Late Defoe strike sees Spurs scrape past Southend

JERMAIN DEFOE sent Tottenham into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup but the Premiership side were pushed all the way by Southend at White Hart Lane.

Defoe slid in with five minutes left in extra-time as the visitors sensed another famous upset. It was harsh on Efetobore Sodje, who was magnificent at centre-back, and goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan, who denied Spurs with a string of saves.

The bottom side in the Championship had Kevin Maher and Mark Gower, former Tottenham players, in their starting XI and Gower offered a threat on the left in the early exchanges.