Grimsby - 1 Tottenham - 0: A volley two minutes from time by Jean-Paul Kalala gave Grimsby Town a night to savour as they sent Tottenham crashing out of the competition in the second round.
The Congolese midfielder's effort, beating an unsighted Paul Robinson from 22 yards, was the final embarrassment for a Premiership team featuring some handsomely paid players who showed little appetite for the fray.
This was in stark contrast to John McDermott, making his 700th appearance for the League Two leaders. McDermott, playing at right-back, will have had many harder games over the last 18 years.
With the Premiership already as good as won, and competition for European places likely to be fierce, the concept of rotation was never likely to find much favour with Martin Jol.
The Spurs manager put out the strongest team he had available, internationals wherever you looked, and a sold-out Blundell Park revelled in the prospect of their team taking it to the Premiership artistocrats.
Which in the opening period was exactly what they did, especially in midfield, where Paul Bolland, Gary Jones and Kalala took it upon themselves to hustle and harry Jermaine Jenas and the Michaels, Carrick and Brown, to distraction.
Given the possession won by the home team it seemed unfortunate, though understandable, that Grimsby's manager Russell Slade chose to start with just Michael Reddy up front, but the pacy striker was still a handful.
The better chances, though, were made by Spurs, handicapped though they were by Robbie Keane's proclivity for being caught offside.
The best of the first half fell to Andy Reid, running from deep. Played in by Jermain Defoe, the midfielder delivered his shot, but Grimsby's goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall saved well as he rushed out to narrow the angle.
Guardian Serrvice
GRIMSBY TOWN (4-5-1); Mildenhall; Croft, R Jones, Whittle, McDermott; Parkinson, Kalala, G Jones (Gritton, half time), Bolland, Cohen (Barwick, 83); Reddy.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2) Robinson; Stalteri, King, Naybet, Lee; Jenas, Brown, Carrick (Davis, 65), Reid (Lennon, 60); Defoe, Keane.
Referee: G Laws
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