SPURS 1 - 0 Southend
Defoe

Spurs:
Robinson, Stalteri, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Davenport, Malbranque, Murphy (Berbatov), Huddlestone, Tainio (Davids 56), Mido, Defoe.
Cerny, YP Lee, Gardner.

Southend:
Flahavan, Hunt, Prior (Clarke, 24), Gower, Maher, Eastwood, Bradbury, Sodje, Campbell-Ryce, Hammell, McCormack.
Subs: Welch, Francis, Paynter, Hooper.

Jermain Defoe saw to it that we avoided the prospect of penalties with his late winner against Southend United on Wednesday night.

There was just six minutes of extra time remaining when the penalty box predator pounced to book us a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2001.

The opening exchanges were typical of a cup tie of this nature - frenetic, full-blooded but lacking a precision of delivery. There were no shots on goal to speak of until the 10 minute point when Steed Malbranque was tripped outside the area allowing Jermain Defoe a free-kick on goal, before Malbranque himself stung the palms of Darryl Flahavan in the Southend goal with a powerful hit from distance.

There was a moment of distinction half way through the opening period when Defoe, forraging down the left flank, floated in a cross that Mido pulled out of the air and on the volley fired goalwards. The ball, not doing complete justice to the effort, cannoned off the underside of the bar and was cleared to safety.

Danny Murphy was then not far away from starting up our account for the evening when he managed to plant his head on an excellent cross from Paul Stalteri. Flahavan was beaten, but so was the post. Michael Dawson was in the wars after a collision with Flahavan and arose clutching his shoulder before the goalkeeper reacted sharply to a goalbound Defoe header that was the result of a measured cross from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

The flow of the first half was predominantly in one direction - towards Flahavan who was guarding the Park Lane goal - but a breakthrough proved elusive.

Murphy and Malbranque combined leading to the Frenchman testing Flahavan in our opening gambit of the second half. The football was neat and clever, with Murphy dictating much of the play in tandem with Huddlestone. Stalteri shot over before Defoe stole in behind Efetobore Sodje and attempting to lift the ball over Flahavan, but it was a big ask with the keeper so quickly off his line.

The introduction of Edgar Davids was the first change of the game, the Dutchman replacing Teemu Tainio, who appeared to be suffering from a knock. Southend were being stobborn though and were defensively strong as a unit, allowing good football to happen in front of them, while not letting it creep behind.

Murphy tried his luck from long distance but, again, Flahavan was equal to the task set to him in front of a crowd of 35,811. The fans were calling for Dimitar Berbatov and their wish was soon granted, but not before a high alert at our end when a Sodje header flashed across the face of the goal.

Berbatov made his entrance with 15 minutes left on the clock - Murphy making way - but Southend were gaining in confidence and pushed forward in the final ten. It was Flahavan in the next most significant action when he was forced into a superb save from a Mido header with just two minutes remaining.

There was danger from Defoe in stoppage but, for the second tie running, we headed into an extra 30 minutes. In the first three former Spur Kevin Maher fizzed in an effort from distance as the visitors showed no obvious signs of wilting, despite Berbatov being the clear threat.

A drive across goal from Assou-Ekotto could have unlocked the door as half-time in extra time approached and the forward thrusts of Calum Davenport were becoming a frequent feature.

It was a Dawson header which next stretched Flahavan and tension was rising rapidly inside a freezing cold Lane. Mido could have sealed it when the ball landed at his feet to the left of the six yard box, but the goalkeeper again managed to get a body part in the way.

With six minutes left the scoreboard was finally indicated a goal to the good. Berbatov cleverly played in Mido down the left flank and the Egyptian fizzed the ball across goal and Defoe pounced at the far post to send a little warmth through the Spurs majority in the crowd.

Southend were looking a good bet to take the tie right through to penalties, but that scenario was thankfully avoided and we can now look forward to the draw for the semi-finals on Saturday.

Key Action - Official Site
Extra-time, full-time: Spurs 1, Southend United 0
118mins: YELLOW CARD - SPURS. Stalteri for foul on Gower.
118mins: Bradbury header on target but hit his own player in Eastwood.
117mins: CHANCE. Berbatov, left channel of box, cut onto right foot but struck wide.
117mins: SUB - SOUTHEND. Francis for McCormack.
115mins: CHANCE. Malbranque cross from right picked out Berbatov, free header eight yards out straight at Flahavan.
114mins: GOAL - SPURS. At last! Berbatov sent Mido away down left, low cross slid in by Defoe inside six-yard box.
Spurs 1, Southend United 0
113mins: SUB - SOUTHEND. Hooper for Campbell-Ryce.
112mins: CHANCE. Malbranque deep cross went over Hunt\'s head to Mido, snapshot deflected wide.
111mins: SAVE. Flahavan important fist away as Dawson looped header from Huddlestone corner towards far corner.
106mins: Davids spread play to Malbranque, cross on target for Berbatov but Sodje there to flick away.
Extra-time, half-time: Spurs 0, Southend United 0
104mins: Stalteri long crossfield pass went all the way through to Assou-Ekotto, drilled ball across goal, just cleared Defoe at far post.
95mins: Assou-Ekotto break down the left, inside to Berbatov, left channel of box and tightly marked by Sodje, could only shoot tamely at Flahavan.
93mins: Maher allowed room in midfield, drove just wide from 25 yards although Robinson had it covered.
FULL TIME: Tottenham 0 - 0 Southend United
Added time: PENALTY? Loud appeals as ball appeared to strike Hunt on the arm, referee waved away.
89mins: SAVE. Best yet from Flahavan, Huddlestone free-kick floated in from the left, Mido met with glancing header to top corner but the keeper tipped over at full stretch.
83mins: Campbell-Ryce sight of goal central, 25 yards out, shot blocked by Dawson and out for corner.
80mins: Davids fine pass wide to Assou-Ekotto, good cross aiming for Berbatov, Clarke there to make interception and Flahavan picked up pieces.
Berbatov on for Murphy
74mins: CLOSE. Corner on the right taken short, Hammell cross met at far post bt Sodje, header back across Robinson and inches wide - Eastwood also flying in not too far away.
68mins: YELLOW CARD - SOUTHEND. Hammell for foul on Stalteri.
66mins: SAVE. Huddlestone disguised pass to Murphy, he ran a few yards before striking low drive that Flahavan got down to well to his right.
64mins: Assou-Ekotto deep cross went all the way to Malbranque at far post, hit on full volley well wide.
58mins: Huddlestone blasted 30-yarder into Paxton Road.
56mins: SUB - SPURS. Davids for Tainio.
51mins: CHANCE. Davenport huge clearing header, Defoe managed to get wrong side of Sodje, sharp chance with bouncing ball as Flahavan charged out, flicked it over the keeper but also wide of the target.
50mins: Patient build-up ended with Stalteri rifling shot just over from 25 yards.
48mins: SAVE. Tainio rolled ball wide to Malbranque, hit shot with outside of his right foot, Flahavan took well diving to his right.
Half-time: Spurs 0, Southend United 0
Added time: Gower tried his luck from distance, decent hit but always curling wide.
43mins: BLOCK. Great defending from Stalteri to deny Campbell-Ryce after Eastwood's shot fell to the Southend man in the box, got shot off but Stalteri over to deny him.
42mins: Good progress from Mido down the left, cross inches over Defoe at near post.
39mins: Huddlestone thunderous volley blocked by McCormack, Murphy's shot then deflected just wide for corner.
34mins: SAVE. Defoe onto Assou-Ekotto's cross from the left, decent header on target, Flahavan even better save to claw out diving to his right.
30mins: Dawson looked a little shaken after crashing into Flahavan going for a 50-50 from Huddlestone's free-kick from the left. Needed treatment but came back on.
29mins: YELLOW CARD - SOUTHEND. McCormack for dissent.
26mins: CLOSE. Stalteri cross from the right, Murphy ghosted in between defenders to glance header inches wide of far post.
24mins: SUB - SOUTHEND. Clarke for injured Prior.
22mins: WOODWORK. Good work from Defoe down the left, picked out Mido 12 yards out, he swivelled to volley and hit underside of the bar, ball bouncing clearly in front of the line and out to safety.
13mins: SAVE. Tricky one for Robinson as Gower cut in from left, hit dipping right-foot shot from 20 yards that keeper had to take on the bounce, did so comfortably.
12mins: Best move yet, Tainio wide to Stalteri, back inside to Malbranque who hit fierce drive from 20 yards straight at Flahavan.
10mins: SAVE. First save of the night, Assou-Ekotto whipped a free-kick over the wall from 20 yards, heading inside the near post, Flahavan took cleanly.
10mins: No chances as yet, ball fizzing around in midfield, high-tempo game, Huddlestone looking good again.
3mins: Gower in space on the left, decent cross heading for Eastwood, Davenport important glancing header away.
1min: Huddlestone free-kick from left met by Davenport at far post, ball scrambled away.
Danny Murphy starts on the left of midfield, Teemu Tainio right, Tom Huddlestone and Steed Malbranque centrally.