West Ham United fell to a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
Emerson Royal struck the first at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, finding the bottom corner with an hour almost on the clock.
Jarrod Bowen might have pulled the Irons level immediately but saw Fraser Forster turn his well-struck effort away, before substitute Heung-min Son doubled the hosts’ advantage with 18 minutes left to be played to make sure the points stayed in north London.
The Hammers’ second defeat in 2023 ended a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions and left David Moyes' men 18th in the table.
Having fallen behind in their first two Premier League fixtures in February, it was the Irons who started the brightest in north London. A quick throw from Vladimír Coufal found his Czech compatriot Tomáš Souček, who flicked the ball to Bowen. The No20 struck off-target though, sending a bouncing ball narrowly wide of the post. The Irons were already threatening with 53 seconds on the clock.
Souček continued to lead the Hammers’ charge: breaking up play, winning aerial duels, and leading attacks too. Covering almost every inch of the grass in north London, he pinched the ball high up the field but could not find Michail Antonio. The No28 later almost tapped home when Bowen flashed an effort across the box too, albeit from an offside position. The Irons were knocking on the door, but could not push it open.
Spurs though had chances of their own in the first 45 minutes, but again Souček was involved to keep the game at a stalemate. The Czech skipper showed his defensive qualities as his outstretched boot sent Oliver Skipp’s effort over the bar, before Pierre-Emile Højbjerg then registered the game’s first shot on target, an effort Łukasz Fabiański was down to save with ease.
The former Poland stopper was back in action moments before the break, alert to deny Richarlison, who almost converted a pass from Harry Kane, before he saw Cristian Romero head the resulting corner over the bar, the last action of an entertaining but ultimately goalless first half.
But if the Irons started the first half quickly, it was Spurs who were out of the blocks far quicker after the break.
Richarlison almost put his side ahead two minutes into the second half. Nayef Aguerd had the ball pinched by Dejan Kulusevski, who combined with Kane to tee up the Spurs No9. Fabiański though was able to grasp a tame finish from the edge of the area. Declan Rice was then caught in possession and his England teammate Kane flashed an effort wide of the post.
The hosts took the lead with 56 minutes played. Emerson Royal ran onto a square pass from Ben Davies after a through ball from Højbjerg cut the Hammers open. It was a simple finish with Fabiański powerless.
In response, Bowen almost pulled the Irons level barely a minute after Spurs went ahead. The No20 forced a low save from Forster, before the rebound was cleared well by Romero.
With 20 minutes remaining, David Moyes introduced Saïd Benrahma and Danny Ings, with Antonio and Flynn Downes making way. The duo had barely made their way onto the pitch before Spurs had a second. Ogbonna’s header fell to Kane, who found Son. The No7 raced away and slotted home.
In the final moments, the Hammers had chances to make it a nervy finish for the hosts. Benrahma sent the best chance into the side-netting, before Ben Johnson and Pablo Fornals were brought on as the Irons looked to salvage something from a fixture that had quickly fallen out of reach.
A final chance almost fell to Souček but the Czech was unable to head home a late consolation as the Irons battled but fell to defeat in north London.
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Royal, Romero, Dier, Lenglet (Perisic 78), Davies, Skipp (Sarr 89), Højbjerg, Kulusevski (Moura 89), Richarlison (Son 68), Kane ©
Subs not used: Austin (GK), Porro, Tanganga, Sánchez, Danjuma
Goals: Royal 56 Son 72
Booked: Skipp, Perisic
West Ham United: Fabiański, Coufal, Kehrer, Ogbonna (Johnson 81), Aguerd, Emerson (Fornals 82), Rice ©, Souček, Downes (Benrahma 72), Bowen, Antonio (Ings 72)
Subs not used: Areola (GK), Cresswell, Lanzini, Scamacca, Casey
Booked: Antonio
Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 61,476
