West Ham break in new White Heart Lane with 1-0 win
By Adam Smith
Leave it to the Hammers to not only score the first goal at the new White Hart Lane but also to be the first team to win there too. West Ham looked up for a match and every player contributed to the amazing performance.
The nerves weren’t really there before the game. West Ham were hard done by referee’s in their past two games forcing the Irons to lose a minimum of four points, but the team was playing well. The reinjection of Arthur Masuaku and Michail Antonio after spells on the bench seemed to add more skill, speed, and swagger to the squad.
It was more of the same in this match, too. Tottenham were looking to funnel the game down the left side of the pitch, picking on Ryan Fredericks and Antonio with the stacking of Davies, Rose, Moura, and Son on this side of the field.
West Ham, on the other hand, were looking to get the ball to Felipe Anderson down the left side of their team to take on youngster Foyth. Anderson got the better of him all match long but failed to find the score sheet. His best chance came early on a well-worked ball that sprung the Brazilian in along but his shot was scuffed and saved.
The stars of this game were easy to spot. Mark Noble ran the midfield, Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena were amazing at centre-back, and Michail Antonio was a beast on the wing.
West Ham got their central duo back for this game after Ogbonna left Diop on the bench for a few matches. He didn’t miss a beat in his return with his old partner Balbuena, as his telescopic legs made crucial tackles, and his height factored in all game.
Balbuena is extremely physical and good in the air. His stay-at-home presence allows for Diop to maraud up the pitch when he sees an opportunity, and late in this match, the duo did just that. Diop found himself rushing out of the defensive zone… then across half… then into the Tottenham end… and eventually on goal alone shooting just wide of the post. It was an awesome run to cap off a tremendous performance.
The stand out star in this match was truly Michail Antonio. He played rightwing but often jumped up beside Arnautovic as almost a secondary striker. He ran his legs off all match and earned the goal for the Hammers.
After taking a stalemate into the break and burst out of the gates in the second half. Spurs had the majority of possession in this match but West Ham seemingly had the better chances. 67 minutes in and West Ham had their just desserts. Antonio and Arnautovic swapped positions and after a perfectly weighted cross over the first defender, Antonio blasted home the ball.
West Ham fans aptly celebrated, falling all over themselves in ecstatic celebration. West Ham were up in the match on a historic first goal in this rivalry.
The match played out with the Hammers continuing to pressure for more goals. Diop had his incredible run, Antonio continued to get out in front, and the team held onto the ball and penned in Spurs. It was a game that West Ham didn’t need to win but one they clearly wanted to. It’s a glimmer of hope and another step in the right direction. A performance to build upon.