Tottenham vs Sheffield United: After QPR, Southampton and West Ham are Spurs next in line for a Blades cup shock?

Nigel Clough’s side have a knack of beating topflight opponents

Nigel Clough reacts on the touchline (Getty Images)

Mauricio Pochettino will be wary of an upset when his Tottenham side welcome League One Sheffield United for their Capital One Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.

The Bramall Lane outfit have won seven of their last fifteen cup ties against Premier League opposition and with three top-flight scalps already this season are Spurs next to be shocked? In the build-up to Wednesday's first-leg League Cup clash, here’s a run-down of the Blades’ recent upsets...

January 5, 2008 – FA Cup third round – Bolton 0-1 Sheffield United

David Carney’s solitary strike just three minutes before half-time gave the Blades victory over Gary Megson’s Bolton – who at the time were preparing for the visit of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Cup.

January 27, 2008 – FA Cup fourth round – Sheffield United 2-1 Manchester City

An errant balloon thrown from the away end allowed Luke Shelton to open the scoring at Bramall Lane. Jon Stead then doubled their advantage to set up victory over Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side.

January 4, 2014 – FA Cup third round – Aston Villa 1-2 Sheffield United

Just one point above the League One drop zone before their trip to Villa Park, Nigel Clough’s Blades secured a big upset with Ryan Flynn’s spectacular winner nine minutes from time. Jamie Murphy got the visitors’ other goal.

February 4, 2014 – FA Cup fourth round replay – Fulham 0-1 Sheffield United (AET)

Clough’s team lost four on the road after the Villa win but Shaun Miller’s last minute header earned another shock. The result heaped pressure on Cottagers’ boss René Meulensteen, who was sacked ten days later.

August 27, 2014 – Capital One Cup second round – West Ham 1-1 Sheffield United* (Sheffield United win 5-4 on penalties)

This was the first meeting of the two sides since the Carlos Tevez affair seven years earlier and United exacted a measure of revenge on the Hammers with a dramatic spot kick triumph at Upton Park.

December 16, 2014 – Capital One Cup quarter final – Sheffield United 1-0 Southampton

En route to this week’s tie with Spurs, the Blades inflicted a fifth successive defeat on Ronald Koeman’s high-flying Southampton. Marc McNulty pounced on a Fraser Forster mistake for the game’s only goal.

January 4, 2015 – FA Cup third round – QPR 0-3 Sheffield United

McNulty was on target again when Clough’s side claimed their third Premier League scalp of the season at Loftus Road earlier this month. A brace from Jamal Campbell-Ryce ensured a twelfth win in sixteen FA Cup ties.