Big Sam delights in Spurs win

Sam Allardyce was in high spirits following West Ham United's sensational 2-1 Capital One Cup quarter-final victory at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs went ahead midway through the second half through Emmanuel Adebayor, only for West Ham to roar back through late goals from Matt Jarvis and Modibo Maiga and set up a semi-final meeting with Manchester City in the New Year.

Big Sam told West Ham TV of his delight at his team's all-round display, Maiga's first goal of the season and recording a second win of the season at White Hart Lane.

"We got better after we went 1-0 down," he said. "We were doing pretty well up to then and starting to get more and more ball in Tottenham's half and the game looked like it was panning out a lot like it did when we won here 3-0 [in October].

"It was all about whether we would get an opportunity to score, then we got a corner and we thought it would be dangerous for them, then they broke out and Adebayor put a tremendous volley into the net. From there on, we picked up the game and got better and better.

"Mo Diame almost equalised straight away after their goal, then Matt Taylor has hit a good strike and Matt Jarvis has come up with the goods and put it in the top of the net. Then. it was for us to go all out to win it because we didn't want extra time on a Wednesday night and Manchester United coming up on the Saturday and only 16 senior players fit.

Read a full Match Report from the sensational win at Tottenham

"We went all out and got our just rewards in the end because we were the dominant force in the final quarter of the game. Maiga scored his first goal and I hope that will help him to produce a lot more in terms of goals, and he almost got his second when he hit a fantastic shot that hit the bar and Jack Collison nearly got one.

"It went really well up until the scored and it went even better after that when we came back from 1-0 down to win for the first time this season, putting us in the semi-final of the Capital One Cup."

Tactically, Big Sam got things spot-on. West Ham defended superbly before half-time, restricting Spurs to long-range or wayward efforts, before expanding their attacking play after the break.

Even when Adebayor put the hosts in front, the Hammers refused to panic and got the goals their play warranted in the final ten minutes.

"Fresh legs came on and when more space develops they can make the difference for you. Modibo Maiga and Mo Diame particularly did that after Carlton Cole and Joe Cole had run their socks off to make sure we would not lose the game.

"Then, they lifted up the level of the play from the balls going forward, playing against tired defenders, and in the end we fully capitalised on that. It all started from a free-kick but it was a fantastic finish from Matt Jarvis and we had many chances in the final third of the game.

"Overall, when you look at what Tottenham's possession delivered for them, it was not a lot of chances. If you look at the amount of shots on target we had from our chances, it was very, very good.

"Our goalkeeper Adrian then came up with the goods when we needed him in added-time with a great save low to his left, pushing the ball away and stopping it from being 2-2 and going to extra time. It was a brilliant save when we needed it and he showed he is the quality that we were looking for and gives us two competitive goalkeepers in the squad.

"The big disappointment is that we have Manchester City in the semi-final! Away from home they haven't been too clever, but at home they've been scoring an average of four goals a game. You never know and we'll go and give it our best shot, but we want to see more performances like that and pick up more points in what is the main priority for us - the Premier League."

For Big Sam personally, the manager admitted that the victory was a boost for him and for the supporters who did not stop singing from first to last.

"It's a relief. For me, the challenge is to get the players to kick on from this. When we beat them last time, I thought we'd go on a run of results and pick up more points than we have done. I don't know where we'll go from here but it's just a fantastic result and the lads are absolutely delighted.

"The players have stepped in like Matt Taylor, Alou Diarra and Jack Collison and Adrian in goal have done a fantastic job with the rest of the team. The squad is struggling for numbers at the moment, but what a fantastic performance from those who took part.

"You have got to play to your best to give the fans something to cheer about and we have sent them home extremely happy, having beaten the old enemy again, twice on the trot. It's just a delight for them and, in the end, a delight for us as players and staff."