UK Edition
West Ham 2 Tottenham 3: Harry Kane wins battle of the strikers as Mauricio Pochettino declares 'I am in love with him'
Mauricio Pochettino admitted he is in love with Harry Kane after two strikers swung this game for Tottenham Hotspur. Unfortunately for West Ham United and their manager Slaven Bilic, the other one was Andy Carroll.
Bilic’s decision to replace the injured Michail Antonio with Carroll in the 28th-minute ultimately cost the Hammers the match and piled more pressure on to his own position.
West Ham had been on top before the change, but all their good work was undone just over 10 minutes after Carroll stepped off the bench as Bilic’s team fell two goals behind and Kane took his tally in Premier League London derbies to 20 in 29 appearances.
First, Carroll played a blind pass into the middle of the pitch straight to Christian Eriksen and Tottenham’s ‘big three’ did the rest. The Dane picked out Dele Alli and he crossed for Kane to head the ball into the net.
Four minutes later, Carroll was caught out again and West Ham had given themselves a mountain to climb. He failed to hold the ball up, Jan Vertonghen took it off him and strode forwards before playing in Alli. Joe Hart saved from Alli, but Kane tapped in.
No wonder Spurs manager Pochettino eventually just flat out declared he has fallen head over heels for his star man.
“He is one of the best strikers in the world,” said Pochettino. “I am in love like the fans are in love, like the players are in love, not only because of his goals, because he is professional, he keeps all the values like managers like me appreciate a lot. I am in love with him.”
Carroll was the man Serge Aurier fouled twice in seven second-half minutes to earn a completely pointless sending off and set up a West Ham fightback, but Tottenham hung on and it now remains to be seen whether or not Bilic can.
Bilic defended his decision to send on Carroll and West Ham’s performance by saying: “When a player goes into a game, with that rhythm, where it’s 100 miles an hour, they need a few minutes to get into it.
“There was the injury to Antonio and then that one ball - we lost it in a dangerous area but still with enough players behind. Pass, pass it was a brilliant finish.
“Then we conceded again - we lost our shape and conceded a second goal, we weren’t there like we were before the first goal. I was disappointed, but it was not a 2-0 game at half time.”
Alli had not particularly been in the game before the first-half goals, but his ability to come alive when it matters and his telepathy with Kane once again proved crucial. Of his 17 Premier League assists, 11 of them have been for Kane and Alli has now been directly involved in 22 goals in 26 League games this calendar year.
Bilic can argue that losing Antonio to such an early injury was bad luck, but his decision to replace him with Carroll and send Javier Hernandez out to the right wing backfired. Andre Ayew or Diafra Sakho would surely have been better options to fit into his tactical plan, but Bilic fell into the trap of sending on the big man.
Alli wanted a penalty in the 56th minute after trying to check back past Winston Reid, but referee Michael Oliver spared West Ham and Bilic more pain by allowing play to continue. Replays suggested Reid had made contact without getting the ball.
But it soon got worse for the home side. Jose Fonte was judged to have fouled Alli and Kane was only denied his hat-trick from the free-kick by a post. Aurier’s follow up shot was charged down, but Eriksen drove the ball past Hart.
Tottenham were threatening to run riot and Hart had to stick out a foot to deny Kane as the visiting fans chanted ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ at Bilic. There was some hope for those in claret and blue, however, as Tottenham made life difficult for themselves in the final 25 minutes.
Hernandez pulled a goal back from close range after Fonte had headed on a corner and then Aurier received his marching orders in only his second Premier League appearance for Spurs. Having picked up his first booking for a foul on Carroll seven minutes earlier, Aurier produced a brainless challenge on the striker right in front of the technical areas to earn his second yellow card.
Pochettino, who had witnessed the incident from only a few yards, appeared to have few complaints as Aurier passed him on his way down the tunnel, but had words for consolation for the Ivory Coast international afterwards.
“I think the first yellow card wasn’t a yellow card,” said Pochettino. “Of course, I am disappointed because he got a second yellow card and a red card but that is football.
“But I am happy with him, the club and his team-mates are happy with him, he has settled well. In football, sometimes it can happen this situation.”
The West Ham fans who were heading for the exits with three minutes remaining double backed on themselves, when substitute Arthur Masuaku crossed from the left and Cheikhou Kouyate set up a grandstand finish with a thumping header.
Carroll had a stoppage-time chance to redeem himself, but managed to head the ball behind him, instead of towards the Spurs goal, at the back post.
“We ended with good fighting and trying from our side, but, unfortunately, after 3-0 there was not enough time to do something in the game,” said Bilic. “There was also a lot of time wasting - long balls, fouls, throw-ins. “I have mixed emotions about the game - disappointed but proud of the fight the players showed.”
Game over, and Spurs have won it
West Ham made a game of it in the end, despite being roundly outplayed for most of the match. Serge Aurier's sending off gave the Hammers an outside chance, but Spurs just about held on during a challenging final spell.
Spurs are up to third in the table, while West Ham remain 17th.
78 mins
Hugo Lloris saves again from Chicharito, with West Ham trying to capitalise on their one-man advantage.
The Hammers need to be careful when Spurs are on the counter, however. Dele Alli gets into a dangerous position after running at the West Ham defence, but his shot is blocked and cleared away.
Top three, bottom three
After a difficult start to the season for West Ham a game against Tottenham might seem daunting, but Slaven Bilic's men have a strong home record against their derby rivals.
While Bilic has come under intense scrutiny after mustering only one win from five league fixtures this campaign, West Ham have beaten Spurs 1-0 at home in the last two seasons. In their last nine matches against Spurs stretching back to Sam Allardyce's reign as manager the Hammers have been unusually consistent, winning five.
Mauricio Pochettino has reason to be wary, then, with West Ham something of a bogey team for Spurs, though he can take solace from the fact that his side have lost only once in all competitions so far.
As far as the starting line-ups go, both sides are nursing injuries, with Manuel Lanzini perhaps the most notable absentee having scored the winner last time the teams met at the London Stadium. Meanwhile, Marko Arnautovic will make his home debut in the Premier League, having been named man of the match for the Hammers' midweek win over Bolton in the League Cup.
Three points for Tottenham will take them up to third in the table, just behind the high-flying Manchester clubs. Conversely, West Ham are attempting to stay out of the bottom three, meaning this should be a hotly contested game even by its usual standards.
Match preview
What is it?
A Premier League London derby between West Ham and Tottenham.
When is it?
Saturday 23 September.
What time is kick-off?
It's the early game this weekend - kick-off is at 12.30pm.
What TV channel is it on?
Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Extra. Alternatively you can follow the match with us on this page.
What is the team news?
Manuel Lanzini, who scored the only goal of the game as West Ham ruined Tottenham's remaining title chances at the end of last season, is unavailable due to a knee injury.
Pedro Obiang is a major doubt in midfield, while Edimilson Fernandes is also likely to miss out. James Collins' ankle injury continues to keep him sidelined.
Tottenham have the same three missing players, with Erik Lamela, Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama all still absent.
Ben Davies is carrying a knock and, after missing the goalless draw with Swansea last week, is a minor doubt.
What are they saying?
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says his team need to call on positive memories from previous wins over Spurs:
"Everyone involved talks for months (about those games) and we still remember the game in May and the one at Upton Park, so those are the patterns we want to repeat on Saturday.
"We ended their hopes of winning the league but it gives us no psychological advantage. But the advantage comes when you remember good memories and good patterns to repeat what we have actually already done against that team."
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino:
"A derby, just like when we play Arsenal or Chelsea, is not only a game. It's more than a football game. It's emotional, you play for your pride.
"We know what it means for our fans to play against West Ham. We will try to stay and be ready to compete, fight and be aggressive."
What does the table look like?
What are the odds?
West Ham win - 9/2 Draw - 3/1 Tottenham win - 4/7
What's our prediction?
This will be another tight match, and West Ham will raise their game against their fierce rivals. However, Spurs should just about have too much for their hosts.
Prediction: 1-2.