Capital One Cup semi-final: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sheffield United - as it Happened

Full time: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sheffield United

21:52: All over at White Hart Lane and Tottenham take a step towards Wembley as Andros Townsend's penalty helps them claim a narrow win over a spirited Sheffield United. Spurs go to Bramall Lane with a single goal lead to protect but Nigel Clough's side as very much still in this tie.

Well that is all we have time for this League Cup live text. We're back with live FA Cup fourth round action from Friday but until then goodbye.

Full time: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sheffield United

21:49: Three added minutes at White Hart Lane.

21:47: Jamie Murphy is waiting to draw United level but Kyle Walker heads the ball behind at the last minute. Late pressure from Nigel Clough's men but can they get an all-important equaliser?

21:44: Jamal Campbell-Ryce has been ineffectual in the second half but he almost helps the away side equalise as he crosses towards Baxter but Tottenham shepherd the ball away.

21:38: The Blades attempt to make immediate amends but McEverly's header loops wide of the Tottenham goal. Ten minutes remaining.

21:33: Jay McEverly clearly handles the ball in the penalty area and Roberto Soldado looks to wriggle around the defender and Neil Swarbrick has no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Andros Townsend, much criticised by myself, steps up and smashes past Howard.

Goal: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sheffield United (Andros Townsend)

Penalty to Sheffield United

21:28: Sheffield United for the first time start making life hard for themselves. The visitors don't clear from a left wing cross and Soldado and Dembele almost capitalise but the referee eventually awards a free-kick. Last 20 minutes to go of this first leg.

21:25: Andros Townsend runs down a dead end and instead of fashioning a cross, a pass to a teammate or a shot on goal he boots the ball out of play for a goal-kick. Not been his night, year, career to be honest. Might be time to think of an alternative career.

21:23: Emmanuel Adebayor and Ryan mason off, Mousa Dembele and Roberto Soldado on. Bit more mobility given to the Spurs attack now. Just 25 minutes left.

21:20: A flare has been let off the in the away end at White Hart Lane as Sheffield United attack. Having their moments in this tie and with an hour played have more than held their own. Nigel Clough would snap your hand off if you gave him a draw.

21:17: Nacer Chadli not involved tonight after the passing of his father. Tottenham's players and staff all wearing black armbands in his memory. Only notable thing worth mentioning in this second half, which sees Spurs enjoy plenty of possession but they are unable to break through.

21:08: Sheffield United have begun the second half like they started the first and they win a corner after Jamie Murphy skips past Kyle Walker. The set-piece comes to nothing but further encouragement for the League One team.

21:03: Second half under way at White Hart Lane. No changes from either side.

20:51: Decent first quarter of this League Cup semi-final and though Sheffield United have edged it, the best two chances have gone the way of the hosts Tottenham. Eric Dier should twice have done better with unchallenged headers in the Blades box while Emmanuel Adebayor shot over when well placed. United have been threatening themselves, with Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Stefan Scougall going close. Intriguing second half on the way.

Half time: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Sheffield United

20:46: Two minutes added on at the end of the first half. Tottenham on the attack, can Sheffield United hang on? Eric Dier flicks on from a Townsend free-kick but it bounces wide.

20:41: What a chance for Sheffield United to draw first blood. Spurs lose possession in their own half through Davies and the ball is cut back to Stefan Scougall on the edge of the box and he hammers one towards the top corner but the ball goes just wide. So close.

20:36: Christian Eriksen has so often been the key for Spurs in inspiring late Spurs comebacks and he almost makes a vital contribution here as his lofted ball over the top picks out Adebayor but the skipper on the night woefully shoots over. Poor finish.

20:34: Bit of a lull it must be said as we go over the half-hour mark in north London. Sheffield United still very authoritative in possession and in Campbell-Ryce they have a readily available outlet, who is taking the pressure off the back four. Work to do for Tottenham, who have been uncertain.

20:25: Down the other end, and Tottenham should be ahead themselves. Townsend's free-kick finds Eric Dier, who has got the wrong side of the Sheffield United defence and heads goalwards but Mark Howard turns the ball behind.

20:24: Sheffield United go within a whisker of taking the lead. Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who has been lively in these opening minutes, darts past Ben Davies and drives the ball towards the back post where is flashes past Michel Vorm's right-hand post. So close.

20:22: Here is an image of the Adebayor incident. Should this have warranted a red card? Only yellow from Neil Swarbrick remember:

20:19: Emmanuel Adebayor is the Tottenham captain tonight, but should he still be on the pitch? He palms off Lou Reed after offloading the ball and as the Sheffield United player goes to the ground, the visitors' bench is up in arms demanding a red card. Referee Neil Swarbrick shows a yellow card but after raising his arm into Reed's face, should have the punishment been slightly harsher?

20:15: Sheffield United are throwing plenty at Tottenham in this first quarter and they almost grab an unlikely lead. McNulty is fed with only Vertonghen for company and after creating a yard sees his goalbound shot blocked.

20:09: Another opening for the Blades as Murphy runs at Kyle Walker but his pull back his behind Michael Doyle and he can only skew his shot over. At the other end, in Tottenham's first real attacking moment, a corner comes as far as Harry Kane after Jay McEverly misjudges the bounce but he can't gather the ball in and United clear.

20:06: The visitors have started much the better in the opening five minutes and they almost get a shot away on Michel Vorm's goal as Ryan Flynn tricks his way through after Vertonghen's wayward clearance but Vorm comes out to collect the loose ball.

20:02: Early chance for Sheffield United as a free-kick won in the Spurs half is spread left but Jamie Murphy's cross is beyond those in waiting in the middle. Now Jamal Campbell-Ryce gets to the byline but he can't get a cross in. Good start from the League One side.

20:00: Players out and we're nearly ready to go. Prediction? Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sheffield United for me. Put your own scorelines in the comments section below or tweet me at @NickHowson or @IBTimesUKSport. Under way at White Hart lane.

19:55: Five minutes until kick-off at White Hart Lane. Can Tottenham take a step towards Wembley or will Sheffield United stage another surprise? Not long until we get going.

19:46: We know Sheffield United have bigger fish to fry after tonight, but what of Tottenham? Just one major trophy in the last 16 years for a club of Spurs' size is a poor record, but there is no doubt those silverware ambitions have taken a backseat behind a desire to qualify for the Champions League. Spurs are three points adrift of the top four so they are well in the race heading into the final third of the campaign, and with the Europa League - which also offers qualification for Europe's top tier competition - restarting next month it would be fair to say their loyalties are split. Like their opponents, there are other distractions.

19:41: Nigel Clough says it took his side 90 minutes to travel five miles, from where they are staying overnight, in north London traffic tonight, hence their late arrival at White Hart Lane and the delayed kick-off.

19:33: You might think that with 45 places in the football pyramid separating these two sides, this two-legged tie might be a foregone conclusion, but think again. Sheffield United under Nigel Clough have carved out a reputation as cup specialists in recent years, having lost just one of their last 17 ties. Five Premier league sides have fallen by the wayside also, including QPR and Southampton this season. Clough's side would probably swap promotion for a trip to Wembley but don't write them off tonight or at Bramall Lane next week.

19:27: Another look at those two teams, and you may have to look twice, and the headline is Emmanuel Adebayor - booed after coming on as a substitute against Sunderland - starts up front as captain in one of five changes for Spurs. Michel Vorm and Andros Townsend are among the notable inclusions also.

As for Sheffield United, injury doubt Ryan Flynn has taken his place in the team despite an achilles injury while there is also a start for Marc McNulty, who downed Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.

19:22: While you digest that team news an update from White Hart Lane that kick-off, supposed to be at 7:45pm, has been delayed by 15 minutes after the Sheffield United coach carrying the players was stuck in traffic in north London.

19:20: Team news

Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United

Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Davies; Townsend, Mason, Stambouli, Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane

Sheffield United: Howard, Harris, Basham, Flynn, Doyle, Murphy, Scougall, McNulty, McEveley, Campbell-Ryce, Reed

19:15: After Tuesday's thrilling first semi-final, Tottenham and Sheffield United take center-stage aiming to take one step towards a showcase Wembley cup final. Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to cap his first season in north London with a first major trophy of his spell in English football. The Blades under Nigel Clough have meanwhile carved out a reputation for giant-killers and cup specialists having lost just one of their last 17 knock-out ties, while they knocked Southampton out in last eight. Can they repeat those heroics tonight?