Spurs edge out Hammers to earn derby win
Ledley King opened the scoring with a powerful downward header
Also In The News
|
A stoppage time goal from Ashley Young gave Aston Villa a thrilling 3-2 win over Everton at Goodison Park. |  |
Monday, 08, Dec 2008 10:53
Goals from Ledley King and a late Jamie O'Hara strike gave Tottenham a 2-0 derby win over West Ham at Upton Park.
King opened the scoring in the 68th minute when he met an Aaron Lennon cross with a downward header which bounced past West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green.
Until then it had been a tight game with chances few and far between, although the visitors had the better of what opportunities there were.
Luka Modric could have put Harry Redknapp's side ahead as early as the second minute but he shot straight at Green from a David Bentley cut-back.
West Ham had the ball in the net after 22 minutes when a Craig Bellamy cross was turned into his own goal by Jermaine Jenas, but referee Chris Foy blew for a foul by Lucas Neill.
Bentley then brought the best out of Green, before Roman Pavlyuchenko hit the woodwork when he stretched to meet a Lennon cross.
Tottenham upped the pace in the second period against a West Ham side who looked void of any creative attacking spark.
Modric once again tested Green before King rose to give Harry Redknapp the lead.
West Ham came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the final minute but under-fire goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes made a brilliant double-save, firstly parrying Neill's powerful effort before smothering David Di Michele's close-range shot on the turn, although the Italian substitute should have scored.
Tottenham went straight up the other end and made the game safe when O'Hara rifled a powerful shot from the edge of the box which gave Green no chance.
The victory moves Tottenham level with West Ham on points, and after two defeats in three games is a welcome derby victory for Redknapp's side.