West Ham 1 - 0 Tottenham: Hammers dent Spurs' title bid

Tottenham's bid to take over at the top of the Premier League was thwarted by West Ham United.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is beaten by Michail Antonios headed winner for West Ham. Picture: GettyTottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is beaten by Michail Antonios headed winner for West Ham. Picture: Getty
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is beaten by Michail Antonios headed winner for West Ham. Picture: Getty

Michail Antonio’s first-half goal condemned Mauricio Pochettino’s in-form side to defeat, their first away from home since the opening day.

Spurs knew victory would take them above Leicester to the summit for the first time this season, as well as send out a huge statement in the race for the title.

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Instead they ran into a West Ham side determined not to give their fierce rivals a reason to celebrate in the final London derby under the lights at Upton Park.

The Hammers head to the Olympic Stadium next season but they will miss nights like this with their famous old ground rocking as they ended Tottenham’s run of six straight wins. Antonio will certainly miss the place – all six of his goals for West Ham this season have come at home.

The latest arrived in the seventh minute, when Dimitri Payet swung in a corner and Antonio met it with a powerful near-post header which Hugo Lloris got a hand to but could not keep out.

Tottenham, having become the masters at coming from behind this season, had plenty of time to respond – but this time they could not find a way back. They were almost two behind after a quarter of an hour but Lloris dived at full stretch to tip away a fierce drive by Mark Noble.

Spurs, who did not muster a shot on target in the first half, improved after the break but Ben Davies fired wide from the edge of the box and Eric Lamela was off target from Nacer Chadli’s cross.

But it was West Ham celebrating a victory which not only dented Spurs’ title hopes, but also kept them in the race for an unlikely Champions League spot in this unlikeliest of seasons.