Tottenham Crisis Deepens as United Stun Stoke

Tottenham Hotspur problem's worsened as West Ham United booked a Capital One Cup semi-final meeting with Manchester City after Modibo Maiga's 85th minute header crowned a late revival at White Hart Lane.

Two late goals from Matt Jarvis and Maiga, the forward's first goal of the season, secured a place in the last four.

With Tim Sherwood in temporary charge Tottenham hit the front through Emmanuel Adebayor's stunning second-half volley but a determined West Ham side fought back to leave Spurs to reflect on their second home defeat of a week which saw manager Andre Villas-Boas sacked on Monday.

And West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was all too aware of Spurs' fragility.

"As the game wore on both teams had to go for it. Neither of us wanted it to go into extra-time," he said.

"It is what you can do when the spaces get bigger and bigger. We improved after Emmanuel Adebayor's goal.

"We saw the shaken nerve ends of Tottenham when we scored. We then went for the jugular. Our substitutes, who came on with fresh legs, exploited the spaces."

The weather was the main talking point of the second quarter-final tie of the evening as hail momentarily disrupted play at the Brittania Stadium, but it couldn't prevent Manchester United overcoming Stoke City with a 2-0 win.

The awful playing conditions didn't make for an inspiring first half during which referee Mark Clattenburg suspended play for 10 minutes, claiming he was unable to see the players amidst the wind and hail.

The break was however a blessing for an lacklustre United who regrouped and led through Ashley Young's superb opener after Javier Hernandez's inadvertant lay-off.

Patrice Evra sealed a semi-final meeting with Sunderland with a late second which curled past Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.

"The conditions, especially in the first half, made it really difficult for the players," said United manager David Moyes.

"I think the first goal, whoever scored, was going to make a big difference.

"It was a tight game. I don't think Stoke created too many chances, either.

"Manchester United Football Club are used to winning trophies, it's just business as usual, but I've got to say we're all delighted that we're in the semi-final."

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes added: "I thought we made a fair fist of it in the first half against all the elements and thought we were in decent shape.

"Our organisation was good, United weren't creating too many chances. But United, on the night, deserved to win.

"They just had a little bit more power and pace. We weren't able to ask enough questions of them in the second half."

Manchester rivals City and United avoided each other in the subsequent semi-final draw, with Sunderland facing the Premier League champions while Manuel Pellegrini's men will take on West Ham over two legs in January.