Tottenham v Southend

[bandini]

Tottenham assistant boss Chris Hughton is wary of becoming the next Carling Cup giantkilling victim of Southend and Freddy Eastwood.

Eastwood scored the winner against Manchester United in the previous round to set up the quarter-final at White Hart Lane, with the cup offering a pleasant distraction for the Championship's bottom side.

Hughton, who is friends with Shrimpers boss Steve Tilson, believes Spurs could soon be challenging for trophies but sees 23-year-old striker Eastwood as a threat to their path to the semi-finals.

``You always identify what their strengths are and try to nullify them,'' said Hughton. ``Of course, Freddy Eastwood is one of their strengths and a player who, on his day can create something out of nothing. His goalscoring record last season is testament to that.''

Eastwood has scored 11 goals this season but, while he has looked comfortable in the Championship, Southend have struggled following consecutive promotions under Tilson.

Their progress in recent seasons has marked Tilson, 40, as one of the country's bright prospects, and Hughton believes he has shown his integrity by sticking with Southend's passing game despite being four points adrift at the bottom of the Championship.

The Spurs assistant boss trained with Tilson at Warwick University for a diploma in football management - a course backed by the League Managers' Association - and views Southend as a club people want to see do well because of their attractive style.

Hughton said: ``Steve is one who's certainly taken on a lot of the modern-day sciences and the modern-day approaches of the game.

``He was a tough individual as a player and as a manager, if you asked if he was a screamer and a shouter on the touchline, he's probably one with a bit more of a calmer approach and looks to analyse the game.

``One thing he does do is have his team playing good football and on the two opportunities I've seen them this season they have shown that.

``That's his principles, when you have strong principles like that and your beliefs, you have to go with them.

``He's experiencing the difficulties of going up a division, against better opposition week in week out, obviously there is the fear if they don't pick up consistent points they could come adrift at the bottom.

``But they are a good footballing side and a side you'd like to do well.''

Efe Sodje is out to ensure Tottenham's in-form strikers know they have been in a game.

Sodje and his team-mates are out to provide the shock of the round for the second successive time having dumped out holders Manchester United last month.

They face a different proposition away from their poky Roots Hall ground, however, against a Spurs side who have won their last 10 home games and rattled in 12 goals in their previous four matches.

But giant defender Sodje has a simple but potentially effective method up his sleeve when dealing with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.

Sodje said: ``They're good strikers but we just have to go out and defend like we normally do, and how we have been doing in our last few games.''

It will provide a special occasion for two of Southend's key men - captain Kevin Maher and winger Mark Gower both started their careers at White Hart Lane but failed to make the grade before dropping down the leagues.

And Sodje admits the duo have spoken about little else since the draw was made.

``Kevin and Mark used to play for them so they are really buzzing,'' added the 34-year-old.

``We're getting a bit fed up with their name-dropping though, going on about (David) Ginola and people like that. But they're good lads and they enjoyed their time down there at a big club. So now we're looking forward to playing a big club.

``We know what Spurs are all about because we've seen them enough on TV. We'll just go and play our own game.

``We're confident we can beat them just like we're confident we can get off the bottom of the league.''

Tilson, who has recently signed a new contract at Roots Hall, will be hoping there is 'something in the air tonight' when he leads his side out looking to mastermind another major upset.

``It will be a difficult game, they're flying at the moment. But there's no pressure on us, we can go and enjoy it and I'm sure the lads will give their all.

``In the league there is always pressure, but we're not expected to win this one so all the pressure will be on them.''

source: soccernet.com

[Oliver_Kahn]

Crush them!

Dimitar with a 'lucky' hat-trick

[bandini]

heh, his luck ran out last game. He will never score again. It's all over for him now

[kennethlindheim]

As we saw with the Charlton - Wycombe match, anything can happen in these games against lesser teams - but there is a big difference between Spurs and Charlton though.
Spurs to get a comfortable win.

[bandini]

In the cup I never take anything for granted. It gives the weaker teams a chance to taste victory and to keep their dreams alive. I do think Spurs should win this one comfortably too, but I agree with you 100% to never take these games for granted.

[bandini]

Defoe finally finds the net for Spurs. They have had lots of shots but no goals.

Tottenham 1 - 0 Southend

Defoe [114]

[Oliver_Kahn]

Is it over ?

[bandini]

Yeah. Full time.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Now 'luck' this time

[bandini]

I think his luck has run out. I didn't see the game so I don't even know what the lineup was yet.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Jermain Defoe's close-range effort deep into extra-time booked Tottenham's place in the semi-final of the Carling Cup at the expense of Southend.

Spurs dominated throughout but were unable to beat the impressive Darryl Flahavan in the visitors goal, who was a strong contender for man of the match.

Mido was desperately unlucky to see his first-half effort strike the crossbar, although it mattered not as Defoe secured a slender win after 115 minutes of football at White Hart Lane.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto was the first to test either keeper, although the French defender's free-kick was easily saved by Flahavan.

Steed Malbranque was next to see if The Shrimpers' shot-stopper was alert with a first-time shot from Paul Stalteri's lay-off, but again it was comfortably kept out.

The visitors responded with Paul Robinson gathering Mark Gower's shot down low, while Mido's was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring at the other end.

Defoe's left-footed cross was superbly guided goalwards by the Egyptian, although the woodwork came to Southend's rescue with Flahavan beaten.

Spurs continued to set the tone with Danny Murphy sending a header just wide of the far post while the impressive Flahavan kept out Defoe's header with a fine save at full stretch.

The Shrimpers almost forged ahead before the break when Freddy Eastwood's deflected shot fell to Jamal Campbell-Ryce, but Stalteri was on hand to make a superb block.

Flahavan continued to be in the firing line after the interval with Spurs consistently peppering Southend's goal.

Firstly, Malbranque connected with Murphy's through ball, Stalteri then tried his luck from distance with Defoe's lobbed effort over completing a hat-trick of shots.

Former Charlton and Liverpool man Murphy attempted a right-footer from distance, but it was not strong or accurate enough to beat the inspiring Flahavan.

Southend nearly snatched a surprise lead with Eastwood inches from connecting with Efetobore Sodje's header back across goal following a right wing corner.

Flahavan saved his best save for just before the end of regulation time when he superbly tipped over Mido's goal-bound header from Huddlestone's lofted set-piece.

Substitute Dimitar Berbatov had the first shot of goal in injury-time, although Sodje's presence at the back ensured the Bulgarian import could not muster a meaningful shot on target.

Assou-Ekotto then lashed a shot across the face of goal, however, Defoe failed to gamble at the back post that surely would have resulted in Spurs taking a deserved lead.

Mido was given a sight of goal on 112 minutes, but the Egyptian ace was unable to make the most of a rare defensive mix-up in the Southend box after seeing his shot deflect wide for a corner.

With just five minutes of extra-time remaining Spurs finally broke the deadlock when Defoe, who could have been deemed offside, was on hand to slide home from close range after Mido crossed from Berbatov's incisive through-ball.

The visitors responded and only fine positing from Paul Robinson ensured Eastwood's stinging drive was easily blocked, while at the other end Flahavan gathered Berbatov's tame header.

Southend pushed everyone forward in search of a last-gasp goal to force penalties, but the magic of the cup was over for the side who stunned Manchester United in the previous round.

http://home.skysports.com/matchrepor...=312378&cpid=2

[Oliver_Kahn]

Starting

* 1 Paul Robinson
* 32 Benoit Assou-Ekotto
* 20 Michael Dawson
* 7 Paul Stalteri
* 27 Calum Davenport
* 22 Tom Huddlestone
* 6 Teemu Tainio
* 15 Steed Malbranque
* 13 Danny Murphy
* 18 Jermain Defoe
* 11 Hossam Mido

Subs

* 12 Radek Cerny
* 3 Young-pyo Lee
* 30 Anthony Gardner
* 5 Edgar Davids
* 9 Dimitar Berbatov

[bandini]

No wonder he didn't score. Even Berbatov can't get lucky from the bench

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by bandini

No wonder he didn't score. Even Berbatov can't get lucky from the bench