London: Tottenham Hotspurs manager Ange Postecoglou must be wondering where it’s going wrong as his team suffered their fourth defeat in five consecutive games, having slipped from being five points clear at the top of the Premier League table earlier last month. They went down 2-1 to West Ham despite dominating most of the play.
Postecoglou had little to say apart from: “The two goals were terrible for us to concede. We are going through a spell where people are saying its good football but I don’t see that. I see us playing without conviction and not putting the ball in the net.”
Tottenham’s captain and top marksman after the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, Heung-Min Son, said: “Losing that game is unacceptable. We have got the lead five times in a row now.”
He added: “West Ham are always tough but we were soft. In the Premier League, you don’t know what will happen in the end. You have to kill a game. It’s unacceptable. Players have to take responsibility, the fans don’t deserve this. You have to play with more energy, especially at home.”
Spurs totally dominated the first half taking the lead as early as the 11th minute from a fine corner taken by Pedro Porro and Cristian Romero – back in the side after a three-game suspension – rose for a looping header into the corner. His return to the side was a boost for Spurs with his pace and tenacity but this was not going to be their day.
Tottenham kept the pressure on and could have doubled the lead but Yves Bissouma missed the chance with his shot sailing over the bar while shots by Giovani Lo Celso and Brennan Johnson were saved. West Ham’s only chance in the first half came a minute before the break but Lucas Paqueta with plenty of time at the back post headed wide from a lovely cross from Mohammad Kudus.
They were better organised in the second half and within seven minutes of the restart they drew level. A shot from Kudus bounced off Romero and with Ben Davis unable to stop it from going into the path of Jarrod Bowen, the West Hammer drove it into the net for his fiftieth goal for the club.
Spurs brought on Richarlson in the 67th minute but he missed an excellent chance to score from a free header and five minutes later Fabianski made an excellent save from Porro. West Ham were a much improved side as the game progressed. James Ward-Prowse was unlucky when a firm shot from him hit the post following an excellent combined series of passes he had with Bowen and Kudus.
With growing confidence and counter-attacking the winning goal for the Hammers was struck in the 74th minute. Destiny Udogie’s back-pass to his goalkeeper was weak and as Guglielmo Vicario rushed out to push the ball away it went to Ward-Prowse whose shot hit the post but from the rebound he stroked with ease into an empty net.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
