Many thanks to Declan Mulcahy for this report:-
Sunday 4 May 2025, 2:00pm
Premier League
West Ham United (1) 1 Tottenham Hotspur (1) 1
West Ham scorer:-
Bowen, 28
Spurs scorer:-
Odobert, 15
West Ham United (3-4-2-1): Graham Potter
23 A Areola; 25 J-C Todibo (5 V Coufal 80), 26 M Kilman, 3 A Cresswell
(15 K. Mavropanos 88); 29 A Wan-Bissaka, 28 T Soucek (4 C Soler 80),
10 Lucas Paqueta (8 J Ward-Prowse 80), 33 Emerson; 20 J Bowen (c), 14
M. Kudus; 11 N Fullkrug (34 E Ferguson 80)
Subs not used: 1 Fabianski, 17 Luis Guilherme, 24 G Rodriquez, 18 D Ings
Booked: Kudus (19 foul on Danso), 10 Lucas Paqueta (73 foul on Moore)
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3):
1 G Vicario (c); 14 A Gray, 4 K Danso, 33 B Davies, 24 D Spence; 21 D
Kulusevski, 8 Y Bissouma, 29 P Sarr; 28 W Odobert, 9 Richarlison (47 M
Moore 68), 11 M Tel.
Subs not used: 31 A Kinsky, 23 Pedro Porro, 13 D Udogie, 17 C Romero,
37 M van de Ven, 30 R Bentancur, 22 B Johnson, 63 D Ajayi
Booked: Davies (13 foul on Fullkrug), Tel (88 foul on Kilman)
London Stadium, Attendance: 62,468
Referee:- Michael Oliver
Assistants:- Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring
Fourth official:- Ruebyn Ricardo
VAR:- Darren England
Assistant VAR:- Peter Wright
The battle for London's worst Premier League team ends in stalemate
Thanks to Eugene Gasper for the picture
This was a mediocre affair yielding ample evidence, that with the
exception of the bottom three who were relegated earlier than ever
before, these are the two worst teams in the Premier League. Each side
scored a goal which in both cases resulted from the defensive
frailties of their opponents. It was another familiar encounter in a
very depressing Premier League season.
As with last weekend's Premier League match against Liverpool, Ange
Postecoglou made eight changes from the previous game showing how low
a priority he assigns to the league campaign at this stage. Two were
enforced due to injuries to James Maddison and Dominic Solanke. The
other six consisted of the back four, Bentancur and Johnson. All six
were listed as substitutes simply to make up the numbers since none of
them were used. In the absence of Son, Romero and Maddison, Guglielmo
Vicario captained the side from the start for the first time.
Graham Potter made two changes from the side which led Brighton & Hove
Albion away 2-1 with seven minutes remaining last weekend but lost
3-2. Mavropanos and Ward-Prowse were replaced by Kilman and Fullkrug.
He altered the formation from (3-5-2) to (3-4-2-1) to accommodate the
latter.
West Ham had the better of the early exchanges. After about seven
minutes Kudus crossed the ball from the left. It hit Sarr's arm which
was in a natural position. The Hammers' supporters wanted a penalty
but the officials were quite rightly not interested.
Five minutes later Davies committed a heavy tackle on Fullkrug just
outside the box and was booked. The Hammers wasted the free kick.
A couple of minutes later Spurs worked the ball down the other end. It
looked fairly innocuous as Maximilian Kilman moved to take control of
the ball on the left side. Tel dispossessed him and crossed to Odobert
on the far side. Areola came out to try and block Odobert but the
latter coolly steered the ball past him into the empty net. It was a
goal against the run of play. This was Odobert's first Premier League
goal for Spurs. Both players deserved credit. Tel caught the eye
throughout the match and could start on Thursday night in Bodo/Glimt.
Kudus was booked for a very high challenge on Danso with his boot. The
same player had been sent off late in the fixture at the Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium earlier in the season. Vicario made a poor clearance
straight to Soucek but the opportunity was wasted.
The Hammers had another penalty claim when a Wan-Bissaka cross hit
Davies' arm but it was another case of the arm in a natural position
and was again ignored. Todibo fouled Tel outside the box on the left
but the latter wasted the free-kick.
West Ham equalised with the best move of the match. Wan-Bissaka played
the ball in behind Spence to Bowen on the right wing. He ran into the
box and still faced Davies and Vicario. He managed to score with a
shot from a tight angle despite the efforts of both players. The two
Spurs players were culpable and Vicario was nutmegged. Bowen was the
only player who showed any passion for West Ham and was probably the
outstanding player on the pitch today.
Kudus committed a heavy tackle on Spence which was risky given that he
was already on a yellow card but got away with it.
Odobert crossed from the left but Richarlison's effort was too high.
The same two players combined with Richarlison in possession in the
box. He should have had an effort on goal but chose to cross the ball.
Unfortunately there wasn't a Spurs player to connect with it.
There were no changes at half time.
Tel made another good run from the left but Areola saved his effort.
This was followed by a Richarlison snap shot which was too high. Kudus
set up Bowen whose attempt was wide.
Spence put in a dangerous cross but Cresswell prevented it from
reaching Richarlison. Spurs finally won their first corner after an
hour but Bissouma's effort from Tel's set piece was high. Soon after
Bissouma and Bowen collided with the latter accidently hitting
Bissouma in the face. He was felled but didn't need treatment.
At the halfway point in the half Postecoglou made his only change when
the lesser-spotted Mikey Moore came on to replace Richarlison. He
clearly wasn't prepared to bring on any of the substitutes who will
start against Bodo/Glimt in an effort to obtain a result today.
Kudus crossed from the left but Fullkrug whose main strength is
heading the ball put it over the bar.
A strange incident followed. Paqueta was rightly booked for a tackle
on Moore. He continued to protest his innocence. He continued to
protest and referee Michael Oliver asked Bowen the captain to talk to
him. He appeared to be close to tears. It was hard to know what caused
the reaction as it was only a yellow card and the tackle justified it.
With ten minutes remaining Graham Potter made a quadruple substitution
with Soucek, Paqueta, Todibo and Fullkrug being replaced by Soler,
Ward-Prowse, Coufal and Ferguson. There were now two players on the
pitch who had played under Potter at Brighton & Hove Albion, Ferguson
for the Hammers and Bissouma for Spurs.
The changes had a positive effect for West Ham since they now had
Ward-Prowse on who could exploit dead-ball situations.
Almost immediately West Ham were awarded a soft free kick for a foul
by Danso on Kudus. Ward-Prowse sent in a dangerous ball from the left
which Bowen flicked goal-bound but Vicario made a good save at close
range.
In time added on Odobert fouled Solar outside the box. Ward-Prowse
lifted his free kick over the wall but it went about a foot wide of
the left post.
This was not a game which will be remembered when Spurs v Hammers
games are recalled. Spurs have the slight consolation that they remain
a point above West Ham on 38 points and sixteenth place. They also
avoided a record 20th defeat in a Premier League season.
The Hammer's supporters didn't seem to be impressed with their team's
performance and could be seen leaving the stadium before the end of
the game despite the fact that the result was still uncertain.
While the Europa League remains the priority for Spurs the awful
league performances and the lack of inclination to take the slightest
risk in the Premier League is frustrating. This was a poor West Ham
team and taking a little risk could have produced a better outcome.
Spurs are on course for their worst finish in the Premier League and
could end up with their worst finish since they were relegated in 1976-77.
The focus now moves to the second leg of the Europa League semi-final
in Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening. Bergvall and Maddison both appear
to be out of contention and it is too early to determine whether or
not Son and Solanke will be available.
An away fan's view from the top of the London Stadium
Thanks to Kevan Silver for the picture
. Spurs record in recent London Derby League matches
. Squad numbers,appearances,bookings & goalscorers
. Read the preview for this game.
. All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
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