Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview: Season 2009-10


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Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview: Season 2009-10
Tottenham Hotspur match previews for their Premier League, League (Carling) Cup
& FA Cup matches during season 2009-10.

Preview: West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur









Boleyn Ground (Upton Park), Green Street, London E13
Sunday 23rd August 2009, Kick Off 13:30
Premier League, Match 3

Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Assistant referees: Mike Mullarkey & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Lee Probert


COMMENT:

Tottenham Hotspur visit their local neighbours West Ham United with the maximum six points already amassed after impressive wins over Liverpool (2-1) and Hull City (5-1) and seeking three consecutive Premier League wins from the start of the season for the very first time.

Spurs have had the better of recent encounters with the Hammers and have only lost two of the last eighteen meetings. West Ham's season got off to a good start with a 2-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Both sides met recently in Beijing, China as part of the Barclays Asia Trophy with Spurs winning 1-0 and going-on to win the trophy after a 3-0 win in the Final over Hull City.

Ledley King should be available again after being rested in mid-week and will probably partner Sebastien Bassong in central defence with Vedran Corluka reverting to right back. Jermain Jenas is back in training but will probably not start in midfield where I expect Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios to continue their sterling work together. Carlo Cudicini, who replaced the injured Heurelho Gomes in goal after just a quarter of an hour at Hull,  will most likely keep his place. Upfront, it's hard to imagine Harry Redknapp breaking-up the Robbie Keane & Jermain Defoe partnership.


TEAM NEWS:

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is likely to name the same team that notched an impressive opening-day win at Wolves.

The Hammers remain without long-term absentees Dean Ashton, Valon Behrami and Luis Boa Morte.

An MRI scan confirmed Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes suffered a groin injury against Hull so David Button has been recalled from Crewe Alexandra as cover.

Boss Harry Redknapp is confident Ledley King will be fit enough to play after being rested for the match with Hull.

West Ham

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Ashton (ankle), Behrami & Boa Morte (both knee)

Tottenham

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Gomes (thigh), Woodgate (groin), Dawson (Achilles), Jenas (calf), Bale (foot)

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Tottenham are undefeated in their last three matches at Upton Park, since a 2-1 defeat to West Ham on the last day of the 2005/06 season.

• Tottenham have not conceded a goal in their last three Premier League encounters against West Ham.

• Honours are almost even in the Premier League matches at Upton Park between the two sides - with West Ham winning six times, Tottenham five times and three draws.

West Ham

• West Ham have only won the first two matches of a Premier League season once (1997/98).

• They have won 13 and lost 13 of their 35 PL games under Gianfranco Zola.

• If selected, James Collins will be playing on his 26th birthday and would be making his 150th club career appearance.

Tottenham

• Tottenham claimed the double over West Ham last season for the first time since 1994-95.

• Spurs have never won their first three matches of a Premier League season. Their previous best is two wins and draw which they achieved in 2002 and 2005.

• Harry Redknapp celebrates 300 days in charge of Tottenham on Sunday.


MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

Some critics expected Wolves to turn West Ham over in the first game of the season, but Gianfranco Zola's side stood up to be counted and pulled off a very good win in impressive fashion.

Tottenham, too, have got off to an absolute flier. They were very good against Liverpool and, even though Hull helped them, were good again on Wednesday night.

Harry Redknapp returning to West Ham always makes for a good game I feel, and I expect both teams to carry on their good starts with a draw here.

Verdict: West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur


PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

03-Sep-1898Thames & Med Lge4,000HW 3 - 0McKay, Cameron, Bradshaw
16-Mar-99Thames & Med Lge- A L 1 - 2Joyce
27-Oct-1900Southern Lge 5,000H D 0 - 0
16-Feb-01Southern Lge 5,000A W 4 - 1 Brown, Stormont (2), Hyde
14-Oct-01Western Lge 7,000H W 2 - 1 Cameron, Copeland
02-Nov-01Southern Lge 14,000A W 1 - 0 Jones JL
16-Dec-01London Lge 2,000A L 1 - 3 Gilhooley
15-Feb-02Southern Lge 9,000H L 1 - 2 Copeland
10-Mar-02Western Lge 3,000A D 1 - 1 Brown
21-Apr-02London Lge 2,000H D 2 - 2 Brown (2)
08-Sep-02S/CharityCupF  2,000N W 2 - 1 Houston, Kirwan
20-Oct-02London Lge 4,000A D 0 - 0  
01-Nov-02Southern Lge 9,000H D 1 - 1 Copeland
15-Dec-02London Lge 3,000H W 4 - 0 Tait (pen), Hughes (pen), Barlow, Kirwan
14-Feb-03Southern Lge 10,000A L 0 - 1  
16-Feb-03Western Lge 4,000H W 1 - 0 Rainbird
19-Mar-03Western Lge - A D 0 - 0  
21-Nov-03Southern Lge 8,000H W 2 - 1 Jones J., Kirwan
14-Dec-03Western Lge - H W 4 - 1 Jones J. (3), Copeland
18-Jan-04London Lge - H W 2 - 0 Jones J., Brearley
19-Mar-04Southern Lge 8,000A W 2 - 0 Walton (2)
21-Mar-04London Lge - A W 1 - 0 Warner
18-Apr-04Western Lge - A W 1 - 0 Jones J.
24-Sep-04Southern Lge 13,000A D 0 - 0  
24-Oct-04Western Lge - H L 0 - 1  
09-Jan-05S/CharityCupSF - H W 10 - 0 Tait (pen), Brearley (2), Woodward (5), O'Hagan (2)
21-Jan-05Southern Lge 14,000H W 1 - 0 Kirwan
27-Mar-05Western Lge - A D 1 - 1 Walton
23-Sep-05Southern Lge 1,400H W 2 - 0 Chapman (2)
06-Nov-05Western Lge - A L 1 - 4 Berry
27-Jan-06Southern Lge 18,000A W 1 - 0 Kyle
26-Mar-06Western Lge 1,000A W 1 - 0 Whyman
01-Sep-06Southern Lge 16,000H L 1 - 2 Dow
08-Oct-06Western Lge 4,000A L 0 - 5  
22-Oct-06S/CharityCup1 8,000H W 2 - 0 Stansfield, Reid
29-Dec-06Southern Lge 13,000A L 2 - 4 Woodward, Reid
08-Apr-07Western Lge - H W 4 - 0 Chapman, Whyman (3)
07-Sep-07Southern Lge 10,000A D 1 - 1 McNair
07-Oct-07Western Lge 5,000H W 2 - 1 Bull, Pickett
04-Nov-07Western Lge - A W 3 - 1 Steel, Reid (2)
04-Jan-08Southern Lge 13,000H W 3 - 2 Pass, Payne, Pickett
30-Nov-08LonCharCup2 3,000A W 2 - 0 Walton, Steel D
18-Sep-15London Comb1 8,000H D 1 - 1 Rance
27-Nov-15London Comb1 4,000H W 3 - 0 Morris, Bliss (2)
05-Feb-16London Comb2 8,000A L 0 - 2  
29-Apr-16London Comb2 7,000H D 1 - 1 Bliss
04-Nov-16London Comb 3,000Hi L 1 - 2 Bliss
04-Nov-16London Comb 8,000A L 1 - 5 Thwaites
27-Jan-17London Comb 7,000Ho D 0 - 0  
24-Mar-17London Comb 12,000A L 0 - 3  
05-May-17Friendly - A D 3 - 3 Potter, Banks, Barnard
29-Sep-17London Comb 8,000A L 0 - 1  
24-Nov-17London Comb 7,000Hi W 2 - 0 Banks (2)
19-Jan-18London Comb 3,000A D 2 - 2 Banks (2)
16-Mar-18London Comb 10,000Hi L 0 - 5  
21-Sep-18London Comb 8,000A W 1 - 0 Thomas
16-Nov-18London Comb 600Ho L 1 - 4 Rance
11-Jan-19London Comb 13,000A L 0 - 2  
01-Mar-19Victory Cup 1 9,000Hi W 3 - 1 Minter (2), Banks
08-Mar-19London Comb 17,170Ho L 0 - 1  
21-Feb-20F.A. Cup 3 47,642H W 3 - 0 Grimsdell, Wilson (2)
13-Mar-20Division 2 25,691A L 1 - 2 Grimsdell (pen)
22-Mar-20Division 2 26,000H W 2 - 0 Cantrell, Dimmock
12-Sep-21Lon Prof Charity Fund 11,000A L 0 - 1  
02-Oct-22Lon Prof Charity Fund 7,000H W 2 - 1 Clay (pen), Wilson
07-May-23Friendly - H W 5 - 2 Lindsay, Handley (3), Dimmock
09-Feb-24Division 1 30,000A D 0 - 0  
23-Feb-24Friendly - A D 1 - 1 Thompson
17-Mar-24Friendly - A D 1 - 1 Lindsay
22-Apr-24Division 1 18,153H L 0 - 1  
22-Nov-24Division 1 30,000A D 1 - 1 Elkes
28-Mar-25Division 1 29,321H D 1 - 1 Seed
07-Nov-25Division 1 35,259H W 4 - 2 Osborne (3), Elkes
09-Jan-26F.A. Cup 3 49,800H W 5 - 0 Osborne (2), Dimmock (3)
20-Mar-26Division 1 29,423A L 1 - 3 Osborne
03-May-26Friendly - A D 1 - 1 Blair
08-Jan-27F.A. Cup 3 44,417A L 2 - 3 Handley, Dimmock
15-Apr-27Division 1 42,010H L 1 - 3 Handley
18-Apr-27Division 1 21,354A W 2 - 1 Handley, Dimmock
05-Nov-27Division 1 35,099H W 5 - 3 Handley, O'Callaghan (2), Osborne, Elkes
17-Mar-28Division 1 33,908A D 1 - 1 Osborne
08-Dec-30Friendly - A W 2 - 1 Davies, Bellamy
17-Dec-32Division 2 45,129H D 2 - 2 O'Callaghan, Hunt GS
21-Apr-33Division 2 31,706A L 0 - 1  
27-Jan-34F.A. Cup 4 51,747H W 4 - 1 Hunt GS (2), Evans W (2)
09-Nov-35Division 2 40,245A D 2 - 2 Morrison (2)
14-Mar-36Division 2 57,417H L 1 - 3 Hunt GS
29-Aug-36Division 2 31,906A L 1 - 2 Morrison
26-Dec-36Division 2 34,190H L 2 - 3 Meek, Miller
20-Nov-37Division 2 47,000H W 2 - 0 Sargent, Gibbons
02-Apr-38Division 2 30,031A W 3 - 1 Sargent, Gibbons, Miller
29-Oct-38Division 2 51,170H W 2 - 1 Lyman (2)
21-Jan-39F.A. Cup 4 42,716A D 3 - 3 Sargent, Morrison, Duncan
30-Jan-39F.A. Cup 4 Replay50,798H D 1 - 1 Sargent
02-Feb-39F.A. Cup 4 2nd Replay50,468Hi L 1 - 2 Morrison
04-Mar-39Division 2 20,832A W 2 - 0 Hall GW, Duncan
07-Oct-39Friendly - H L 0 - 2  
04-Nov-39FL South A 7,800A L 1 - 2 Hall GW
26-Dec-39FL South A 4,276H L 0 - 1  
10-Feb-40FL South C 7,500A L 0 - 2  
06-Apr-40FL South C 15,000H L 2 - 6 Howe, Morrison
31-Aug-40Reg Lge Sth 2,000H L 2 - 3 Burgess (2)
07-Sep-40Reg Lge Sth 2,600A X 4 - 1 Abandoned 80mins (Air Raid) Burgess (3), Duncan
01-Feb-41LonWarCup 4,691H L 1 - 2 Broadis
08-Feb-41LonWarCup 5,200A L 2 - 3 Hall, Gibbons
06-Dec-41London WarLge 8,493H D 1 - 1 Broadis
14-Mar-42London WarLge 7,986A W 3 - 2 Broadis (2), Gibbons
19-Sep-42Football Lge Sth 10,160A L 1 - 3 Ludford
19-Dec-42Football Lge Sth 9,741H W 2 - 0 Hall, Ludford
18-Sep-43Football Lge Sth 12,148A D 3 - 3 O'Donnell (2), Rowley
01-Jan-44Football Lge Sth 40,997H W 1 - 0 Cox
26-Aug-44Football Lge Sth 14,379H D 2 - 2 O'Donnell, Stevens
02-Dec-44Football Lge Sth 23,000A W 1 - 0 Gilberg
10-Feb-45LgeSth Cup G3 21,000A L 0 - 1  
03-Mar-45LgeSth Cup G3 29,838H W 4 - 0 Burgess, Martin, Gibbons (2)
08-Sep-45Football Lge Sth 26,437A D 1 - 1 Burgess
15-Sep-45Football Lge Sth 34,342H L 2 - 3 Gibbons (2)
19-Oct-46Division 2 34,341A D 2 - 2 Bennett, Foreman
17-May-47Division 2 37,503H D 0 - 0  
08-Sep-47Division 2 25,732A D 1 - 1 Jordan
15-Sep-47Division 2 33,415H D 2 - 2 Jordan, Bennett
25-Sep-48Division 2 38,132A L 0 - 1  
19-Feb-49Division 2 62,980H D 1 - 1 Bennett
05-Nov-49Division 2 31,734A W 1 - 0 Walters
25-Mar-50Division 2 51,124H W 4 - 1 Walters (2), Bennett, Medley
16-Apr-53Friendly - A L 1 - 2 Walters
03-Mar-56F.A. Cup 6 69,118H D 3 - 3 Harmer (pen), Duquemin, Robb
08-Mar-56F.A. Cup 6 Replay34,911A W 2 - 1 Harmer, Duquemin
25-Dec-58Division 1 26,178A L 1 - 2 Smith R
26-Dec-58Division 1 43,817H L 1 - 4 Stokes
10-Jan-59F.A. Cup 3 56,252H W 2 - 0 Smith R, Jones
09-Sep-59Division 1 58,909H D 2 - 2 Smith R, Jones
14-Sep-59Division 1 36,831A W 2 - 1 Marchi, Smith R
24-Dec-60Division 1 65,930H W 2 - 0 White, Dyson
26-Dec-60Division 1 34,351A W 3 - 0 White, Allen, Brown og
23-Aug-61Division 1 50,434H D 2 - 2 Dyson (2)
28-Aug-61Division 1 36,274A L 1 - 2 Allen
25-Aug-62Division 1 32,527A W 6 - 1 Medwin, White, Greaves (2), Jones, Lyall og
22-Dec-62Division 1 44,650H D 4 - 4 Smith J, Mackay (3)
28-Sep-63Division 1 51,667H W 3 - 0 Mackay, Jones, Brown og
08-Feb-64Division 1 36,838A L 0 - 4  
12-Sep-64Division 1 36,730A L 2 - 3 Greaves (2, 1pen)
16-Jan-65Division 1 50,054H W 3 - 2 Greaves (2), Dyson
08-Apr-66Division 1 50,635H L 1 - 4 Gilzean
25-Apr-66Division 1 32,232A L 0 - 2  
14-Sep-66League Cup 2 34,000A L 0 - 1  
12-Nov-66Division 1 57,157H L 3 - 4 Greaves (pen), Gilzean, Venables
09-May-67Division 1 35,758A W 2 - 0 Greaves, Gilzean
26-Aug-67Division 1 55,831H W 5 - 1 Mullery, Greaves (2, 1pen), Saul, Jones
23-Dec-67Division 1 32,122A L 1 - 2 Robertson
14-Sep-68Division 1 35,802A D 2 - 2 Greaves, Gilzean
19-Apr-69Division 1 50,970H W 1 - 0 Greaves
15-May-69Tour - A W 4 - 3 Greaves (2), Pearce, Morgan     (Played in Baltimore)
06-Sep-69Division 1 40,561A W 1 - 0 Pearce
20-Dec-69Division 1 28,375H L 0 - 2  
15-Aug-70Division 1 53,640H D 2 - 2 Gilzean (2)
17-Oct-70Division 1 42,322A D 2 - 2 Mullery, England
27-Dec-71Division 1 53,868H L 0 - 1  
01-Apr-72Division 1 30,763A L 0 - 2  
23-Sep-72Division 1 51,291H W 1 - 0 Lampard og
26-Dec-72Division 1 37,397A D 2 - 2 Peters, Pearce
08-Sep-73Division 1 30,888A W 1 - 0 Chivers
29-Dec-73Division 1 33,176H W 2 - 0 Pratt, Chivers
14-Sep-74Division 1 27,959H W 2 - 1 England, Chivers
26-Dec-74Division 1 37,682A D 1 - 1 Peters
25-Aug-75Division 1 36,567A L 0 - 1  
12-Nov-75League Cup 4 49,161H D 0 - 0  
24-Nov-75League Cup 4 Replay38,443A W 2 - 0 (a.e.t) Young, Duncan
07-Feb-76Division 1 32,832H D 1 - 1 Duncan
06-Nov-76Division 1 28,997A L 3 - 5 Hoddle, Osgood (pen), Duncan
01-Jan-77Division 1 44,972H W 2 - 1 Osgood (pen), Duncan
04-Dec-78Friendly - A L 2 - 4 Holmes, Pratt
30-Apr-79Friendly/Test - H D 2 - 2 Villa, Ardiles
02-Dec-80League Cup 5 36,003A L 0 - 1  
11-May-81Friendly/Test - H L 2 - 3 Hazard, Gibson
02-Sep-81Division 1 41,200H L 0 - 4  
10-May-82Division 1 27,667A D 2 - 2 Hoddle (pen), Brooke
20-Nov-82Division 1 41,960H W 2 - 1 Archibald (2)
01-Jan-83Division 1 33,383A L 0 - 3  
21-Aug-83Friendly/Test - H D 1 - 1 Brazil
03-Sep-83Division 1 38,042H L 0 - 2  
31-Dec-83Division 1 30,939A L 1 - 4 Stevens
18-May-84Friendly - A L 1 - 4 Archibald
26-Dec-84Division 1 37,186H D 2 - 2 Mabbutt, Crooks
06-Apr-85Division 1 24,435A D 1 - 1 Ardiles
26-Dec-85Division 1 33,835H W 1 - 0 Perryman
31-Mar-86Division 1 27,497A L 1 - 2 Ardiles
12-May-86Friendly - A L 1 - 5 Allen C
26-Dec-86Division 1 39,019H W 4 - 0 Hodge, Allen C (2), Waddle
27-Jan-87League Cup 5 28,648A D 1 - 1 Allen C
02-Feb-87League Cup 5 Replay41,995H W 5 - 0 Allen C (3, 1pen), Hoddle, Claesen
20-Apr-87Division 1 23,972A L 1 - 2 Allen C
19-Sep-87Division 1 27,750A W 1 - 0 Fairclough
20-Oct-87Friendly/Test - H D 2 - 2 Allen P, Archibald
28-Dec-87Division 1 39,456H W 2 - 1 Fairclough, Waddle
21-Aug-88Friendly - A L 0 - 2  
17-Dec-88Division 1 28,365A W 2 - 0 Thomas, Mabbutt
01-Apr-89Division 1 28,375H W 3 - 0 Fenwick (pen), Nayim, Stewart
17-Aug-90Friendly/Test 17,456H W 4 - 1 Lineker (2, 1pen), Gascoigne, Nayim
12-Nov-90Friendly 10,443A L 3 - 4 Stewart (2), Houghton
26-Oct-91Division 1 23,946A L 1 - 2 Lineker
01-Apr-92Division 1 31,809H W 3 - 0 Lineker (3)
28-Dec-93FA Prem 20,787A W 3 - 1 Dozzell, Hazard, Anderton
04-Apr-94FA Prem 31,502H L 1 - 4 Sheringham (pen)
29-Oct-94FA Prem 26,271H W 3 - 1 Klinsmann, Sheringham, Barmby
14-Jan-95FA Prem 24,578A W 2 - 1 Sheringham, Klinsmann
30-Aug-95FA Prem 23,516A D 1 - 1 Rosenthal
12-Feb-96FA Prem 29,781H L 0 - 1  
02-Nov-96FA Prem 32,975H W 1 - 0 Armstrong
24-Feb-97FA Prem 23,998A L 3 - 4 Sheringham, Anderton, Howells
13-Aug-97FA Prem 25,354A L 1 - 2 Ferdinand
17-Jan-98FA Prem 30,284H W 1 - 0 Klinsmann
28-Nov-98FA Prem 26,044A L 1 - 2 Armstrong
24-Apr-99FA Prem 36,089H L 1 - 2 Ginola
07-Aug-99FA Prem 26,010A L 0 - 1  
06-Dec-99FA Prem 36,233H D 0 - 0  
11-Sep-2000FA Prem 33,282H W 1 - 0 Campbell
31-Jan-01FA Prem 26,048A D 0 - 0  
11-Mar-01F.A. Cup 6 26,048A W 3 - 2 Rebrov (2), Doherty
24-Nov-01FA Prem 32,780A W 1 - 0 Ferdinand
13-Apr-02FA Prem 36,038H D 1 - 1 Sheringham
15-Sep-02FA Prem 36,005H W 3 - 2 Davies, Sheringham (pen), Gardner
01-Mar-03FA Prem 35,049A L 0 - 2  
29-Oct-03League Cup 3 36,053H W 1 - 0 (a.e.t) Zamora
19-Nov-05FA Prem 36,154H D 1 - 1 Mido
07-May-06FA Prem 34,970A L 1 - 2 Defoe
21-Oct-06FA Prem 36,162H W 1 - 0 Mido
04-Mar-07FA Prem 34,966A W 4 - 3 Defoe (pen). Tainio, Berbatov, Stalteri
25-Nov-07FA Prem 34,966A D 1 - 1 Dawson
08-Mar-08FA Prem 36,062H W 4 - 0 Berbatov (2), Gilberto, Bent
06-Dec-08FA Prem 34,277A W 2 - 0 King, O'Hara
11-Apr-09 FA Prem  35,969 1 - 0  Pavlyuchenko 
29-Jly-09Asia Trophy10,005NW 1 - 0Defoe                                 (Played in Beijing, China)
23-Aug-09FA Prem A
28-Dec-09FA Prem H


 






















MARTIN PETERS ON WEST HAM & SPURS

"I didn't go to Tottenham to try and emulate Jimmy, no-one could, he was a one-off, and it took a little while for me to win the supporters over," Martin reflected this week.

"It took a reasonable period for the fans to accept that I wasn't another Jimmy Greaves. There was pressure, of course, but that was mainly because of the £200,000 fee.

"Fortunately, I scored after about 10 minutes of the first game I played - although we lost - I then scored in the second game and went on to have a decent run-in to that season.

"In the next season we won the League Cup and the team got stronger and better from there.

"I managed to fit in and we had Alan Mullery, a young Steve Perryman, Pat Jennings in goal, Cyril Knowles, Joe Kinnear, Martin Chivers playing out of his skin, Alan Gilzean - we had a great side.

"No disrespect to West Ham, but I do believe that Tottenham side was the best side I played in. At West Ham, we didn't have the same consistency, although we won the FA Cup in 1964 and Cup Winners Cup in 1965 and had good success under Ron Greenwood."

Martin admits both teams mean a lot to him and Sunday's match will divide his family between Spurs and West Ham fans!

"Ron Greenwood taught me so much in the way he wanted the club to play, the way the players should play and got me in with a chance of playing for England. I think he battered Alf Ramsey's ear about giving me a chance and it all worked out well for me, obviously.

"When I went to Tottenham, I took what I learned at West Ham and then it was the great Bill Nicholson at Spurs. It was great to work under those two managers."

Meanwhile, a familiar face broke through the West Ham ranks at the same time Martin was establishing himself as one of the most promising midfielders around - a certain Harry Redknapp, who made his debut for the Hammers in 1965.

"Harry was a flying winger, played very wide, was very quick and very excitable," recalled Martin. "He was an exciting player to have in the team, always gave 100 per cent and was good to play with.

"He was good enough to get into the first team at West Ham at that stage and he was a player who could win games for you with his pace on the wing, taking the full-backs on and trying to get crosses in for Geoff (Hurst) or even myself. He was a good player to have around."



















LAST TIME WE MET AT UPTON PARK...

Monday, 8 December 2008, Premier League

West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Ledley King and Jamie O'Hara scored the goals which earned Tottenham victory in a hard-fought derby against West Ham.

Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko hit the post just before half-time but defender King met Aaron Lennon's cross on 68 minutes to open the scoring.

West Ham almost levelled but Heurelho Gomes made a fine double stop from Lucas Neill and David Di Michele.

From that chance, Spurs broke and substitute O'Hara fired in a superb shot to seal the victory.

The victory, manager Harry Redknapp's fourth consecutive success at Upton Park, saw Spurs replace the Hammers in 15th place in the Premier League table.

They certainly had the better chances in the match, and should have taken the lead inside the opening minute, but Luka Modric fired straight at Robert Green in the West Ham goal after being set up by David Bentley.

The Hammers had the ball in the net on 22 minutes as a corner went in off Jermaine Jenas, but referee Chris Foy had already blown for a foul on the Spurs midfielder by Neill.

West Ham threatened again when James Collins fired a powerful low drive into the box, but the ball was deflected away for a corner, and it was the visitors who finished the half strongly.

First, Bentley connected well with a loose ball in the area and Green showed smart reflexes to push his goalbound shot wide.

Then Pavlyuchenko came agonisingly close as he stretched to prod Lennon's penetrating low cross towards goal, only to see it rebound off the post to safety, with Green well beaten.

West Ham began the second half brightly, with a Craig Bellamy cross forcing a less-than-convincing punch from Gomes, and the Welshman also fired wide.

At the other end, a powerful drive from Modric was smartly stopped by Green while substitute Darren Bent - on for Pavlyuchenko - sidefooted wide.

The introduction of Bent seemed to give Spurs more impetus and they enjoyed a spell on top, with Green having to save after a surging run and shot from Didier Zokora.

But it was not long before Tottenham broke the deadlock as King rose to head Lennon's cross down, with the ball bouncing up beyond the desperate reach of Green to give the defender his first goal in three years.

West Ham substitute Di Michele came close to equalising shortly afterwards but Jonathan Woodgate blocked his effort as he attempted to fire home through a crowded goalmouth.

And Di Michele came even closer as the Hammers pushed for an equaliser in a frantic finish.

Gomes was Spurs' hero, blocking shots from Neill and the home team's substitute in quick succession.

From the subsequent break, O'Hara found himself in space 20 yards from goal and he unleashed an unstoppable shot to seal victory.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola on a perceived handball by Benoit Assou-Ekotto when his side were 1-0 down:

"It was a clear penalty when it was 1-0. The referee is a human being, he can make mistakes.

"Unfortunately for us it was a disappointing game because it was one we all wanted to win.

"I understand the fans' frustration. We gave everything to make them happy."

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp:

"I want to see West Ham win every week [when they are not playing Spurs] but that was a great result for us tonight.

"We were good value and deserved to win even after missing some great chances... Modric in the first minute and Pavlyuchenko hitting the post.

"We passed the ball well tonight at times and eventually we got the goal."

West Ham:

Green, Neill, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Mullins (Di Michele 73), Parker (Tristan 83), Faubert (Noble 58), Cole, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Boa Morte, Davenport, Collison.

Booked: Behrami, Noble.

Tottenham:

Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Bentley (O'Hara 81), Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 54).

Subs Not Used: Cesar, Bale, Huddlestone, Dawson, Boateng.

Goals: King 68, O'Hara 90.

Att: 34,277

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Tottenham's Aaron Lennon



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