Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford: Carabao Cup semi-final – live!

3.05pm EST 15:05

17 min: Brentford kick the ball out of play so that Ndombele can receive treatment. He’s lying in the centre circle clutching his ankle after a late tackle by Janelt, who get a deserved booking.

Updated at 3.05pm EST

3.01pm EST 15:01

14 min: True to their pre-match word, Spurs are not trying to sit on their lead. ON the contrary, they’re trying to double it immediately. Raya foils them this time, diving to his left to turn away Son’s bending sidefooter from the edge of the area.

3.00pm EST 15:00

GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Brentford (Sissoko 12)

Spurs open the scoring from their first dangerous attack! Brentford will be disgusted at their own defending. Reguilon’s cross from the left was lovely, but Sissoko had plenty of time and space between the two centrebacks – and he used it impeccably, guiding a header from 10 yards beyond the diving keeper and into the corner of the goal.

2.56pm EST 14:56

9 min: Jensen flights a freekick from 10 yards inside the Spurs half towards the left-hand side of the area. Pinnock heads it across goal but Spurs clear, with Ndombele overhead kicking it to safety.

2.54pm EST 14:54

7 min: There is no sign of Brentford freezing or being overwhelmed by this occasion. They’re very clever and sprightly and, so far, giving as good as they get.

Updated at 2.54pm EST

2.51pm EST 14:51

5 min: Dasilva pounces on a loose pas by Aurier and dribbles past two and into the Spurs area. But when the ball runs away from him, Sanchez whacks it off him and it ricochet into the arms of Lloris.

2.50pm EST 14:50

4 min: Mbeumo gets the wrong side of Reguilon and curls over an inviting cross. But Sanchez is well positioned to head clear.

2.49pm EST 14:49

3 min: It’s been a confident start from Spurs, with all their main players getting useful touches. Ndombele plays a particularly nice pass through to Son, who knocks it wide to Reguilon, who wins a corner. It’s cleared easily.

Spurs’ Harry Kane surges forward. Photograph: Clive Rose/Pool/EPA

Updated at 3.01pm EST

2.46pm EST 14:46

1 min: Brentford set the semi-final in motion by kicking the ball straight back to their keeper, who wellies it downfield.

2.45pm EST 14:45

The players march down the tunnel and on to the pitch, to absolutely no applause or cheers. Spurs are wearing their customary colours of white shirts and navy blue knickerbockers, while Brentford are in a dark grey number with red stockings.

Updated at 2.52pm EST

2.39pm EST 14:39

“White and Hart on the bench tonight is up there with Arsene managing Arsenal, but Hartley and Poole once playing for Hartlepool can never be beaten,” declares Antony Wilson, who has presumably forgotten that Wolfsburg used to be managed by Wolfgang Wolf.

Updated at 2.40pm EST

2.31pm EST 14:31

“With White and Hart on the bench for Spurs, couldn’t Jose have had a laugh and asked Kane to put his feet up too?” writes Risha Mohyeddin with a chortle.

2.26pm EST 14:26

Thomas Frank speaks

Firstly, he reveals that Pontus Jansson would have been picked but is suffering from a minor injury. He also says the fact that this tie is being contested over one leg rather than the usual two increases the chances of Brentford pulling of an upset in their first ever semi-final. “We all know it’s not an everyday game but we are looking forward to it. Let’s try to attack, do our best and see what happens. Everybody knows Tottenham are big favourites and name-for-name are a better team than us but the fact it’s only one game helps us.”

2.17pm EST 14:17

Sissoko speaks

Moussa Sissoko has ben speaking to Sky Sports and reveals Jose Mourinho’s instructions, which, apparently, really do include “don’t sit back”: “He told us to take this team seriously because they are a very god opponent, doing very well in the Championship. Everyone wants to be in the final so it’s going to be a big battle. Let’s do everything to go through. Be strong defensively and when you have the ball, go forward. Don’t sit back and don’t wait.”

2.09pm EST 14:09

Teams

Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Lucas, Ndombele, Son; Kane

Subs: Alderweireld, Alli, White, Hart, Davies, Bergwijn, Winks, Vinicius

Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard, Pinnock, Beck Sorensen, Henry; DAsilva, Janelt, Jansen; Mbeuno, Toney, Canos

Subs: Daniels, Forss, Fosu, Ghoddos, Gilbert, Haygarth, Marconedes, Rasmussen, Stevens

Referee: M Dean

12.13pm EST 12:13

Hello. Spurs haven’t won a major trophy for 13 years and it would mean a lot to them and José Mourinho to get one in the cabinet as soon as possible. Brentford don’t even need a cabinet (although, as Richard Foster details here, they they did win the London War Cup in 1942, which is not to be sniffed at). Now both clubs have a chance to end long waits, or at least to meet a Manchester club in the Carabao Cup final. Spurs are the obvious favourites but that means nothing to Brentford, who have already ousted four Premier League clubs to get this far.

This is Brentford first match of the year, because their joust with Bristol City last weekend was postponed owing to Covid-19. They have a fully fit squad, except for the injured Christian Norgaard. Spurs are without several players, including Matt Doherty, Giovani Lo Celso and Erik Lamela. But they have a big squad and no credible excuses. It’s on.