VINTAGE SHERI

In front of Tord Grip, Sheringham enhanced his position in the England reckoning with a purposeful display of poise and balance. He was unfortunate not to get his name on the score sheet, smashing the woodwork twice and also forcing a good save from debutant David James in the West Ham goal

Despite being the oldest man on the pitch, Sheringham displayed his maturity with his first effort not to rush his shot but to gently the ball move across his body before unleashing a tremendous drive that cannoned off the top of the bar.

But his game is not just about the slow build-up his left-footed effort that struck the upright in the second half came about after he reacted quickest to a loose ball and he was almost on the spot from the rebound but his header went over the bar.

Sheringham may have only netted four goals in the Premiership since he returned to the capital, but his all-round game acts a focal point for Glenn Hoddle's team and his quality in advance positions was a major difference between the two teams on Saturday.

The Hammers without the influential Paolo Di Canio lacked invention in the final third and the striking partnership of Paul Kitson and Jermaine Defoe who managed just one shot on target between them the whole game lacked the guile to get past a well-disciplined Spurs defence.

Manager Glenn Roeder will hope that Di Canio and strike partner Frederic Kanoute will recover from their hamstring injuries for next week's trip to Sunderland to boost the club's attacking options especially when they can only boast a 41% shooting accuracy.

But, although Les Ferdinand scored the only goal of the game it was the east London gent Sheringham who run the show with twice as many efforts as any other player on the pitch and 53 successful passes that showed there's no substitute for experience.