West Ham travel to North London this weekend for a first visit to Spurs’ new home. They need to believe they can be the first to win there.
I may preface this with no offence to Brighton but I hope they don’t win there tonight. Yes it may signal that Spurs are on a bit of poor form and after losing 2 games in a few days it may feel like all is lost but I’d much rather leave them with the fact that West Ham are the first team to beat them at their new stadium for all eternity. Or until they build another one.
When Bobby Zamora latched on to the lofted through ball and lobbed the ball over Lehmann in the Arsenal goal to send the Hammers into the lead, there still weren’t many who thought we would hang on to become the first team to beat the Gunners at their new stadium. The same level of doubt hangs over this current side as they look to spoil Spurs’ unbeaten start to their new home.
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Some of you, if you do listen to our podcast, will remember that I said it was petty to look at these kind of achievements as a mark of a good or bad season. And I still stand by that. Whatever you think of our season though, it’s always good to be able to get one over on your rivals. And I’d rather a mediocre season with a win at Spurs, than a mediocre win without it.
However even without Kane up front our North London based rivals are a quality side. Not many teams in any league would have the beating of Manchester City over two legs, and they must be riding that Champions League win high even despite losing to the same opponents in the league at the weekend. If they beat Brighton tonight then they will also be in a great position to secure Champions League football for next season as well, so morale will be high.
If the Hammers want to cause an upset and give their fans something to cheer about late in the season then there can’t be any slacking. Arnautovic has to actually run for the ball like it’s a pay rise, and Antonio can’t treat possession as though it’s easy to get back. Spurs will be desperate to not to have their first defeat at the new stadium be to a London rival. And the Hammers must play on that desperation to make sure it happens.