Spurs reach League Cup semi on ‘cold night in Stoke’

Ben Davies celebrates scoring their second goal with Son Heung-min - REUTERS

STOKE-ON-TRENT (Reuters): Tottenham Hotspur reached the semi-finals of the League Cup with a 3-1 win over second-tier side Stoke City on a typically freezing Wednesday night, thanks to goals from Gareth Bale, Ben Davies and Harry Kane.

On the sort of inhospitable evening that Stoke’s stadium became famous for in the Premier League, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho paid the now-Championship team the compliment of fielding a strong side from the off including goal-machine Kane.

Chasing a first major trophy since winning the League Cup in 2008, the Premier League side totally dominated the first half and took a deserved lead when Gareth Bale flicked in a cute 22nd minute header from a Harry Winks cross.

It was Bale’s third goal since returning to Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid.

“We’re really happy. We knew that a cold, wet windy Wednesday night at Stoke was going to be tough. The boys were brilliant. It’s a tough place to come” man-of-the-match Winks said afterwards.

Spurs were top of the Premier League earlier this month, but they have dropped to sixth after collecting only a point from their last three matches. Mourinho has already won the League Cup four times with Chelsea and Manchester United and is now two wins away from a fifth triumph in the competition.

“We deserved it. Now we have two tough games to come,” he said after beating Stoke.

Tottenham join holders Manchester City and Championship side Brentford in the semi-final draw.