Manuel Lanzini took advantage of some penalty area pinball to ram home the decisive goal as our nine-game Premier League winning streak came to an end at West Ham United on Friday night.
The Hammers’ attacker was in the right place at the right time to convert from six yards out 20 minutes into the second half.
Harry Kane had earlier seen his low drive somehow saved by Hammers goalkeeper Adrian, but that turned out to be our clearest opportunity as the home side stopped us from playing on our first visit to their new London Stadium base.
Indeed, Slaven Bilic’s men remained defensively well-organised, hunted in packs and always seemed to have a mass of players behind the ball to prevent us from breaking through.
It was only our fourth league defeat of the season and means we remain four points behind Chelsea in the title race, the Blues not playing until Monday evening when they entertain relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.
TEAM NEWS
Mauricio Pochettino made one change to the team that beat Arsenal at the weekend, with Kyle Walker coming back in for Kieran Trippier at right-back. Mousa Dembele started on the bench alongside Trippier.
KEY ACTION
SAVE: ADRIAN SOMEHOW DENIES KANE – 22mins
After we struggled to mount a pertinent attack on West Ham’s goal in the opening period, Hammers goalkeeper Adrian was thrust into action to keep out successive Kane strikes. Toby Alderweireld’s long ball was cushioned down by Heung-Min Son into Kane’s path and the Spanish stopper fumbled his strike to Dele Alli. Jose Fonte blocked the midfielder’s subsequent effort but the flurry of chances was not over as the ball bounced straight back to Kane and the England forward punted an effort through a crowded six-yard box, only for Adrian to stretch a leg out and divert the ball over the top.
After we struggled to mount a pertinent attack on West Ham’s goal in the opening period, Hammers goalkeeper Adrian was thrust into action to keep out successive Kane strikes. Toby Alderweireld’s long ball was cushioned down by Heung-Min Son into Kane’s path and the Spanish stopper fumbled his strike to Dele Alli. Jose Fonte blocked the midfielder’s subsequent effort but the flurry of chances was not over as the ball bounced straight back to Kane and the England forward punted an effort through a crowded six-yard box, only for Adrian to stretch a leg out and divert the ball over the top.
CHANCE: AYEW BLASTS OVER – 52mins
In a game lacking in clear-cut chances, Andre Ayew spurned a promising effort to give West Ham the lead shortly after the restart. Sam Byram’s right-sided run allowed him to cut the ball back to the edge of the box but the forward’s effort flew over the bar.
In a game lacking in clear-cut chances, Andre Ayew spurned a promising effort to give West Ham the lead shortly after the restart. Sam Byram’s right-sided run allowed him to cut the ball back to the edge of the box but the forward’s effort flew over the bar.
Above: Victor Wanyama shields the ball from Cheikhou Kouyate.
SAVES: ERIKSEN AND SON KEPT OUT – 60-63 mins
Adrian again ensured there was no way through for us as the game passed the hour mark, first keeping out Christian Eriksen’s prodded effort from Son’s ball across from the right, before sprawling down to his right to push away Son’s drive following an excellent contribution from Kane in the build-up.
Adrian again ensured there was no way through for us as the game passed the hour mark, first keeping out Christian Eriksen’s prodded effort from Son’s ball across from the right, before sprawling down to his right to push away Son’s drive following an excellent contribution from Kane in the build-up.
GOAL: WEST HAM 1-0 SPURS – MANUEL LANZINI– 65mins
West Ham grabbed the upper hand in unfortunate circumstances for us with 25 minutes remaining. Aaron Cresswell’s ball in from the left was half cleared amid some frantic defensive efforts and helped back into the danger area, where Lanzini was waiting to pounce. He duly obliged by smashing the ball home from close range.
West Ham grabbed the upper hand in unfortunate circumstances for us with 25 minutes remaining. Aaron Cresswell’s ball in from the left was half cleared amid some frantic defensive efforts and helped back into the danger area, where Lanzini was waiting to pounce. He duly obliged by smashing the ball home from close range.
SAVE: LLORIS SPARES ALDERWEIRELD’S BLUSHES – 76mins
Alderweireld had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for bailing him out on 76 minutes, as the Hammers almost grabbed a second. After the central defender lost possession in the box, Jonathan Calleri stepped to one side before hammering at goal, but Lloris made a lightning-quick reaction save to his left to beat his shot around the post. Moments earlier, Dele couldn’t quite find Kane with a ball across the face of goal, while Eriksen fired off-target from long range with four minutes left – our last real attempt at an equaliser.
Alderweireld had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for bailing him out on 76 minutes, as the Hammers almost grabbed a second. After the central defender lost possession in the box, Jonathan Calleri stepped to one side before hammering at goal, but Lloris made a lightning-quick reaction save to his left to beat his shot around the post. Moments earlier, Dele couldn’t quite find Kane with a ball across the face of goal, while Eriksen fired off-target from long range with four minutes left – our last real attempt at an equaliser.
MATCH DATA
West Ham (3-4-2-1): Adrian; Collins, Reid, Fonte; Byram, Noble (c), Kouyate, Cresswell; Lanzini (Fernandes 90+2), Ayew (Snodgrass 83); Calleri (Fletcher 89). Substitutes (not used): Randolph, Nordtveit, Feghouli, Rice.
Spurs (4-2-3-1): Lloris (c); Walker (Trippier 80), Alderweireld, Vertonghen (Dembele 67), Davies; Dier, Wanyama (Janssen 73); Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane. Substitutes (not used): Vorm, Wimmer, Nkoudou, Sissoko.
Goal: West Ham – Lanzini 65.
Yellow cards: West Ham – Noble 16, Reid 40, Lanzini 66, Byram 71; Spurs – Walker 12, Trippier 90+4.
Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Attendance: 56,992.
UP NEXT
History will be made next Sunday (May 14) as we host Manchester United in the last ever game at White Hart Lane, kick-off 4.30pm. We’re unbeaten in N17 all season and the players will be determined to bounce back to winning ways in order to preserve that record and make sure we say goodbye to our home of 118 years in style.
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