West Ham United won a crucial 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at The London Stadium thanks to Michail Antonio.
David Moyes’ side came into the contest having failed to beat any fellow London clubs this season, but they always looked to be the most likely to win against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
After Antonio’s fine performance, the East Londoners won the bragging rights. Antonio scored a goal to cap off another excellent individual performance.
Antonio was the man who looked most likely to score in a game with very few chances. However, it was the Jamaican that finally broke the deadlock.
He wrestled Harry Kane out of the way, before converting Aaron Cresswell’s tantalising out-swinging corner into the net from close range.
Once again, Spurs looked blunt and devoid of creativity in the final third, with Kane’s powerful header at the end of the first half which provoked an excellent save from Lukasz Fabianski, being the only real chance, they created.
Silver Screen Beats SportThis article examines four things you may not have noticed as West Ham United defeated Tottenham Hotspur.
Harry Kane in higher places
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Kane’s regular habit of dropping deeper to find the ball, has regularly been blamed for his less than impressive start to the season.
He finally broke his Premier League goal duck with a classy finish in Spurs’ 3-2 away victory to Newcastle in the previous game-week, and he did so by charging in behind the defence.
With Santo opting to deploy Spurs in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Kane’s placement at the spearhead of the North Londoners, forces him to stay as high as possible.
He was frequently pitted against Kurt Zouma at the London Stadium, and got up close and personal in an unusual way this season.
Kane, with Son, Lucas Moura, Tanguy Ndombele, and England captain, is now concerned about his safety.
Kane’s goalscoring record is often like London busses – when one arrives, many more follow straight after.
This was perfectly evident on Kane’s first chance of the match, when Sergio Reguilon’s looping cross was met on the head by Kane, and Lukasz Fabianski just about clawed it away to safety.
Earlier in the season, it may have been Kane putting in the cross, rather than getting on the end of it – this is a good sign for Tottenham and for England.
Santo’s finally decided on his first eleven
Considering Santo’s very late appointment, not to mention a pre-season disrupted by constant speculation about Kane’s future, it was no surprise the Portuguese boss was constantly chopping and changing his first eleven.
For the third consecutive Premier League match, however, he used the same starting 11
Eric Dier, Cristian Romero and Oliver Skipp seem to complement each others as a central defense partnership, while Pierre Emile–Hojbjerg and Pierre Skipp both provide strong protection for the defenders.
Santo appears to have found the right central foundations for his side. With Kane and Son leading the Tottenham line, Santo seems to have found his feet and his strongest team.
West Ham is one of London’s most coveted dogs
Tottenham Hotspur may have enjoyed the lions share of possession, but for the most part of the game, it was Moyes’ side who were in control.
Santo’s side came into the contest just one point above the Hammers, however, the East Londoners had scored more goals and conceded less than Spurs.
Antonio is third in goalscoring in the division while Declan Rice ranks as the best player in the whole division.
In recent Premier League history, there have been very few occasions when West Ham and Spurs looked so similar on paper as on the pitch.
It is remarkable to think Moyes took over the Hammers when they were 17th in the Premier League table – last season Chelsea were the only London club to finish above them.
Moyes’s current crop of clarets and blues has been a success. If they can continue to fight on all fronts, they will be one of the big boys of London.
Romero beaten by Antonio, Antonio wins.
You can’t prepare for all the challenges Michail Antonio will throw at you.
Christian Romero trains with the little Argentinean every international break, but even he struggled against West Ham’s Jamaican diamond.
Mohamed Salah has scored five goals and provided three assists in seven Premier League matches. Jamie Vardy is the only player who has more Premier League golden boots than Antonio.
Antonio was a dominant figure in the summer signing. He won everything, pinned him down to keep the ball up and spun off the ex-Atalanta man to score passes.
Antonio’s dribbling and running ability is the best aspect of his game.
Antonio is one of the few players who can create more variety and challenges than Antonio. The Argentinean cultured will be happy to not face Antonio again this season.
Fornals and Fornals meet
Romero was probably frustrated by his fight with Antonio and received a yellow ticket in the 60 ThMinute.
Pablo Fornals was fouled by the ex-Atalanta star and he appeared to be upset.
Fornals immediately jumped up and got in the face of the £42m man, before both players were separated by their teammates.
After their separation, Kane and Dier brought Romero side-by-side and appeared to give him words of wisdom.
They almost resemblanced a father/uncle taking their child’s bad behavior to the side for a telling off.
Romero was sent off for either his foul or comment. He was required to play in the final 30 minutes of the match on the edge of a sending-off.