Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 West Ham United
Spurs improved their Champions League hopes tonight with a derby victory over struggling West Ham. They were gifted an opener when Tomas Soucek scored an own goal before Harry Kane rounded off the win with a late strike.
Spurs vs West Ham is always a spicy Premier League affair and there was plenty at stake for both teams in this London clash. Spurs are chasing a Champions League spot, while West Ham are in the midst of a relegation scrap. The Hammers put up a good fight but were found wanting at both ends of the pitch.
The result leaves the Hammers in deep trouble, outside the bottom three on goal difference alone, while Spurs move up to seventh.
Highlights of the game
West Ham really needed a settling-in period at the start of this game but they had anything but. Heung-Min Son’s cross took a deflection from Ryan Fredericks and hit the angle of the crossbar before bouncing back into play for West Ham to make a desperate clearance.
At the other end, Hugo Lloris had to be alert when Michail Antonio met a flick-on from Declan Rice, and the Spurs keeper kept his point-blank range effort out with a timely block.
Jose Mourinho made changes to the team which drew with Manchester United. Striker Steven Bergwijn showed bags of pace and confidence in his performance against the Red Devils while Erik Lamela was busy and effective, but both started this game on the bench.
Mourinho brought back Lucas Moura and Dele Alli, returning from a-one match suspension he copped for making an ill-judged post about COVID-19. And it was Moura who brought the first save from Lukasz Fabianski, letting fly from 20 yards, and the Hammers keeper did well to tip his effort over the bar.
Skipper Harry Kane was quiet in Spurs’ opener against the Red Devils, and it took him time to settle again tonight. He had a sight of goal on 27 minutes but fired straight at Fabianski from the edge of the penalty area. And a couple of minutes later, he met a cross from Serge Aurier which he headed over.
Spurs were inching closer and their persistence seemed to pay off when Son picked up the ball on the left side of the box before cutting in and driving past Fabianski at his near post. But West Ham were saved by VAR, which found that Son was offside by the length of his toe.
The Spurs players were astounded, it was mighty close, take a look at the Premier League 2020 highlights and make your own mind up.
Eric Dier took a pot shot early in the second half and Harry Kane came very close to poking an Aurier cross home. And at the other end, Pablo Fornals had a golden opportunity to put the Hammers ahead when Jarred Bowen picked him out, but he scuffed his shot wide.
Dele Alli had his first shot on goal but he too misfired with plenty of time to pick his spot. And then Kane missed a glorious opportunity after a lighting break when he slid his shot wide with just Fabianski to beat.
As the game swung from end to end, Antonio was clear through on goal but his effort flew well over. And on 64 minutes, Spurs had their breakthrough. It was a scruffy goal but Mourinho wouldn’t mind that.
The hosts swung over their eighth corner of the game; it missed everyone but bounced into the net off the unlucky Tomas Soucek.
Mourinho sent Bergwijn on and he almost created a goal immediately, swinging a cross over for Aurier but the wing-back miscued. And then the Hammers came so close to an equaliser but Bowen’s snapshot bounced away off the post.
But it was game over when Son released Kane, and there was only going to be one outcome as he bore down on Fabianski’s goal before smashing the ball low and hard into the net.
Key statistics
Our pre-match tip went for goals (over 2.75 on the Premier League 2020 odds) in this game and there were plenty of opportunities, with Spurs winning the shot count by 15 to nine.
The Hammers were without their two top scorers, Sebastien Haller and Robert Snodgrass, both injured, but they came within an inch of scoring when Bowen’s shot hit the upright.
West Ham boss David Moyes hasn’t chalked up a win against Mourinho in 14 attempts and the Hammers have lost their last seven away league games.
What’s next?
Spurs are back in action a week on Thursday when they head north for a meeting with Sheffield United. The Blades have made a slow start to their return to action, drawing with relegation-threatened Aston Villa before being thumped 3-0 by Newcastle United.
On the following Monday, Everton are the visitors to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
During the lockdown, we looked at the relegation battle and our SBOBET tips weren’t good news for the Hammers. The early results have seen Brighton pick up four points, which have lifted Graham Potter’s side five clear of the drop.
Moyes’ side really need to pick up some points soon, but they have another tough London assignment when they meet Chelsea next Wednesday, before taking on Newcastle at St. James’ Park.
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