By Rob Blanchette
Tottenham Hotspur are just one solitary step away from Wembley as they travel to Sheffield United for the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-finals.
Spurs were victorious in the first leg against the League One promotion hopefuls but only by the slimmest of margins as an Andros Townsend goal won the match 1-0.
The Blades have displayed amazing character in cup competitions in recent times, and they will believe they can overturn the deficit on home soil.
Here is how you can watch this exciting cup tie—with TV, stream and fixture information, as well as a preview of the match:
When: Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET
Where: Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England.
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 and HD (UK only) BeIN Sports (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK only) BeIN Sports Connect (U.S. only)
Sheffield United Ready For Spurs Challenge
When you get to the last four of any cup competition in football, the form book goes out of the window.
Sheffield United may sit two divisions below high-flying, European football globetrotting, Tottenham Hotspur—but they are a club who know how to navigate the choppy waters of knockout football.
And in Nigel Clough, the Blades have a coach who has visited the well of success as a player, wishing to also emulate his very famous father in his exploits as a manager.
In the playground of League One, United are a beast of a football club—considered one of the biggest names in the third tier.
Having lost their Premier League status in 2007, the South Yorkshire club has followed the path of many a "sleeping giant" and slid down the pecking order.
But in the cup, Clough's boys have excelled. The manager's record with the Bramall Lane outfit against EPL opposition is outstanding.
United's loss at White Hart Lane was only the team's second defeat in eight matches against top tier sides, per John Ashdown of The Guardian, with an exceptional five victories to their credit.
And speaking to BBC Sport, Clough was quick to talk up his team's chances, believing they can overcome the north London giants:
Few teams outside of the Championship division can muster a crowd of 25,000 for any fixture, and with a sea of red and white behind them—it will be an exceptionally difficult night for Spurs.
Tottenham have failed to win any silverware for six seasons, and they will feel the League Cup is their one true chance to break that duck, but the weight of being overwhelming favourites will not help Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine manager advised caution after his side's first-leg win and highlighted Clough's positive style of play, per BBC Sport:
"This victory is very important, but we need to win again next week in Sheffield and have to be prepared for the fight. They played very aggressively in the first half, and played narrow and deep. They played well and it was very difficult for us."
Pochettino knows this is not a straightforward match and his team will have to be defensively resolute. But if Spurs can get the early goal it will settle their nerves and allow them to go on and claim the result they need.
Match Preview
Tottenham were left exasperated in their last match as they crashed out in the FA Cup at home to Leicester City.
The game appeared to be a straightforward win for Spurs as they looked to proceed in club football's oldest cup competition, but the Foxes spoiled the script, winning 2-1.
Tottenham were unlucky to prematurely end their FA Cup run for this season, but they were nowhere near their top level against Leicester, as highlighted by John Cross of the Mirror:
Emmanuel Adebayor could lead the line against Sheffield United and he will be desperate to get back into goalscoring shape, following nine weeks away from the game.
WhoScored.com predict Clough's team will be unchanged from the one which lost recently at White Hart Lane, with Ben Davies also now available for the Blades after injury.
WhoScored also said Nacer Chadli is Tottenham's primary selection concern as the player has been away on compassionate leave.
Despite the romance of the cup, United will struggle to stop Spurs reaching Wembley if the London side find their top gear.
Adebayor is one of the most ruthless strikers in England when he is on his game, and he has the quality to take Tottenham into the final.
But Clough has the name and the reputation to cause an almighty shock—and if the Blades can sharpen their knives sufficiently—the League One team could make it a dream night for the lower leagues.
