Tottenham 1-0 Sheffield United: Townsend penalty hands Spurs advantage

Tottenham have the advantage in their League Cup semi-final with Sheffield United, as Andros Townsend’s penalty handed Spurs a fortunate 1-0 first-leg victory over the spirited League One side.

 

It was an impressive display from the third tier outfit, who successfully shut out their Premier League opponents for 75 minutes.

But they were eventually undone by their own mistakes, as Jay McEveley’s hand-ball gave a stale Spurs side a lifeline, and also gave themselves a hill to climb in next week’s return to Bramall Lane.

Such was the manner of their performance, however, that manager Nigel Clough will be confident of claiming another top flight scalp, after undeservedly missing out in a game which seemed destined to end in a stalemate.

The Blades are hoping to continue their run of cup upsets - after dumping out West Ham, Southampton and QPR on the road to the semis - and secure a Wembley away day for the second successive season.

And Clough got his tactics spot on, with his brave side more than a match for an uninspired Spurs, who dominated possession but struggled to really pose a threat.

Tottenham - captained by Emmanuel Adebayor on his return to the starting line-up - managed just one shot on target before they were gifted the game’s opening goal, Townsend slotting from the spot after a senseless hand-ball from McEveley.

Before the goal Spurs mustered only a few clear-cut chances, with young defender Eric Dier going closest when his header from Townsend’s free-kick was palmed away by Blades goalkeeper Mark Howard.

Talisman goalscoring Harry Kane was unusually quiet throughout the 90 minutes, the striker starting out wide and later moving into a No.10 position to accommodate Adebayor, who had a poor game upfront.

The 21-year-old did produce one moment of brilliance, though, squirming away from a number of challenges before letting fly from range, but his shot was deflected harmlessly wide.

United, meanwhile, were happy to sit back and were a danger on the break.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who was denied a semi-final place by Spurs in 2006’s competition during a spell at Southend United, was a constant pest for full-back Ben Davies, with the winger getting the better of the Welshman throughout the tie.

One of the visitors’ best chances came from the small speedster, who burst down the right and drilled a cross into the box, though his effort missed his team-mates and zipped narrowly wide of the post.

Scottish youngster Stefan Scougall was also a bright spark for the visitors, the 22-year-old firing just wide of the upright from 20 yards with a wicked first-time strike after Davies gave the ball away on the edge of his own box.

The energetic Campbell-Ryce was at it again in the closing stages of the game when he ran at the Spurs area from his own half, though he failed to get his cross past the first man, while he later shifted the ball to Jose Baxter who failed to land his shot on target.

It was a cagey tie with few goalscoring opportunities, but the Blades’ impressive display would certainly give them confidence to turn the tie around when the teams meet again in next week’s second leg.