Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul insists the players were pleased with the performance at Stoke City, despite losing the Carling Cup on penalties and exiting the competition.

The French international played the full 120 minutes of the encounter alongside Sebastien Bassong in the centre of defence in a make-shift starting XI.

In the end, Tony Pulis’ side came out trumps, winning 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out with Roman Pavlyuchenko and Massimo Luongo missing their respective penalties.

Kaboul, however, was happy with the performance of himself and his team-mates as Jake Livermore, Andros Townsend and Tom Carroll all impressed one again.

“Everyone was happy with the performance, even though we lost, but penalties is all about luck, really,” Kaboul told the clubs official website.

“We played very well. I’m happy because we’ve improved and the young players played unbelievably well.

“Massimo is okay, it was unlucky. He came on, did well and helped us a lot. A penalty is chance, inside or out and it went the keeper’s way.

“You know it is a tough game at Stoke but we didn’t concede any goals. Okay, we didn’t have many chances either and it was a tight game, but I thought everyone did well.”

Manager Harry Redknapp also heaped praise on the young centre-mdfield pairing of Livermore and Carroll, who were up against for Spurs midfielder Wilson Palacios and the experienced duo Glenn Whelan and Salif Diao.

“Jake Livermore and Tom Carroll in midfield were outstanding,” said Redknapp.

“Tom is only a slip of a lad but a fantastic footballer, he really knows how to play the game. He’s a lad with hardly any experience but he came in and played ever so well. 

“Jake Livermore was top class. They are both improving and Jake is pushing for a place in the first team, he has a real chance. It was a good all-round performance.”