Cup holders Spurs progress to semi-finals

Watford 1 Tottenham 2

Harry Redknapp has been Tottenham boss for less than six weeks and is already one tie from Wembley following a Carling Cup quarter-final victory over Watford courtesy of Darren Bent’s winner.

Tamas Priskin gave Brendan Rodgers’ side an early lead at Vicarage Road before Roman Pavlyuchenko netted for the holders from the penalty spot to maintain his record of scoring in each round of this season’s competition.

Redknapp’s magic touch has turned Spurs’ season around and it worked again when he brought on Bent as a substitute to score the winner with 14 minutes remaining.

The result meant Redknapp got one over his brother-in-law Frank Lampard Snr, who he had never faced before.

The pair barely trained on opposite teams when they played together at West Ham and Lampard was Redknapp’s assistant at Upton Park before the partnership was broken in 2001.

With Lampard appointed in his new role to assist Rodgers as football consultant, one of his first tasks was to try to get the better of someone in his own family.

On paper it did not look like they had a chance – Aidy Boothroyd left as manager a month ago, Sir Elton John severed ties as president of the club, then Graham Simpson resigned as chairman on Monday.

Despite the turmoil behind the scenes, Rodgers was given the perfect start when Priskin netted in the 13th minute from a move that started with Jon Harley stealing the ball off Aaron Lennon and racing forward.

The ball was worked to Tommy Smith, whose cross found Priskin with his back to goal – but the Hungary striker turned Jermaine Jenas and fired into the bottom corner for his third of the campaign.

Rodgers’ mentor while at Chelsea was Jose Mourinho – and after getting appointed last week it looked like he was on course for a result the ’Special One’ would have been proud of.

Spurs inevitably battled back. Scott Loach saved at full stretch from Lennon to keep the hosts ahead, denying the winger from scoring with a deft chip after Didier Zokora had sent him down the right flank.

Pavlyuchenko had the next shot, drilling an effort that Leigh Bromby sliced over his own crossbar, with the holders building momentum after falling behind.

Jenas, back after two games out with a toe complaint, made a surging run that resulted in Loach saving his shot, then the Hornets stopper denied Lennon again, this time gathering at the second attempt after palming the effort upwards.

Pavlyuchenko took advantage of a mix-up between Bromby and Jay DeMerit – but his finish crashed off the crossbar.

Jenas was then fouled by Ross Jenkins for the penalty, tripping him when the Spurs midfielder nicked the ball. Pavlyuchenko tucked away the spot-kick.

Jenkins almost atoned for giving away the penalty immediately after the restart when he shot from the edge of the area, only for Michael Dawson to race out and block bravely.

Rodgers was forced into a change when DeMerit was injured in a challenge with Zokora, leading to Lloyd Doyley coming off the bench.

Both teams were cancelling each other out and chances were proving difficult to come by – but the lack of action did not stop Lampard from watching the game on his feet from the directors’ box.

Redknapp made his move midway through the second half by replacing Fraizer Campbell with Bent, who struck 11 minutes after coming on.

Liam Bridcutt won the ball with a challenge on Lennon but it played in Bent, whose finish at the near post should have been kept out by Loach.