Tottenham’s route to the final

Mauricio Pochettino’s first season at the White Hart Lane helm will yield silverware should Tottenham overcome rivals Chelsea in the Capital One Cup final.

Here, Press Association Sport’s Simon Peach takes a look at Tottenham’s route to Wembley.

THIRD ROUND – SEPTEMBER 24, v NOTTINGHAM FOREST (H) 3-1

Ryan Mason’s wonderful long-range effort inspired a late comeback on a night when Pochettino made 11 alterations from the previous game. Jorge Grant put Forest ahead in the second half, only for Mason to level in style – a strike followed up by a poacher’s goal from Roberto Soldado and a fine Harry Kane attempt.

FOURTH ROUND – OCTOBER 24, v BRIGHTON (H) 2-0

Spurs made heavy weather of progressing at the expense of out-of-form Brighton. On a largely uninspiring night at White Hart Lane, substitute Erik Lamela and top goalscorer Kane struck in the second half to see off Sky Bet Championship opponents.

QUARTER-FINAL – DECEMBER 17, v NEWCASTLE (H) 4-0

Newcastle were obliterated as Spurs fans saw the kind of performances they yearn for. Their recent improvements were evident against Alan Pardew’s men, with Nabil Bentaleb, Nacer Chadli, Kane and Soldado all scoring in a stylish win.

SEMI-FINAL, FIRST LEG – JANUARY 21, v SHEFFIELD UNITED (H) 1-0

Andros Townsend’s penalty saw Tottenham take control of the semi-final, although visiting boss Nigel Clough was buoyed by the Blades’ display in north London. For a long time United looked like they would once again prove the scourge of top-flight opposition, only for Townsend’s second-half penalty to eke out a narrow win.

SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG – JANUARY 28, v SHEFFIELD UNITED (A) 2-2 (AGG: TOTTENHAM WIN 3-2 ON AGGREGATE)

Christian Eriksen struck after 88 minutes as Tottenham killed off a stunning Che Adams-inspired comeback to reach the final. Clough’s cup specialists had rescued a seemingly impossible position in the tie as substitute Adams scored twice within five minutes of coming on at Bramall Lane to level the aggregate score. But Eriksen, who had opened the scoring on a night of snow and hail with a brilliant free-kick, had the final say just as the Blades began to entertain hopes of another remarkable cup win.