The Spurs’ resurgence in the second half proved too much for West Ham to handle, as they came away with a convincing 4-1 victory in the Premier League showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday.
The London derby was expected to be a closely contested affair, but a stunning second-half display from the Spurs saw them score three goals in eight minutes, silencing the Hammers’ hopes of an upset. The win, which was inspired by a clinical edge in the final third of the pitch, marked a significant turnaround from Spurs’ previous match against Brighton, where they squandered a 2-0 lead.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was visibly thrilled with his team’s performance, describing it as “outstanding” and praising the energy, quality, and clinical finish of the players. The Greek coach also reserved special praise for his talisman, Heung-Min Son, who returned from injury to net in the fourth goal and reached 250 goal contributions for the club, and praised the impact of Dejan Kulusevski, who scored twice.
The 4-1 win was a much-needed response after Spurs’ disappointing draw against Brighton, and one that should give the team a much-needed boost in confidence. Postecoglou’s assessment of the team’s performance summed up the key to success, stating that if they continue to show that clinical edge in the final third, they will be a difficult team for opponents to beat.
While the players were elated with the result, there was an acknowledgment that there were areas that needed improvement, particularly in defense. An own goal from an unmarked opponent put West Ham on the scoreboard, but it was a rare bright spot for the Hammers in what was otherwise a dominant performance from the Spurs.
The win marked a significant recovery from the first half, where Spurs struggled to find their rhythm, and Postecoglou credited the substitution of Pape Sarr, who made an impact on the game, for helping to alter the tactical narrative.
In the end, Tottenham Hotspur displayed a ruthless finishing ability, scoring four times in 24 minutes to leave West Ham pondering what could have been. The win is a welcome respite from the disappointment of recent weeks and a timely reminder of the team’s potential to produce a dominant performance.
