Tottenham 1-0 Southend
Tottenham's tortured progress in this competition continued last night when, for the second successive round, they needed extra time to beat opponents struggling in the lower divisions. Their home form is formidable, but the same adjective cannot yet be applied to their football.
It took the second-half introduction of Dimitar Berbatov to add life to their limp attack, and he was eventually involved in the winner. The Bulgarian's fine touch released Mido down the left, and his low cross was touched in by Jermain Defoe.
Southend may be adrift in the Championship, but they seem transformed when competing in the cup even if this impressive performance did not bring them another famous victory. Conquerors of Manchester United in the previous round they frustrated Tottenham l with a performance of impressive discipline and no little technique.
Their chances were few but the home side's were hardly more numerous. In the final minute Mido's header from Tom Huddlestone's free-kick was clawed away by Darryl Flahavan but it was as close as Spurs came in regulation time.
While Spurs passed neatly they were never allowed to settle, with Alan McCormack scurrying about the midfield to pressure the player in possession. Meanwhile, Mark Gower put in one cross which was just cleared from the onrushing Lee Bradbury and then cut in from the left for a speculative shot which Paul Robinson saved.
It took a quarter of the match for Spurs to fashion their first clear chance. Jermain Defoe crossed from the left and, though the ball fell behind Mido, the Egyptian conjured a volley that crashed on to the crossbar.
Shortly afterwards Danny Murphy headed Paul Stalteri's cross just wide of the far post. With Southend centre-back Spencer Pryer having limped off with a groin injury, the home side were finding it easier to sustain their pressure. In the 34th minute Flahavan was extended, tipping Defoe's header wide.
But Tottenham's superiority was marginal and in the final minute of the first half they might even have fallen behind. Freddy Eastwood controlled well and saw his shot from the edge of the area ricochet into the path of Jamal Campbell-Ryce. It took a wonderful, committed block from Stalteri to deny the diminutive midfielder the best chance of the game.
The opening skirmishes of the second half differed little from the latter stages of the first. Murphy was fortunate to find Steed Malbranque with a misplaced pass and the Frenchman shot forcefully at Flahavan; Efe Sodje misjudged Benoit Assou-Ekotto's long-ball but the goalkeeper was out quickly to deny Defoe. The longer the night wore on the more the home fans' faces were frozen in frustration.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Tainio (Davids 56), Stalteri, Davenport, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Murphy (Berbatov 76), Defoe, Mido. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Gardner. Booked: Stalteri. Goals: Defoe 115.
SOUTHEND: Flahavan, Hunt, Prior (Clarke 24), Sodje, McCormack (Francis 118), Campbell-Ryce (Hooper 114), Maher, Hammell, Gower, Eastwood, Bradbury. Subs Not Used: Welch, Paynter. Booked: McCormack, Hammell.
Referee: P Dowd
