West Ham 1-0 Tottenham: Three things we learned

West Ham all but ended London rivals Tottenham’s chances of a Premier League title challenge with a 1-0 win on Friday night denying Mauricio Pochettino’s side a ten game winning streak in the league.

The Hammers, stricken by injury with key figures Andy Carroll, Michail Antonio and Pedro Obiang all missing, put in the sort of performance that has eluded them all summer and were more than worthy of their opener when Manuel Lanzini smashed home from close range in the second half.

The London Stadium was set for its first London derby between the two sides and with an electric atmosphere in the stands it didn’t take long for thinks to liven up on the pitch with Andre Ayew doing well to find Lanzini’s run through the Spurs back line, however the No.10 couldn’t find the target with his cross-goal effort.

With the sense of a chance wasted, Bilic’s side began to turn up the heat as first Sam Byram and then Winston Reid looked to break the deadlock with headed chances.

After all their hard work the Hammers were almost undone by a mistake at the back as Spanish shot-stopper Adrian parried an effort straight back out in front of him, only to make amends with a fantastic reaction stop with his left boot, sending Harry Kane’s drilled effort well over the bar.

Minutes later and the ball was down the other end again and once more it was Lanzini bearing down on goal, only for Hugo Lloris to come charging off his line and clatter into the Argentine on the edge of the penalty area. Those in claret and blue made a beeline for referee Anthony Taylor who promptly waved away any protests.

After a frantic start the first half concluded without real incident with the clash finely poised at the break. However, the hosts – not wanting to waste one of their few inspired performances of the season – came out for the second half as they did the first and should have been ahead when Ayew found space on the edge of the Spurs box, only to fire well over with his left.

Having put in a gritty and determined performance for just over an hour, it took similar hard work for West Ham to find their opener as Aaron Cresswell’s clipped cross was scrambled back across goal by Byram before, after a couple of claret and blue swings at the ball, Lanzini was on hand to smash home.

It should have been two ten minutes later when last week’s rabona wielding villain Jonathan Calleri did well to hold off Toby Alderweireld before spinning the Belgian to leave the goal at his mercy. However, it seems the summer signing had run out of ideas and his finish was not enough to double the lead, with Lloris turning it around the post.

From then on every tackle, clearance and pass from the hosts was cheered by the home fans as if it was the final whistle and that supposedly non-existent atmosphere in Stratford only grew.

It’s been a tough year for those making the trip to the London Stadium all season, however, a few more nights like this and the place will feel just like home.

With that in mind, here are THREE things we learned from West Ham v Tottenham…