FRIENDLY MATCH
TUESDAY 18TH JULY, 2023
WEST HAM UNITED 3(2) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(0)

(Played at The Optus Stadium, Perth, Australia , 6pm local time)

West Ham Scorers:-
Ings, 17
Mubama, 23
Scamacca, 78

Spurs scorers:-
Lo Celso, 68
Udogie, 71

Referee:- Kurt Ams (Australia)

Attendance:- 46,226

Teams:-
West Ham (4-4-2):- Fabianksi; Laing, Zouma (Luizao 85), Ogbonna (Capt.), Emerson; Bowen (Earthy 85), Potts, Downes (Chesters 69), Fornals, Mubama (Swyer 59), Ings (Scamacca 59)

Subs (not used): Anang; Knightbridge, Cresswell, Coventry

No bookings

Spurs (4-3-3):-
First half-: Vicario; Pedro Porro, Romero, Tanganga, Reguilon; Skipp, Bissouma, Maddison; Kulusevski, Kane(Capt.) Solomon

Second half:- Austin; Emerson, Davies (Capt.), Sanchez, Udogie; Sarr, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso; Devine, Richarlison, Perisic

Subs(not used): Whiteman; White.

Booked:- Emerson Royal (foul)

Defensive lapses cost Spurs

The shot count was something like 30 to 4 in our favour and around 70-30% for Spurs too, but thanks to three defensive lapses, we lost Ange Postecoglou s first game. Fielding completely different sides in each half, Spurs second-half side looked the best, but the defence was hardly bothered after the break.

Both teams were well-supported in a stadium which can hold 60,000. Postecoglou has taken a squad of 31 on tour. Son, who met the travelling party in Australia, Dier, Rodon, Spence and Ndombele took no part in this game. Ndombele suffered a knock in training. Josh Keeley (goalkeeper) and Dane Scarlett are also in the travelling party. Hugo Lloris had been left at home to allow him time to negotiate a move. Bentancur, Forster, Gil and Sessegnon have also not travelled, nursing injuries at various stages and of varying degrees.

The first half team was captained by Harry Kane (who we all hope to see staying for another season). Ben Davies wore the armband after the interval. We witnessed the debuts of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Manor Soloman and Destiny Udogie, who had been on loan to Udinese last season. We also saw the return to Spurs colours of loan players Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso.

I watched the game on "Spurs Play," but the first half-hour s coverage was ruined by pictures and sound being out of sync and commentary being replaced by weird foreign language rambling. That is not a service I paid for!

This was West Ham s third pre-season game, in one of which they put six goals past Perth Glory. David Moyes' side looked below strength but of course they now have to find a replacement for Declan Rice, who has joined Arsenal for £100 million.

Spurs kicked off and after a West Ham corner was cleared with new keeper Vicario looking none too confident, Spurs had a chance when Solomon crossed from the left and Skipp was the furthest forward in the box after touches by Maddison and Kane, forcing Fabianski s first save. Solomon played on the left with Kulusevski (whose signing was made permanent this summer) on the right. Solomon looked more impactive today.

Vicario saved from Ings before Tanganga blocked a shot by Jarrod Bowen. Ings gave West Ham (designated as the home side) the lead following a corner which was half-cleared by Romero. Bowen crossed from the right and Ings stooped to head home at the back of the six-yard area. It was soon 2-0 to The Europa Conference League winners when 18-year-old Divin Mubama was unmarked between Pedro Porro and Tanganga to easily head into the net from another corner. What with the technical failings of Spurs Play, I was sorely tempted to give up on the game!

Maddison had a free kick blocked by the wall and Bowen was hobbling after a Tanganga (fair) tackle. Skipp again got into an advanced position for a Pedro Porro cross. Going forward we were looking okay, but a weak defence had already let us down.

My mood improved greatly after Solomon took Maddison's pass; cut inside and hit a very good right-footed curler which was pushed away by Fabianski from his top-left corner. Fabianski held a header by Maddison after another Pedro Porro cross. Solomon had a shot blocked after neat touches by both Maddison and Kane.

Another exciting example of Ange s intention for his midfielders to get deep into the box came from a clever run by Bissouma, aided by Skipp and Kane. Fabianski saved again. Less impressive was Tanganga managing to hook the ball back across and away from the goal after a cross from the right. The ball should have gone goalward.

Solomon had a good penalty shout when he got a shot in but seemed to be fouled after a pass by Reguilon. Tanganga was caught out in the Spurs half and Vicario made an excellent low, left-handed save from Bowen s shot with half-time beckoning.

West Ham kicked off the second half, some of which was played in heavy rain. Hojbjerg played a clever ball for Richarlison who was inside the area on the right. He crossed but Perisic s effort was well blocked by 20-year-old Levi Laing. Emerson Royal fired over after a good run and pass from Sarr.

Richarlison headed wide after a good cross from the left of the box by Alfie Devine. Lo Celso gave Richarlison another chance with a neat through ball, but Richie needed to work the ball to his right foot before hitting the ball just wide. Richarlison also headed over after a decent right-footed cross by Perisic. Both Lo Celso and Richarlison were in shooting positions in the box but delayed and allowed West Ham s Emmerson to block.

Spurs finally scored in the 68th minute following a corner on the right, which had been taken by Perisic. Perisic was still out on the right when the ball came back to him. He crossed again. Sanchez headed down and Lo Celso scored with a powerful left foot shot.

Three minutes later we were level. Perisic again took a corner from the right and Destiny Udogie scored on his club debut with a nicely executed back-header from the near post.

Our joy was brief as seven minutes later, we lost the ball in the middle and Scamacca was in between Sanchez and Emerson Royal to take on Fornals pass and beat Austin low to his left.

Chances followed but could not be converted. Sanchez headed down a Devine cross, but Richarlison's effort was not good enough. "Richie" had also tried an outlandish overhead shot from a Perisic cross but didn't have his scoring boots on today.

Spurs next game is on Sunday in Bangkok against Leicester at the Rajamangala Stadium, kicking off at 11am UK time.

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