies blocks. But it’s a bold start by the League One side, who are full of dynamism. If they can keep up this energy and focus, Spurs will have to do something special to overcome them. No sign of that yet. Updated at 8.24pm GMT 8.10pm GMT20:10 11 min: Mason trips Campbell-Ryce to give United a chance to alleviate the pressure. Spurs have been dominant in the last few minutes, albeit without creating opportunities or even finding the feet of Kane or Adebayor. Updated at 8.19pm GMT 8.08pm GMT20:08 9 min: Spurs have been flustered at the back a couple of times but they’re now trying to impose their will, popping the ball about calmly but purposefully. United are going to have a lot of chasing to do, it seems ... 8.07pm GMT20:07 7 min: A punt from the back finds McNulty - a common tactic already from United - and the forward takes it soundly on his chest and then shows impressive strength to hold on to it despite the attentions of Dier and Walker. HE then lays the ball off and darts into the box in anticipation of a return pass that never comes. 8.05pm GMT20:05 5 min: Vorm scampers off his line to pounce at Flynn’s feet after the midfielder skipped past two defenders following a mistake by Vertonghen. Updated at 8.34pm GMT 8.04pm GMT20:04 4 min: Eriksen gets on the ball for the first time and two opponents converge on him immediately: they’ll no doubt try to maintain that pressure on the man most likely to open them up. 8.02pm GMT20:02 2 min: Feverish pressing by the Blades force Davies into a mistake. Campbell-Ryce tries to take advantage but Davies comes back at him and regains possession. 8.01pm GMT20:01 1 min: United get the game going and run straight towards the Tottenham area. Townsed concedes a foul about 30 yards out. The visitors take it short and then Murphy tries to flight a cross towards the back post. But he overhits it. 7.58pm GMT19:58 Here come the teams! Spurs are wearing dove white, Sheffield United blood red with white stripes. Updated at 8.05pm GMT 7.54pm GMT19:54 Stuart Pearce’s Derby delight has well and truly worn off: Forest have just fallen behind to a Ross McCormack goal for Fulham. 7.53pm GMT19:53 For those of you interested, it’s 0-0 at half-time in the Gabon-Congo game in the Africa Cup of Nations. No goals yet in any of the league games in England or Scotland either. 7.46pm GMT19:46 Mauricio Pochettino explains his decision to make Adebayor captain Well, that was the question put to him by Sky’s man. His answer will not be remembered as one of the high points of enlightenment: “I always need to pick the best team for every game. I decided to pick and play him. We will try to win the game.” Updated at 7.57pm GMT 7.42pm GMT19:42 “Interesting to see Spurs resting Lloris tonight,” reckons Dante Danger. “Vorm would start for many teams in the league and is wasted on the Spurs bench. Also,with Friedel on the bench too - three quality goalkeepers even if Friedel is old. And Liverpool haven’t got one - surprised they didn’t go for Vorm in the summer.” 7.33pm GMT19:33 Cloughs have previous when it comes to shrewd innovations, as James Windle recalls: “When Derby County played Leeds at Elland Road back in the day, Clough made players get off coach a mile or so from ground and walk through crowds to ground. The idea was to make sure Derby players weren’t intimidated by Leeds fans.” Updated at 7.44pm GMT 7.30pm GMT19:30 7.27pm GMT19:27 The complete Sheffield United line-up is in at last. I’m guessing that means they have arrived at the ground but it could be that they just sent a pigeon ahead. Anyway, Chris Basham slips straight back into the starting 11 after three games out, while Baxter is going to have to content himself with jostling his team-mates on the bench. 7.12pm GMT19:12 As hosts, the responsibility is obviously on Spurs to keep the crowd entertained during the delay. Perhaps Harry Kane brought a guitar with him? Maybe Adebayor could lead a game of charades? Actually, a game of pin the tail on the donkey could be amusing: it would at least be interesting to see which player the contestants go towards. 7.08pm GMT19:08 Surely this is a time for Nigel Clough to show some innovative management and improvise a warm-up. In other words, order the players off the bus and tell them to jog to White Hart Lane. 7.04pm GMT19:04 Kick-off delayed by 15 minutes Kick-off will now be at 8pm Aberdeen time because Sheffield United have got lost in London. There is, therefore, a chance that kick-off will be pushed back even further. Updated at 7.06pm GMT 6.58pm GMT18:58 Selection/traffic discussion A powerful show of faith by Mauricio Pochettino in Emmanuel Adebayor tonight, as he names the Togolese captain, thus suggesting that, as far as he’s concerned, the Spurs fans who booed Adebayor when he was introduced against Sunderland last weekend are misjudging the man. It’ll be fascinating to see whether the manager is rewarded for his loyalty. Speaking of loyalty, if Adebayor does excel, there’s sure to be folks pointing out that he only has a few months left on his contract at the Lane. As for Sheffield United, apparently they have not actually reached White Hart Lane yet. Either they have been stuck in traffic or they have stopped to admire the local scenery. Assuming they do eventually turn up, we’ll let you know their line-up asap. 6.56pm GMT18:56 Teams: Spurs: Vorm, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Townsend, Mason, Stambouli, Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane. Subs: Friedel, Kaboul, Rose, Dembele, Lennon, Paulinho, Soldado. Blades: Howard; Harris, Reed, Basham, McEveley; Doyle, Flynn, Campbell-Ryce; Scougall, Murphy, McNulty. Subs: Alcock, Baxter, Higdon, Turner, Kennedy, Adams, Wallace Ref: N Swarbrick Updated at 7.25pm GMT 6.48pm GMT18:48 Preamble: BAM! CRUNCH! KER-POW! OFF-PUTTING COMMENT! There you are readers, that’s the script of the soundtrack to tonight’s Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg. We know this because Sheffield United midfielder Jose Baxter said so. Explaining why his team have managed to oust Southampton and West Ham in this tournament already (not to mention the less impressive feat of beating QPR in the FA Cup), the Blade said the key is to get stuck into namby-bamby Premier League players good and hard. ““There’s a lot of ‘matey, matey’ in the Premier League,” scoffed Baxter, possibly before punching the interviewer in the face. “I don’t like it at all – hugging and kissing each other before games and all that. They’re nice, they don’t want to get kicked and they’re all great, technical players. It’s just when they come to play us and we give them a few kicks, they don’t like it.” In other words, United plan to find out what Tottenham are made of as the Londonders attempt to take a big step towards their first trophy since 2008. Ah yes, those glory, glory days under Juande Ramos. |