PREMIER LEAGUE
TUESDAY 2ND APRIL, 2024
(8.15pm)
WEST HAM UNITED 1(1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1)

West Ham scorer:-
Zouma, 19

Spurs scorer:-
Johnson, 5

Attendance:- 62,469

Referee:- John Brooks
Assistants:- Simon Bennett, Dan Robathan
Fourth official:- Tim Robinson
VAR:- Andy Madley
Assistant VAR:- Constantine Hatzidakis

Teams:-
West Ham (4-5-1):- Fabianksi; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma (Capt.), Emerson; Bowen, Paqueta, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Kudus; Antonio

Subs not used:- Anang; Johnson, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Cornet; Phillips, Earthy; Ings, Mubama

Booked:- Antonio (foul on Bentancur)

Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma (sub Hojbjerg, 82), Bentancur (sub Sarr, 70); Johnson (sub Lo Celso, 90), Maddison (sub Kulusevski, 70), Werner (sub Richarlison, 82); Son (Capt.)

Subs not used:- Austin; Dragusin, Emerson Royal, Davies

Booked:- Van de Ven (pushing ball away after foul on Antonio), Bentancur (foul on Emerson), Johnson (foul on Kudus), Romero (foul on Ward-Prowse)

Spurs lack cutting edge.

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture

As you would expect, this was a hard-fought and competitive London Derby game. Spurs dominated possession but lacked the cutting edge to take advantage of a West Ham defensive set-up. On the counter, "The Hammers" always looked threatening, as they did at set pieces when tough guys Antonio and Zouma would seek to pin down Guglielmo Vicario on his line. Referee John Brook's policy of leniency (for example when Paqueta clattered Maddison) did not help Spurs.

West Ham were missing Areola, who was injured at Newcastle on Saturday, so Fabianski was in goal. "The Hammers" surrendered a 3-1 lead at St. James' Park and loan player Kalvin Phillips received abuse form "Hammers" fans as he boarded the team coach after the game. None of the West Ham substitutes, including Phillips, were utilised in last night's game. David Moyes was also missing midfielder Alvarez, who was serving the second of a two-match suspension.

Ange Postecoglou made three changes to the team after Saturday's narrow win over Luton. Micky van de Ven returned for Dragusin; Bentancur started in favour of Sarr, and Brennan Johnson (who played a vital role on Saturday) started with Kulusevski relegated to the bench.

Johnson had scored four and assisted in 7 of our Premier League goals this season and tonight he scored a fifth goal. The game was our first drawn game since that at Goodison Park on 3rd February, which is also the last time we scored a first half goal.

The game began in heavy rain, and it wasn't long before the players' shirts were drenched, as were many fans positioned closest to the pitch.

Spurs captain Heung-min Son was making his 400th appearance for Spurs who kicked off playing away from their fans. As is too often the case, Spurs were their worst enemies when playing out and after Pedro Porro's error, Kudus crossed, and Jarrod Bowen hit a reaction shot straight at Vicario.

"Champions of Europe, we know what we are!" chanted the home fans, quickly silenced after an incisive move through the middle, involving Maddison, Udogie and Bentancur who fed Werner who got close to the bye-line before crossing to the middle of goal where Johnson finished to score his fifth goal of the season.

Things were looking good for Spurs who had started so well, but that was almost the only effort at goal they had to show for their efforts in the first half. Vicario patted clear a dangerous cross by Coufal, and a subsequent effort was deflected for a West Ham corner.

Pedro Porro hit a right-footed shot wide after receiving from Son. Another dangerous cross by Werner was deflected then cleared. Spurs had a free kick after Udogie fed Werner who was fouled by Paqueta. That was taken by Maddison, but also cleared.

Van de Ven was busy and very effective most of the time, but he was forced to concede a corner when Bowen threatened on the right. From the corner which Bowen took, Vicario was stranded on his line and Zouma was unmarked, scoring into the far corner off his back. Spurs had had the momentum, but West Ham were finding their feet and confidence.

There was more good defending by Van de Ven to deny Bowen, but shortly after, Mickey's bad touch gave Bowen a chance when Vicario stretched to scramble and hold a save to his left.

Fabianski couldn't hold a good high ball by Bentancur, but West Ham cleared. Bentancur and Pedro Porro combined before Johnson hit a dangerous cross, but that passed through the area. Another decent cross by Johnson, after Maddison's pass was just too far in front of Son.

Vicario patted clear a free kick by Ward-Prowse after Romero had fouled Paqueta. Bowen won a corner by kicking the ball at Van de Ven and Udogie made a good headed clearance. Vicario was needed again after another corner which came off Werner who was tracking back. Udogie cleared again when Ward-Prowse took yet another corner, this time from the left.

Maddison refused a proffered handshake by Paqueta after he had charged down the Spurs man without punishment. Spurs advanced and Johnson got into the box with a good short run, but the defence won again. Amazingly Van de Ven received the first booking after a foul was awarded for a good challenge on Antonio, but the Spurs man pushed the ball away to impede the free kick.

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture

West Ham like to celebrate all their trophies, including the 1940 War Cup!

Spurs rallied and won three corners in added time. From the third of these Bentancur hit a right-footed shot wide after Bissouma's header.

There were no changes for the second half, except for clean dry shirts! The rain would desist as the half progressed. Vicario made a good save from Antonio after an errant pass by Bentancur. Vicario also made a great save on his line from a header by Mavropanos, but Antonio had been offside in any case. Paqueta fired wide after a good advance and pass by Bowen.

Johnson made yet another cross which threatened with no end result. Spurs had a spell of good possession with short-range passing. This ended with a shot by Bissouma passing wide. More excellent play by Bowen (this time against Udogie) led to a chance for Paqueta, but that was off target too.

Spurs enjoyed good possession again, with no end result. The referee ignored what looked like a foul on Maddison outside the box. West Ham countered and Van de Ven did just enough to hamper Antonio's shot which was collected by Vicario. My view was that Antonio was offside in any case.

By this time, I was concerned that West Ham would be the victors, but the game petered out somewhat as both teams flagged. Bentancur provided a pass for Son, who fired over, and Johnson had a shot blocked after Porro's short cross. Pedro had a left foot shot held.

Bentancur and Maddison were replaced by Sarr and Kulusevski with the latter taking over duties in the middle. Kulu and Son combined before Johnson had a shot blocked. Werner also had a shot deflected clear across the goal.

Bowen won another corner which he fired in with Soucek heading wide. Another late substitute Hojbjerg led an attack where Pedro Porro crossed, but Sarr hit a poor shot. Udogie had our best chance in the closing stages after Kulusevski crossed and Lo Celso offered a short pass. Fabianski saved and held, and the points were shared with handshakes all round.

On balance it was a good point, but it is disappointing to reflect "The Hammers" have taken four points off us this season. We hold fifth place, and I can't honestly hope for better for us this season. That might be enough for Champions League this season and we might have to thank West Ham for that, as they are one of the English teams who have made good progress in Europe this season.

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