{"id":296267,"date":"2023-12-07T23:23:54","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T23:23:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=296267"},"modified":"2023-12-07T23:23:54","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T23:23:54","slug":"tottenham-lose-more-ground-on-top-four-after-west-ham-comeback-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/tottenham-lose-more-ground-on-top-four-after-west-ham-comeback-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Tottenham lose more ground on top four after West Ham comeback victory"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse struck after half-time to help West Ham turn the tables on Tottenham with an impressive second-half display to earn a memorable 2-1 win at their rivals.<\/p>\n
Cristian Romero put Spurs ahead in the 11th-minute and had Ange Postecoglou\u2019s side on course for a first victory since October 27 at the break.<\/p>\n
David Moyes\u2019 men had other ideas and after Bowen scored for the seventh away Premier League game in a row, Ward-Prowse capitalised on an error at the back with 16 minutes left.<\/p>\n
It consigned injury-hit Tottenham to a fourth defeat in five matches, while ninth-placed West Ham are now only three points behind the hosts following this fifth win in six games.<\/p>\n
Both club\u2019s had coped admirably despite the summer departures of talismanic duo Harry Kane and Declan Rice, but injuries were beginning to take their toll on Spurs, while West Ham were without first-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.<\/p>\n
It meant Lukasz Fabianski earned a first league start of the season and he was involved in the opening 60 seconds after he collided with Dejan Kulusevski in the penalty area, but Kulusevski had strayed offside anyway.<\/p>\n
While Spurs remained without a number of players, Romero did return at the heart of defence and he set about atoning for his red card against Chelsea with the opener in the 11th minute.<\/p>\n
From Tottenham\u2019s second corner of the match, Pedro Porro\u2019s curled delivery was met by a towering header from Romero, who impressively outjumped Kurt Zouma before directing his looping effort into the corner.<\/p>\n
Romero held up his hands to the home fans behind the goal in seemingly a gesture of apology after he missed the whole of November due to his three-match ban.<\/p>\n
West Ham did threaten immediately from kick-off, but Mohammed Kudus fired wide and was adjudged offside.<\/p>\n
Tottenham were dominating possession, but West Ham provided a reminder of their threat when a Ward-Prowse corner was bundled wide by Zouma under pressure from Guglielmo Vicario.<\/p>\n
Kudus did test Vicario moments later with a 25-yard effort after Destiny Udogie lost possession, but back came Postecoglou\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
Porro lashed over before Giovani Lo Celso\u2019s volley was parried away from goal by Fabianski.<\/p>\n
Fabianski was required again with 40 minutes played and brilliantly punched clear Lo Celso\u2019s cross with Ben Davies ready to pounce and Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma both failed to hit the target with follow-up shots.<\/p>\n
There was still time for Lucas Paqueta to head West Ham\u2019s best chance of the half horribly wide after excellent play by Kudus and Spurs then hit the woodwork when Lo Celso\u2019s cross was deflected onto the stanchion by West Ham captain Zouma to ensure it stayed 1-0 at the break.<\/p>\n
It would prove a crucial intervention as seven minutes into the second period the Hammers levelled.<\/p>\n
Kudus\u2019 low effort hit Romero and deflected off Davies before it rolled perfectly into the path of Bowen, who smashed into the bottom corner to score on the road again.<\/p>\n
Moyes\u2019 team appeared a different proposition now and Paqueta squandered a good opening before a succession of corners were survived by Spurs.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou turned to his bench with 23 minutes left as Oliver Skipp and Richarlison entered the fray and the latter should have made it 2-1 soon after.<\/p>\n
Porro produced a superb floated delivery to the back post, but Richarlison steered his header wide from six yards.<\/p>\n
It was a guilt-edged chance and after Fabianski denied Porro minutes later, West Ham capitalised on a Tottenham error in the 74th minute.<\/p>\n
Udogie\u2019s back pass was short and while Vicario dived at the feet of Bowen, Ward-Prowse was first to the loose ball and although his initial effort hit the post, it rolled back for the Hammers midfielder to tap in.<\/p>\n
Spurs huffed and puffed during the final exchanges with Pape Sarr curling over before a brief VAR check turned down a penalty in stoppage time, but West Ham held on for a first away win at their rivals since 2019.<\/p>\n