CARABAO CUP 5TH ROUND
WEDNESDAY 22ND DECEMBER, 2021
(7.45pm)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(2) WEST HAM UNITED 1(1)

Spurs scorers:-
Bergwijn, 29
Lucas Moura, 34

West Ham scorer:-
Bowen, 32

Attendance:- 40,031

Referee:- Chris Kavanagh
Assistants:- Dan Cook and Peter Kirkup
Fourth Official:- Robert Jones

Teams:- Spurs (3-4-3):- Lloris (Capt.); Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Doherty (sub Tanganga, 83), Skipp (sub Dele, 77), Hojbjerg, Reguilon (sub Emerson Royal, 83); Lucas Moura (sub Winks, 61), Kane, Bergwijn (sub Son, 61)

Subs not used:- Gollini; Rodon; Lo Celso, Ndombele

No bookings

West Ham (3-4-3):- Areola; Johnson, Dawson, Diop; Ashby (sub Yarmolenko, 80), Soucek, Rice (Capt.), Masuaku; Vlasic (sub Benrahma, 68), Bowen, Lanzini (sub Fornals, 68)

Subs not used:- Randolph; Fredericks, Alese, Baptiste; Noble; Kral

Booked:- Bowen (foul on Reguilon)

Antonio is a winner – for Spurs!

Once again, Covid kept away what amounted to a third of what should have been a bumper crowd. West Ham used virtually all of their 5,800 allocation and they sang their one-song bubbly repertoire ad infinitum. Their team was missing a talisman – Michail Antonio – who has so often been a thorn in Spurs’ side, but he has been struck down with the virus. Spurs have an Antonio too. Antonio Conte has already proved to be a winner for Spurs, but we already knew of his qualities. Spurs are now clear of Covid, but Conte made 6 changes from the team which had started and performed so well against Liverpool on Sunday. Against Liverpool the Spurs manager got a tune out of previously under-performing players such as Winks, Dele, Ndombele and Sessegnon. Against West Ham, he changed his wing-backs and central midfield, but he also used Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn to good effect either side of Harry Kane.

Had it not been for Hugo Lloris's heroics, Bergwijn would be a candidate for man of the match here with a goal and a big part in our second too. Conte has said that his players are still recovering full fitness from the virus, which is one reason he used all five of his substitutes in the second half. Another reason is that he is still learning about his players’ abilities. In the second half, Conte seemed content to manage the game, seeking to hold the lead, often playing five across the back.

Despite their absences (Ogbonna, Zouma, Cresswell, Coufal as well as Antonio), David Moyes’ chosen men put up a hard fight, scoring between our goals. 20-year-old Harrison Ashby played at right wing-back.

Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand. Within three minutes they had a free kick following a foul on Lucas Moura, but nothing came of that. Bergwijn won a corner with a deflected shot three minutes later. Bergwijn made one or two stray passes early on, but his confidence levels grew. He offered plenty of skill and enterprise.

West Ham had a free kick after 9 minutes, hit by skipper Declan Rice from 30 yards, but this was miles over the target. Lucas Moura found Kane after 11 minutes with a good ball towards the left of the box, but Kane’s shot was saved by Areola before being cleared.

Ashby was fouled and Bowen swung in a free kick, but Lloris slapped this away. Spurs countered through Hojbjerg and Bergwijn, but a ball intended for Kane was cleared. Hugo had to forcefully bat away a West Ham corner. The game was being hard-fought, as you’d expect with both teams eager to progress in what could be both clubs’ best chance of a trophy. In West Ham’s case their 41-year quest for new silverware must be made elsewhere.

After 20 minutes, Harry Kane laid a ball back for Lucas, who passed to Reguilon flying down the left wing. “Reggie” crossed deep and the other wing-back hit a shot which was easy for Areola. Matt Doherty played his best football for Wolves in the wing-back position, and he had one of his best games for Spurs tonight at both ends of the pitch. Doherty was fouled out on the right and after Spurs’ free kick Kane’s shot was blocked.

Bergwijn opened the scoring after a one-two with Hojbjerg who might have shot himself but laid the ball up for Bergwijn to score in the middle. It was his first Spurs goal since May, and that had been his only club goal last season.

“The Hammers” responded well and soon bounced back. Lloris made two great saves – both from headers by Soucek. Dier made a poor clearance from the middle of goal and Vlasic’s shot was hit at Bowen, who turned and scored in one swift motion. Spurs soon regained the lead and Bergwijn had everything to do with the goal with clever dribbling inside the area on the right, before he crossed to the centre of goal where Lucas Moura hit the net from close range. Little did we know that heralded the end of the night’s scoring.

There was a worrying moment at the other end, but it was actually an excellent clearing tackle by Skipp as he took the ball off Soucek's feet pushing the ball just outside our post. Bergwijn made a lovely lay-off for Kane whose pass was blocked. Bowen was subsequently shown the only yellow card of the night for a foul on Reguilon. Doherty and Kane exchanged passes before Doherty crossed and Bergwijn just failed to get a shot on goal.

West Ham kicked off the second half, and the game continued to be played at a high tempo. Lucas showed good skill in his own half and after further passing play, Skipp’s shot was blocked by his own man – Bergwijn. Bergwijn fed a ball to Doherty who crossed from the right, but West ham cleared from Kane.

Masuaku crossed from the left for Bowen, whose header was deflected and won a corner. The Spurs defence was stretched by a long ball, but they did prevent Bowen’s effort in the middle. Both Lucas Moura and Bergwijn were replaced after an hour. Only one of the replacements was an attacker and Conte’s intentions were clear. Thank goodness they were achieved!

Winks passed forward to Son, who fed Doherty to his right. There was an appeal for handball when Doherty crossed, but no reaction. There was lots of passion and possession for Spurs, but no end product at this stage.

Benrahma was one of Moyes’ subs, replacing Vlasic. Benrahma was very bright and offered several moments of danger to the Spurs defence. He had an early shot go over the target, and made a pass after more individual skill, but his target had been offside. Son had a half-chance but over-ran the ball when he was about to shoot. Benrahma had another shot following a West ham attacking throw, but this one was comfortable for Hugo. Yet another Benrahma shot passed wide across the goalmouth.

The closest West Ham came to scoring an equaliser was in added time when after a Benrahma cross substitute Yarmolenko hit a shot which took a strong deflection looping onto the top of the bar and out for a corner. Areola came up and actually had a header on goal, but Hugo and Spurs were the winners.

Our reward is a semi-final against Chelsea who have been drawn at home first for what we must hope will be a two-legged affair. That is a matter under review thanks to Covid.

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