West Ham United   0   Tottenham Hotspur    2      (Half-time score : 0-2)

  1  Green

  2  Neill
19  Collins
15  Upson
  3  Ilunga

21  Behrami     
17  Mullins (32  Di Michele 73)
  8  Parker (25  Tristan 83)
20  Faubert (16  Noble 58     )

12  Cole
10  Bellamy
 

Unused subs: 
24  Lastuvka
13  Boa Morte
27  Davenport
31  Collison
 

  1  Gomes

22  Corluka
26  King (c)  
39  Woodgate
32  Assou-Ekotto

  7  Lennon
  4  Zokora
  8  Jenas
  5  Bentley  (24  O'Hara 81 )

14  Modric

  9  Pavlyucehnko (Bent 54)

Unused subs: 
21  Sanchez
  3  Bale
  6  Huddlestone
20  Dawson
23  Boateng

None

Tottenham Hotspur

King 68
O'Hara 90

     
Behrami (foul)  79
Noble (foul)  90

The performance of the team looked promising in the first half, when Tottenham had the best chances, but in the second half scored two of them to add another three points to the season's total.

It all started inside the first two minutes, when Aaron Lennon pulled a left wing cross back low to Bentley, who prodded the ball into Luka Modric's path and the Croatian's shot failed to have either accuracy or power to beat Robert Green in the Irons goal.  With a challenge for the ball that knocked Craig Bellamy to the ground, Didier Zokora got involved with the whingeing Welshman, while other clashes showed Lucas Neill trying to intimidate Roman Pavyluchenko and later in the match, Behrami going bonkers chasing around white shirts in the hope of getting a booking to add to his earlier one and disassociate himself with the shameful Hammers showing.

West ham's main tactic was to play a ball beyond the Spurs defence in the hope that Bellamy would lurk offside and get back onside in time to turn and head back towards goal with the Tottenham players left behind him.  Usually, the balls were too long for him to catch, but one he did get to was knocked wide, with Gomes doing enough to distract the striker.  It was funny, as every time West ham got a corner, the crowd started to get excited, but Gomes came for the ball and met them with good punches to clear the ball outside the box.

As for Tottenham, Assou-Ekotto floated a cross to the far post and David Bentley rose to head it, but could not get much power on it to trouble Green, although his later cross, when under no pressure, went high over the head of Pav, but by then the Irons had a goal disallowed, with Lucas Neill wrestling Jenas to the floor as a cross came in, forcing him to slice the ball past Gomes.  Bentley did considerably better when Collins headed out a cross straight to the winger in the box and he whipped a shot in on goal, only to see Green dive to palm the ball out.

When Lennon got away on the right, his low ball along the six yard box eluded everyone, apart from Roman at the far post, who slid in, but could not get around the ball sufficiently to direct it into goal and was frustrated to see the ball come back off the upright.  Play switched to the other end and Behrami knocked a good opportunity very high over the top, then Neill's cross, which was similar to that of Lennon's, could not be met, as Corluka did well stopping Faubert getting to it.

While the first half ended with Spurs rueing the missed chances, it took only ten minutes of the second period for Harry Redknapp to take Pavlyuchenko off and replace him with Darren Bent.  With Upson and Collins eating up all the long balls Spurs were feeding the lone striker, Bent's pace brought about a different style and encouraged to play the ball on the floor, which also suited Modric.

With Spurs working the ball well, a move on the right wing made some space for Vedran Corluka, who was getting forward and linking well with Lennon.  The defender put a cross into the West Ham penalty area, but Ilunga turned away and raised his arms, knocking the ball out for a corner.  Penalty ?  No chance with Foy being in close attendance and not noticing the Irons defender's movement.  A well crafted chance came on the hour when Aaron's low ball into the heart of the penalty area was met by Bent, who could not get a clean contact on it and the ball went wide.  With Bellamy still trying to hit long range shots to test Gomes, with them all flying off target, Zokora showed him how to do it, with a 40 yard run ending in a shot that dipped just in front of Rob Green, who managed to get behind the effort and deny Didier his first goal for the club.

But a minute later, Spurs took the lead when a right wing cross from Aaron Lennon invited Ledley King to race in to head unchallenged down and past the West Ham keeper.  He got there ahead of Bent and with Upson and Collins nowhere, had time to power his header into the ground.  It was a much needed goal and one that had been coming, although had taken 68 minutes to arrive.

Almost immediately, Spurs nearly went 2-0 up as Darren Bent was alive to a loose ball from Lennon's cross and his shot was deflected, ensuring it went into Green's arms and not the goal.  West Ham hit back with their first shot on target in the 72nd minute, as Carlton Cole struck a weal bobbling shot straight at Gomes, who collected with simplicity.  The home side brought on Di Michele for Mullins and the move almost paid dividends, as a corner fell to him and he manoeuvred around Assou-Ekotto before seeing Woodgate block his shot on goal.

Spurs were moving the ball well and running West Ham a merry dance.  Corluka and Bentley made good progress with the ball between them before playing in Modric, who let go a curler from just inside the area, but Collins headed it away.  It was Bentley's last action, as he was replaced by Jamie O'Hara and Tristan came on for Parker for West Ham.  With just a minute remaining, it was almost 1-1, when a corner failed to be cleared and it dropped for Lucas Neill to shoot, but Gomes got a good palm out on it.  The ball was returned in and with Michele standing precariously offside right in front of the goal inside the six yard box, he tried to knock the ball home, but only succeeded in hitting it straight at Gomes, who was the hero of the moment.

Within thirty seconds it was 2-0.  Bent broke away on the right wing with West Ham defenders still trying to get back and his square pass to O'Hara, found the young midfielder in acres of space.  Collins failed to shut him down and he let fly with a left foot shot that arrowed past Green and hit the net to confirm a three point victory for Tottenham in the last minute.  It was a fine strike and one which few keepers would have got near.

So, in the end, it was a double save by Gomes and a late clincher by O'Hara that took the eye, but the team effort was good today and the passing, at times, was very good.  A repeat on Saturday would also be most welcome !!

PURCELL COLE