PREMIER LEAGUE
THURSDAY 7TH DECEMBER, 2023
(8.15PM)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1(1) WEST HAM UNITED 2(0)

Spurs scorer:-
Romero, 11

West Ham scorers:-
Bowen, 52
Ward-Prowse, 74

Attendance:- 60,733

Referee:- Michael Salisbury
Assistants:- Adam Nunn, Richard West
Fourth official:- Andy Madley
VAR:- John Brooks
Assistant VAR:- Neil Davies.

Teams:-
Spurs (4-2-3-1):- Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Davies, Udogie; Bissouma (sub Gil, 84), Hojbjerg (sub Richarlison, 67); Kulusevski, Lo Celso (sub Skipp, 67), Johnson (sub Sarr, 84); Son (Capt.) (sub Veliz, 88)
(Armband to Romero)

Subs not used:- Forster; Emerson Royal, Dorrington; Donley

Booked:- Pedro Porro (foul on Paqueta), Romero (foul on Bowen), Kulusevski (Dissent)

West Ham (4-3-3):- Fabianski; Coufal, Zouma (Capt.), Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Alvarez; Bowen, Kudus (sub Fornals, 88), Paqueta

Subs not used:- Anang (GK); Creswell, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Kehrer; Benrahma; Ings, Mubama

Booked:- Emerson (foul on Pedro Porro), Ward-Prowse (foul on Richarlison), Alvarez (foul)

The euphoria has gone

Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture, taken at last night's game

On this date four years ago, Spurs trampled Burnley 5-0 and Son Heung-min won national and International awards for his fine box-to-box run and memorable goal. "Ange-ball" demands advance up the field via quick, short passing moves. Spurs dominated the first half with plenty of such passing and possession but very little end product. Ange said after the game that "we lacked conviction". Sadly, the early season euphoria has gone and it is hard to feel optimistic about the near future.

Spurs lost to local rivals through their own incompetence in the second half. It was "The Hammers" first win at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since they became the first side to win here in April 2019. Spurs became the first team in Premier League history to score first in five successive games which they failed to win. (Lost 4, drew 1) They have now lost three successive home games. This run began with the madness and indiscipline seen when we lost 4-1 to Chelsea.

Cristian Romero returned from his three-match suspension and began his recompense with his goal that means Spurs have now scored in 27 consecutive games, for the first time since the 80s. That means nothing if you cannot win more of those games. Destiny Udogie, who was the other player sent off against Chelsea, was the offending player whose mistake led to West Ham's winning goal. The West Ham fans roared with delight. Their team had won their "cup final".

Pape Sarr made the Spurs bench, along with Richarlison. Hojbjerg started beside Bissouma. Lukasz Fabianski made his first Premier League start of the season.

The match was preceded by persistent rain which eased by kick-off, but returned during the game. The injured James Maddison was in the stadium, being interviewed by the Amazon Prime team (which included Les Ferdinand) pre-match.

Spurs kicked off and played towards the North Stand. After only 40 seconds they threatened when Udogie fed Son who passed inside to Kulusevski, who collided with Fabianski. The ball ran out of play and referee Michael Salisbury awarded a goal-kick with Spurs asking about a penalty. No was the answer. Kulusevski might have been offside anyway.

Udogie won a corner on the left after a patient Spurs build-up. Subsequently a cross by Porro was easily collected by Fabianski. Hojbjerg embarrassed himself with an air kick in the West Ham box and then gave away a free kick outside the area. Spurs' passing play was very good and West Ham were chasing shadows.

Spurs won their second corner on the right and this was swung in by Pedro Porro. Romero rose and headed the ball into the net in Fabianski's top right corner.

West Ham were stung into a response with Kudus firing wide of the back post after a cross from the right by Coufal. Spurs broke back and Kulusevski crossed low for Johnson, whose shot was blocked. Son had a shot easily held after another Kulusevski pass. We were dominating, but needed that second goal. Johnson teed up Lo Celso, whose left-footed shot passed just over the keeper's left stanchion.

There was no foul by Kudus on Udogie and the West Ham player advanced, hitting a shot from distance which was deflected and held by Vicario. After yet more Spurs pressure, Pedro Porro fired over from 20 yards. Fabianski grabbed and held a cross by Johnson.

Kudus fired wide again, but had been offside anyway. Fabianski did have to make a good save from Lo Celso after Johnson's pass. Fabianski saved again from Son after a short pass forward by Lo Celso. Bissouma fired over after Son and Kulusevski had been blocked.

The lively Kudus got the better of Ben Davies on the Spurs left before crossing where Paqueta headed wide. At the other end, Johnson hit a shot straight at the keeper after Porro's arrowed pass. Zouma defended a Lo Celso cross and put the ball out for a corner off his own post.

It was so frustrating. We had had lots of possession and good approach play, but needed more end product. We would pay for that in the second half.

West Ham kicked off and started brightly, but Son won a corner on the left in front of the South Stand, after which Porro fired over from the left corner of the box. There was a big shout for a handball after a Johnson header in the West Ham area, but that was not a penalty.

West Ham's first goal followed Bowen's advance down the left channel and he won his battle with Romero. The ball fell to Kudus and his shot was half-blocked but fell nicely off the defenders for Bowen who accepted the gift of a goal in front of his own fans. You could argue Spurs were unlucky, but fortune favoured the brave Bowen, who now has 9 Premier League goals to his name.

The visitors gained confidence and Paqueta had a shot on target but this was easy for Vicario. Spurs had a free kick after Emerson's foul on Pedro Porro. The kick was passed square by Lo Celso, but Udogie's effort was blocked by the packed West Ham defence.

Now Spurs suffered a little pressure with Vicario not comfortable after one Ward-Prowse corner. The Spurs keeper did save from Soucek, but he had been offside when Coufal crossed.

Richarlison got more minutes today and replaced Hojbjerg. It was somewhat surprising to see the creative Lo Celso also replaced by Skipp. Richarlison should have scored from a Pedro Porro cross, but headed wide at the back post. Fabianski saved from Pedro Porro after Udogie's pass, but then Spurs fell to a sucker punch, all of their own creation.

Udogie under-hit a back pass and all Vicario could do was sweep the ball away from Bowen's feet. The ball ran to Ward-Prowse, whose first shot hit the post but rebounded to the former Southampton man who gleefully made no mistake.

Much as they tried, Spurs could not get back on terms. Johnson received from Davies, but his shot was off target. Son took a free kick from the left which was easily cleared. Sarr and Gil came on for Bissouma and Johnson.

Fabianski managed to deal with a Porro cross with Gil threatening. At the other end, Vicario cleared another Ward-Prowse corner at the second attempt. Sarr had a shot go over the target after Kulusevski cut the ball back to Son, who made the short pass. This was Son's last contribution and he seemed to limp off, which is a worry for Sunday - not that he saw much of the ball here.

It was just not going to happen for Spurs whose fans began to file out seeking their train after such a late kick-off. Kulusevski had a shot go woefully wide and Spurs failed with another handball appeal after a Pedro Porro free kick.

Sunday's visitors are Newcastle who lost 3-0 at Goodison Park. It will be a good game with both teams desperate for a result, but can Spurs halt this dismal run? I'll be there to see!

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