Tottenham produced an impressive performance to beat West Ham 2-0 and rise back into the top four.
Modric and Defoe on target in 2-0 victory
Tottenham produced an impressive performance to beat London rivals West Ham 2-0 and rise back into the top four.
The crucial opening goal arrived after just 11 minutes as Aaron Lennon showed lightning pace down the right wing before crossing for Luka Modric to bundle the ball home on his first start since August.
Spurs carved out several good chances to extend their advantage before half-time, while the Hammers were left hit by injuries to Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga.
The second period followed a similar pattern as Harry Redknapp's men hunted for a second and the visitors struggled to exert any significant pressure of their own.
Jermain Defoe then smashed home a rebound with nine minutes remaining after his initial shot had been parried to secure all three points for Tottenham and leave West Ham in deep trouble.
Croatian makes mark
It did not take Croatia international Modric long to make his mark after a long period out with a fractured fibula.
After two early runs led to rash challenges from Ilunga and Alessandro Diamanti, it was no surprise that Lennon was the creator of the goal.
Defoe sent him down the right and the England winger cut inside, his cross half-cleared by James Tomkins before falling for the unmarked Modric.
It was not a crisp effort from Modric but his finish, stubbed into the turf, looped over Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green for his first of the campaign.
Adding injury to insult, Parker could not continue after the goal and had to be replaced by Luis Jimenez, depriving the visitors of their most influential player recently. Ilunga also headed down the tunnel for treatment, with Jonathan Spector brought on at left-back.
It was left to Jack Collison to provide the attacking power in West Ham's midfield. The Wales youngster tested Heurelho Gomes with a low drive as the visitors attempted to find a way back into the game.
At the other end, Tom Huddlestone went wide with a couple of efforts, while Peter Crouch had a finish deflected to safety by Tomkins after Wilson Palacios surged down the right flank.
In the final minute of the first half, Defoe curled a 25-yard free-kick just over Green's crossbar after he was fouled by Radoslav Kovac.
Wasteful
West Ham remained in the game while Spurs were in a wasteful mood - Huddlestone and Lennon both shot over the crossbar from promising positions just after the restart. Palacios also had an effort blocked by Matthew Upson.
With 10 minutes gone in the second half, Huddlestone received the ball from Vedran Corluka with his back to goal, turned and struck the foot of the post with his shot.
Guillermo Franco was not having much joy as a lone striker for the visitors and his frustration earned a yellow card from Chris Foy when he tripped Palacios.
Defoe grabbed his goal eight minutes from full-time. Green blocked his initial effort from the edge of the area but the England striker followed it up with a powerful strike that crashed into the top corner.
Gomes superbly denied Diamanti and Franco headed wide as the Hammers failed to find a late consolation.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
West Ham United |
| 2 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 14 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 9 |
Corners |
3 |
| 9 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 80.1 |
Passing Success |
76.7 |
| 18 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 83.3 |
Tackles Success |
82.6 |
| 53.7 |
Possession |
46.3 |
| 55.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
44.8 |
|
