Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard scored a goal in each half as West Ham United survived a late fightback to rise to fourth place with a 2-1 derby win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Hammers got off to the perfect start and took the lead in the fifth minute after Jarrod Bowen played a tantalising cross into the six-yard area where Michail Antonio’s first attempt is blocked Hugo Lloris, but the French ‘keeper couldn’t prevent the West Ham attacker from forcing in the rebound from close range.
Spurs had a chance of their own in the 13th minute when Eric Lamela drove through the midfield, skipping past three West Ham players before releasing Harry Kane down the right flank as he lined up a shot from 18 yards, which flashed past the post from a tight angle.
The visitors had another opportunity to levelled matters in the 23rd minute when Kane tried to pick out Lucas Moura in the middle but his cross ended up finding Son Heung-min at the back post. He kept the ball alive and fired an effort towards Moura, who tried to poke the ball home but failed to make contact.
West Ham nearly doubled their lead in the 38th minute as Aaron Cresswell’s out-swinging corner was met forcefully by Dawson, but Lloris was well placed to tip it over for another corner, which Spurs deal with.
With two minutes left to play, Lamela should have found the equalising goal with his first time hit strike but Lucas Fabianski did well to deny the Spurs winger before Eric Dier failed to direct his header towards goal deep in stoppage time as the game went into the break 1-0 in favour of West Ham.
The home side began the second half just as they did the first as they doubled their lead two minutes in after Jesse Lingard burst through the Spurs defence and into the box before smashing the ball in the net at the far post to make it 2-0.
Kane had two opportunities to pull a goal back between the 59th and 61st minute but Fabianski did well to deny the Spurs striker to keep his sides lead intact before denying Gareth Bale a minute later.
Spurs persistence paid off in the 64th minute as they managed to reduce the deficit when Moura steered his header in off the post after a brilliant corner whipped in by Bale to make it 2-1.
The London side nearly levelled matters three minutes later after Bale released Kane into space on the right and sent a teasing ball across the face of goal, which Moura and Son came within inches of getting a toe on as the ball evaded both Spurs players before Kane blazed his effort agonisingly wide a minute later.
West Ham almost restored their two-goal lead in the 75th minute when Benrahma broke through the lines before sending a pass up to Antonio. He was unable to bring it under control but Reguilon and Lloris collide as the ball ran for Lingard, but Doherty hacked the ball to safety.
At the other end, Spurs nearly equalised in the 78th minute but Bale rattled the woodwork with his volley from outside the box after latching on to a cutback from Kane.
Mourinho’s side should’ve made it 2-2 in stoppage time but Son saw his effort bounce off the post with Fabianski well beaten.
However, Spurs pressed forward in the closing stages of the game but West Ham held on to their lead until the final whistle to walk away with all three points at home.
