Tottenham shrugged off Everton to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

Robbie Keane wasted a Spurs chance when his shot hit a post but Tom Huddlestone atoned for his team-mate by half-volleying in a David Bentley cross.

Keane earned a penalty after a foul by Sylvain Distin and, after Tim Howard had saved his initial strike, he scored following a goalmouth melee.

Everton rarely looked like staging a comeback as Spurs saw out the game.

The main disappointment for Spurs was the form of Roman Pavlyuchenko, who made a rare start in the first ever meeting between the two sides in the League Cup.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp had a visit from Russia manager Guus Hiddink recently to discuss how to get the best out of the striker.

Pavlyuchenko is propping up the Spurs pecking order of forwards and is also struggling to keep his starting place in Hiddink's side.

And, after Keane had struck the post with a shot, he wasted two chances betraying a lack of confidence after Redknapp had called for a more aggressive approach.

Pavlyuchenko was through on goal after a Lucas Neill clearance struck Keane and fell into his path, but he hurried his effort and shot wide from 20 yards.

He also got on the end of an Alan Hutton cross to the near post only to steer his strike wide.

Everton were a team nursing a severe injury crisis and they tried to paper over their problems with their work ethic.

The closest they came to a goal was when a hooked Louis Saha shot was tipped over by Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes, while an unmarked Jonny Heitinga headed wide.

However, after Huddlestone arrived into the Toffees box to put the finishing touch to a Bentley cross, Spurs always looked like they had the beating of the visitors.

There was little doubt Distin's challenge on Keane merited a spot-kick but there was more than a touch of fortune about the goal eventually scored from it.

Everton keeper Howard saved the initial penalty as well as follow-up strikes from Bentley and Gareth Bale before Keane powered in from close range to secure the home side's victory.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on David Bentley: "He's got to play like that and put that effort in. Aaron (Lennon) has played so well, he's not had the opportunity.

"His attitude was not as good in training as it could be and I spoke to him about that.

"He accepts that and is determined to put that right."