Disjointed Tottenham defending gifts match to West Ham
By Gary Pearson
Inexcusably shambolic collective defending gifted West Ham all three points, casting Tottenham further adrift from the Premier League’s top four places.
Poor defending at the start of both halves cost Tottenham dearly in a match they needed to win to remain in the Champions League conversation. The 2-1 defeat is a bitter pill to swallow considering the opportunity presented to Jose Mourinho’s men.
West Ham punished Spurs for a lethargic, lacklustre and sleepy start. Pablo Fornals left Lucas Moura for dead, the Brazilian deciding not to track Fornals’ dangerous darting run through the heart of Tottenham’s box.
Davinson Sanchez was dragged out of position and Eric Dier was forced to pick up Moura’s slack, leaving Michail Antonio, West Ham’s most dangerous attacking threat, unmarked.
Japhet Tanganga tried to cover Antonio but was too late, allowing the bullish forward to nip in and pounce.
Tottenham mustered just two shots on target in the first half, both of which coming in the last few minutes. Harry Kane was unlucky not to score with a fizzed low effort, demanding a strong low save from Łukasz Fabiański.
Erik Lamela, one of Tottenham’s few bright spots in the first stanza, registered the away side’s other shot, coming in the 43rd minute. Perplexingly, Lamela was withdrawn at halftime, the spry, lively Argentinian making way for Gareth Bale’s introduction.