Premier League
West HamWest Ham United2TottenhamTottenham Hotspur3

West Ham United 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur

By Saj ChowdhuryBBC Sport
Harry Kane (right) heads in the opener
Harry Kane has scored seven goals in his past six Premier League games against West Ham

In-form striker Harry Kane scored twice as 10-man Tottenham survived a late fightback from West Ham to move up to third in the Premier League.

Kane's header and low strike gave the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead before midfielder Christian Eriksen fired home the third in the 60th minute.

The Hammers had been disjointed and jaded to that point, but five minutes later Mexico forward Javier Hernandez nodded in from close range.

Tottenham wing-back Serge Aurier was then shown a second yellow card 20 minutes from time for a late tackle on Andy Carroll.

West Ham made their numerical advantage count when Cheikhou Kouyate powered in a magnificent cross from substitute Arthur Masuaku with three minutes left.

However, the Hammers - who are 17th - failed to test the Spurs goal again as they lost for the fourth time in the league this season.

"Sometimes it is good to suffer a bit as it means you are alive," said Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino after the game.

"We suffered but we fought. We played well and deserved to win the game.

"It means more than three points. We played for our pride and the emotion of our fans and I'm happy for my players."

Tottenham trio do damage again

Dele Alli and Harry Kane
Alli, Eriksen and Kane (left to right) combined again to hurt the opposition at London Stadium

Spurs boss Pochettino treated his players to a steak dinner this week in what was billed as a team-bonding exercise before this match.

The Argentine said: "You need time to create a good dynamic, not only tactics but outside too."

That spirit of togetherness has been fostered since Pochettino's arrival in 2014, and three of his key players with a close bond off the pitch once again displayed their connection on it.

Spurs' attacking triumvirate of Eriksen, Kane and Dele Alli is arguably the most potent in England. Last season, both Eriksen and Alli provided nine assists for Kane - the Premier League's joint-highest assist rate for a team-mate - and Eriksen provided seven for Alli.

The trio were at it again at London Stadium.

They combined for the opener when Carroll inadvertently played the ball to Eriksen in the middle. The Dane found Alli, who in turn found the head of his England team-mate. Kane, under no pressure, nodded in for his fifth goal in his past four appearances.

That became six in four a few moments later. After Carroll failed to win an aerial contest with Jan Vertonghen, Eriksen's brilliant flick released Kane, who played in Alli. The midfielder's shot was blocked by Joe Hart, but his predatory colleague followed up.

After the break, Eriksen joined them on the scoresheet with a low, 12-yard strike after Kane's curling free-kick came off the foot of the post.

Pochettino was again full of praise for England striker Kane, who has now scored seven goals in his past six Premier League games against West Ham.

"I find it hard to find the words to describe him," said Pochettino. "I am in love like the fans are in love, like his team-mates are in love.

"He is so humble, he keeps all the values that managers like me appreciate a lot. That is why I am in love with him for different reasons."

Hammers fall short of great fightback

Serge Aurier

Home fans chanted "sacked in the morning" at manager Slaven Bilic when his side trailed 3-0, and while his approval rating may have improved after a rousing comeback, his team remain near the foot of the table.

The Hammers went into the match having won three of the past four home league meetings with Spurs, but losing winger Michail Antonio to injury coupled with Kane's two first-half strikes left a fourth in five looking unlikely.

Even after Hernandez headed in, it appeared little more than a consolation until Aurier was deservedly sent off for his ill-judged tackle on Carroll.

The odds on West Ham completing a great comeback shortened when Kouyate headed in, however a late melee in the closing seconds sucked the impetus out of West Ham.

After good recent performances, this was another step back for Bilic and his team.

Man of the match - Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Harry Kane
Harry Kane will probably be bestowed with this honour a few times this season - against West Ham he scored twice and had a match-high seven shots on goal

'The game was very hectic' - reaction

Spurs' finishing was clinical - Bilic

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, talking to BBC Sport: "We are disappointed with the result. We started really well. We defended well, with shape and didn't give them pockets of space. Before the first goal we had lots of attacking opportunities but we didn't use it. Then we make a mistake and their finish was clinical. The first half was nowhere near 2-0.

"We came back and after the red card we pressed them. In the end we came to 3-2 but there wasn't enough. The game was very hectic with fouls and time-wasting. We showed good pride to come back.

"When you play against the top teams, you give a little and from that little they create a chance and score.

"It was very even at 0-0. It is very hard to come back after 2-0."

Win means more than three points - Pochettino

Tottenham striker Harry Kane: "When you are 3-0 up and end up going 3-1 or 3-2 it is always nerve-wracking, especially with 10 men. But it is a great result.

"I just want to score against every team. I am delighted to get a couple and help the team win.

"We know we have to improve our home form and we will be right up there. To get nine points from three away games is really good."

Eriksen is the greatest Dane - the stats

  • Spurs have won their opening three away games in a league season for the first time since 1991-92.
  • Kane now has the best minutes-per-goal record in Premier League London derbies of any player to score 10+ goals (112.6 - 21 goals in 29 games).
  • Since the start of 2015-16, Alli has provided 11 assists for Kane in the Premier League, more than any other player for a team-mate.
  • Eriksen is now the top-scoring Dane in the Premier League (33).
  • All 40 of Hernandez's Premier League goals have been from inside the box. Tim Cahill (56/56) and John Terry (41/41) are the only players to have scored more with 100% records.
  • Jose Fonte registered his first Premier League goal involvement in his past 39 games in the competition (since an assist v Man City in May 2016).
  • Aurier is the first Spurs player to be sent off in the Premier League since Vlad Chiriches against Stoke in May 2015, 868 days ago.

What's next?

Spurs travel to Cyprus for Tuesday's Champions League match against Apoel Nicosia, and are then away at Huddersfield for next Saturday's early Premier League match (12:30 BST).

The Hammers are at home to Swansea next Saturday (15:00 BST).

Line-ups

West Ham

Formation 3-4-3

  • 25Hart
  • 4José FonteSubstituted forMasuakuat 74'minutes
  • 2ReidBooked at 90mins
  • 21Ogbonna
  • 5Zabaleta
  • 16Noble
  • 8Kouyaté
  • 3Cresswell
  • 30AntonioSubstituted forCarrollat 28'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 17HernándezBooked at 81mins
  • 7ArnautovicSubstituted forA Ayewat 66'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

  • 9Carroll
  • 13Adrián
  • 15Sakho
  • 20A Ayew
  • 22Byram
  • 26Masuaku
  • 41Rice

Tottenham

Formation 3-5-1-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 4Alderweireld
  • 6D Sánchez
  • 5Vertonghen
  • 24AurierBooked at 70mins
  • 17SissokoSubstituted forTrippierat 78'minutes
  • 15DierBooked at 90mins
  • 23EriksenSubstituted forWinksat 73'minutes
  • 33Davies
  • 20Alli
  • 10KaneSubstituted forLlorenteat 89'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

  • 2Trippier
  • 7Son Heung-min
  • 13Vorm
  • 14Nkoudou
  • 18Llorente
  • 29Winks
  • 37Walker-Peters
Referee:
Michael Oliver
Attendance:
56,988

Match Stats

Home TeamWest HamAway TeamTottenham
Possession
Home49%
Away51%
Shots
Home10
Away15
Shots on Target
Home4
Away5
Corners
Home4
Away3
Fouls
Home10
Away20

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, West Ham United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, West Ham United 2, Tottenham Hotspur 3.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur).

  4. Post update

    Winston Reid (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Booking

    Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Booking

    Andy Carroll (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card.

  7. Booking

    Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur) is shown the yellow card.

  8. Booking

    Winston Reid (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card.

  9. Post update

    Fernando Llorente (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Andy Carroll (West Ham United).

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dele Alli.

  12. Booking

    André Ayew (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  13. Post update

    Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by André Ayew (West Ham United).

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Mark Noble (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Andy Carroll with a headed pass following a corner.

  16. Post update

    Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Hugo Lloris.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Andy Carroll (West Ham United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Angelo Ogbonna with a headed pass.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur).

  19. Post update

    Chicharito (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Winston Reid (West Ham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.

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As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City65102121916
2Man Utd65101721516
3Chelsea6411125713
4Tottenham6321105511
5Liverpool63211211111
6Watford6321910-111
7Newcastle53026429
8Huddersfield62315329
9Burnley62316519
10West Brom52214408
11Southampton622245-18
12Arsenal521278-17
13Everton6213411-77
14Swansea612337-45
15Stoke6123510-55
16Leicester6114912-34
17Brighton511347-34
18West Ham6114613-74
19Bournemouth6105411-73
20Crystal Palace6006013-130
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