Nigel Clough: Sheffield United can reach League Cup final, says boss
Last updated on .From the section Football
Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough is confident his League One side can reach the Capital One Cup final.
The Blades lost 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday as Andros Townsend's penalty gave Premier League Tottenham a victory at White Hart Lane.
Clough's team need to win the second leg at Bramall Lane on 28 January.
"We didn't want to sit back, we wanted to try and get a goal, but we are still in it and with a one-goal deficit we can do it," Clough told BBC Sport.
"With the crowd behind us, the key is to not concede a goal. There will be 25,000 of our fans there and it will be a special night - we will give it everything we can."
The Blades, seventh in the third tier of English football, have never played in a League Cup final but have already beaten Premier League sides West Ham and Southampton in this season's competition.
They had produced a resolute defensive performance against Spurs before Jay McEveley handled the ball in the penalty area and Townsend converted the resulting spot-kick in the 74th minute.
Tottenham have not won a trophy in the last six seasons and manager Mauricio Pochettino said his side would not risk just sitting back and defending in the return leg.
"This victory is very important, but we need to win again next week in Sheffield and have to be prepared for the fight," said the Argentine.
"They played very aggressively in the first half, and played narrow and deep. They played well and it was very difficult for us."
The winners of the semi-final will face either Liverpool or Chelsea, who drew 1-1 in their first leg, in the Wembley final on 1 March.
