Harry makes happy return

King and O'Hara earn the spoils in East London

Last updated: 9th December 2008

Harry makes happy return

King heads Spurs into the lead at Upton Park

Man of the match
Ledley King - The Tottenham defender returned to the startling line-up with a superb performance at the back to help his side keep their first away clean sheet in the Premier League this season but, more importantly, he scored the crucial first goal of the night with a towering header.

Moment of the match
Heurelho Gomes silenced his critics with a dramatic double save in the closing moments of the match with the score still at 1-0 to Tottenham. First he parried Lucas Neill's fierce drive before thwarting David Di Michele from point blank range.

Attempt of the match
Without a doubt it has to be Jamie O'Hara's long-range effort which flew past Robert Green and into the goal to seal all three points for Tottenham at Upton Park.

Save of the match
Gomes' reflex stop to deny Di Michele in the closing stages kept Spurs' noses in front before they secured the victory in dramatic fashion just moments later when O'Hara fired home.

Talking point
Ball to hand or hand to ball? This question was asked twice during a frantic clash in East London which saw West Ham's Herita Ilunga and Tottenham's Benoit Assou-Ekotto both escape handball shouts inside their respective areas in the second half.

Goal of the game
King's header was good but O'Hara's blistering drive from outside of the box was worthy of gracing any stage and capped a convincing victory for Spurs.

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Harry Redknapp made a triumphant return to West Ham United as Tottenham Hotspur secured a 2-0 victory at Upton Park on Monday.

The Spurs boss left West Ham in 2001, moving on to two spells at Portsmouth, separated by a stint at Southampton, before taking charge at White Hart Lane in October.

And on a first trip to East London with capital rivals Tottenham, Redknapp was treated to a mixed reception before second-half goals from Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara ensured the 61-year-old has yet to sample defeat on his old stamping ground as a visiting manager.

Spurs had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes as Roman Pavlyuchenko turned an Aaron Lennon cross against the post, while West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green had earlier denied David Bentley.

Redknapp, though, then saw his side take the lead in the 68th minute as King - who had not scored in three years - rose above a crowded penalty area to head a Lennon assist into the ground and up past Green.

West Ham, who handed Diego Tristan his debut in the closing stages, fought back and Spurs' Benoit Assou-Ekotto was fortunate to avoid a hand-ball claim in the 18-yard area.

In the final minute, Hammers forward David Di Michele wasted a golden opportunity, firing straight at Heurelho Gomes from point blank range, allowing Tottenham to break and substitute O'Hara fired in from 20 yards.

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric returned to the Spurs side after recovering from a groin injury and the visitors started well.

Fiery

Lennon's cross found David Bentley at the far post on the edge of the box but the shot was tame and did not stretch Green.

Craig Bellamy was in a fiery mood. He took exception to a hefty challenge from Didier Zokora and the pair exchanged words and the odd shove before referee Chris Foy intervened with a word of warning.

West Ham edged the first-half possession with Scott Parker busy in midfield and Bellamy energetic up front and at the heart of the Hammers' best attacking moments.

He linked well with Carlton Cole, Valon Behrami and Hayden Mullins but for all their possession, West Ham could not open Tottenham up as their problems up front continue. They have now scored just once in four Premier League games.

West Ham did have the ball in the net after 22 minutes, when Jenas turned Bellamy's corner past his own keeper, but it was scratched off because Lucas Neill was climbing all over the Tottenham midfielder.

Behrami then latched onto Carlton Cole's lay-off and closed in on the box, only to be hauled down from behind in an ungainly fashion by Bentley.

The free-kick was teed up for James Collins whose low strike was deflected wide for another corner, which this time Heurelho Gomes punched confidently away.

Bellamy then saw his shot blocked on the edge of the area before he pulled another across goal and wide of Gomes' right post.

West Ham may have enjoyed the better of possession but Spurs had their moments. Modric's tricky run was halted by a determined challenge from James Collins and Lennon's deep cross found Bentley at the far post but his header did not test Green.

Spurs upped the tempo just before half-time and were unfortunate not to go ahead after working two chances in as many minutes.

Neill's clearing header fell straight to Bentley, who caught the half-volley clean and true but was denied by a brilliant diving save from Green, who punched the ball clear for a throw-in.

Spurs kept the pressure on and Pavlyuchenko stretched to meet a low cross from Lennon at the far post but he could only push the ball onto the post.

Tottenham continued to turn the screw after the interval as West Ham struggled to keep pace with the tempo.

Weapon

Lennon, their most dangerous attacking weapon, broke clear but was tracked all the way by Parker who pulled off a perfectly-timed challenge just as the Spurs winger prepared to shoot.

Redknapp made his first change just 10 minutes into the second half and Darren Bent, replacing Pavlyuchenko, brought a new dimension to their attack.

Spurs had a strong claims for a penalty when Ilunga raised his arms to block Vedran Corluka's cross but their appeals were waved away.

Modric, Jenas and Lennon opened West Ham up with slick one-touch football but Bent, who had escaped Collins in the box, turned his shot wide before Zokora saw his low drive blocked by Green.

But Tottenham's pressure told and it was Lennon who engineered the breakthrough with a delightful cross for King to power a downward header past the keeper's despairing dive.

Zola sent on Di Michele and Tristan in search of an equaliser and it almost paid off as the Hammers threw everything forward.

Di Michele tried to squeeze space at the near post but was closed out and then West Ham were denied by a point-blank save from Gomes to deny the Italian after the ball had ricocheted around the Spurs area.

And as West Ham fans stood head in hands, Spurs broke straight down field and O'Hara sealed with victory with a long-range strike.

West Ham UnitedTeam StatisticsTottenham Hotspur
0Goals2
01st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target9
7Shots off Target3
7Blocked Shots3
7Corners5
14Fouls18
6Offsides1
2Yellow Cards0
0Red Cards0
75.4Passing Success79.2
20Tackles24
65Tackles Success75
48.8Possession51.2
38.9Territorial Advantage61.1

Comments (8)

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Matt Allison (West Ham United fan) says...

Where is the flair and creativity, no width in the team. One shot on goal at home to Spurs. Faubert is dreadful, every time he touches the ball he gives it away and cannot cross. Should have let Rangers have him. Why is Etherington not even making the squad. Bellamy couldn't hit a barn door, badly need Ashton back on the pitch, even Dyer could bring some attacking impetus if he ever plays again. Tottenham never had to come out of second gear to beat us, no threat whatsoever. All I need to finish me off is for Bowyer and Boa Morte to sign contract extensions. An worried and unhappy Hammer.

Posted 01:37 9th December 2008

Steven Browne (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Up the Spurs! Great result.... Last game against Everton I still feel we were very unlucky, and was interesting to see our reaction today. I think the result was fully deserved even though West Ham may feel unjust as the almost equalised at the end before our awesome break away and great strike from ohara! I think we will finish top half of table but will really struggle getting into europe.....fingers crossed in the carling cup, could be our way into it again! There is a long way to go this season but so pleased we have have Harry as our boss, what a turn around. Keep the faith boyos!! Steven Browne, Crawley, West Sussex

Posted 23:19 8th December 2008

Lee Russon (West Ham United fan) says...

As a westham fan i am very very worried after this performance. Carlton Cole is useless and i can't believe that westham think him signing a 5 year deal was a positive thing. Cole and Bellamy do not play close enough, they play too wide apart from each other and all Cole does is flick the ball on to no one and it goes no where everytime, this partnership simply does not work, without Etherington we have no width and look lost of any ideas, we played tonight with 4 midfielders with no creativity and all they wanted to do was pass the ball backwards, worst performance i have seen in 5 years, very very worrying times indeed.

Posted 23:15 8th December 2008

Alex Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Not the prettiest game of football, but we had the best chances and definitely believe we deserved to win the game. I just hope this tees us up for a good performance at the weekend as nothing less will do! Still the Harry revival marches on and look forward to being at the Spartak game next week. Come on you Spurs!

Posted 22:58 8th December 2008

Bill Guppy (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Who said Gomes was terrible, what a save to seal the match for O'Hara to finish beautifully past 'Englands Number One'

Posted 22:52 8th December 2008

Richard Jermy (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Well done Spurs for a vital win. King is a true bona fide Tottenham legend - as if we didn't know that already - but there is another legend in the making: Jamie O'Hara. This guy shows heart and commitment every time he pulls on the shirt. A bad mark must go to David Bentley for another lacklustre display. Even though he may have scored the goal of the season, he is still struggling to justify his £15 million fee. Lets hope he has a better second half to the season. As for the team themselves, if they can keep pulling results like this out of the hat then they should be moving up that table in next to no time. Come on you Spurs!

Posted 22:46 8th December 2008

Phil Briden (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Spurs played the better football and totally bossed the 2nd half. A well deserved win, keep it going Harry!

Posted 22:43 8th December 2008

Martin Hawkins (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

great job by the boys and really pleased for gomes he saved us and this will endear him to the fans.

Posted 22:40 8th December 2008
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