Three classic wins against Spurs to give cause for optimism

With just eight games to go to cement their Premier League status for another season, a trip to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur awaits for West Ham United this Tuesday evening.

While things are looking bleak in the eyes of Hammers fans right now, a sense of optimism can be found at the bottom of the barrel by looking at recent games against Spurs, many of which were memorable victories.

It is a cliche that in derbies, all form goes out of the window, and this relates to none more so than when West Ham take on the Lilywhites.

Here are three classic throwbacks in recent times where the Hammers have managed to get one over on their heated neighbours.

1) Tottenham 0-3 West Ham (2013)

This match will always be remembered for the “Sam Allardici masterclass”.

As Big Sam lined up away at White Hart Lane with no strikers on the pitch, nobody – including West Ham fans – gave the Hammers much of a chance, other than the occasional throw-in.

What was to come, though, will forever be embedded into the Irons’ history books, as the impossible did a complete U-turn.

After holding their own in the first half with a respectable goalless draw, most of the away end would have snapped your hand off for the result to finish that way.

Allardyce and his players thought differently, however, as Winston Reid thumped home from close range to give West Ham the lead. Ricardo Vaz Te got a lucky ricochet to double their advantage before something special happened.

The mercurial Ravel Morrison picked the ball up in his own half prior to dancing his way through a dizzy Spurs defence before delicately chipping the ball over Hugo Lloris to seal a famous victory for the Hammers.

2) West Ham 1-0 Tottenham (2017)

In what was a difficult adjustment season for West Ham in their debut season at London Stadium, this was a special game for two reasons.

It was the game which effectively sealed the Hammers’ fate in their quest for survival, but also had an effect on Spurs’ season, as it – similarly to the season prior – helped them wave farewell to another shot at the Premier League title.

Manuel Lanzini scored the only goal of the game in the 65th minute to break Tottenham hearts once more, in which was the crowning moment of an otherwise dismal season for the Hammers.

While a victory against Spurs this time around may not quite seal their fate yet, it could well prove a gigantic boost – both in terms of points and morale – to give themselves a platform to maintain their top-flight status.

3) Tottenham 0-1 West Ham (2019)

Undefeated at your brand-spanking-new stadium without even conceding a goal? No problem.

It what now seems a lifetime ago, Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham rocked up at The Tottenham Hotspur stadium and usurped the home side, becoming the first team to do so in the process.

The day brought back memories of the Hammers’ victory at the Emirates against Arsenal in 2007, as they also became the first side to defeat the Gunners at their shiny, new stadium too.

Like the previous two mentioned victories, the winning goal came in the second half, with Michail Antonio – not for the first time – becoming the man to bring the north London club back down a peg or two.

It was a wonderfully worked goal, as Marko Arnautovic picked the ball up on the wing before crossing in a delightful ball for Antonio to latch on to as he ferociously fired home to send the away end into euphoria.

While the light at the end of the tunnel may be dim right now, if there is one team that West Ham United can achieve an impossible victory against – it is Tottenham Hostpur.