Tottenham Hotspur are being held to a goalless draw by West Ham United after 45 minutes of their League Cup tie at White Hart Lane.

The hosts should have taken the lead within the first two minutes, when Jermain Defoe fired a loose ball wide from close range.

Andros Townsend was next to threaten, but after bursting through the midfield, he put his low strike past the post.

The visitors nearly gifted Spurs the lead moments later when Joey O'Brien almost headed Aaron Lennon's cross into his own net.

Spurs continued to dominate, and the returning Emmanuel Adebayor headed Townsend's ball into the middle over the bar.