4 hours ago
8
Fresh from taking the extraordinary step of calling for resignations at the top of their club, perhaps the next step for West Ham’s Fan Advisory Board is to issue a vote of no confidence in their team’s defence. There is no other way to put it: this was another shocker from Graham Potter’s dreadful side. They were humiliated again in a big London derby and while this result could be interpreted as Tottenham embracing their newfound pursuit of sporting success after their recent boardroom bloodletting, it is worth pointing out that there was no kinder way to start life without Daniel Levy than with a trip to the London Stadium.
This unhappy ground had emptied out long before the end. The expressions were grim when the cameras picked out David Sullivan, West Ham’s largest shareholder, and Karren Brady, the vice-chair, in the directors’ box. They are presiding over an utter mess and it was hard to disagree with the assessment of the travelling Spurs fans, who spent most of the second half here telling West Ham that they will be playing in the Championship next season.
The revelry in the away end was deserved. There was much to like about Spurs as they continued their fine start under Thomas Frank. Xavi Simons marked his debut with an assist for Pape Matar Sarr’s opener, Lucas Bergvall scored a peach shortly after West Ham lost Tomas Soucek to a red card and the only consolation for Potter was that the visitors eased off after Micky van de Ven made it 3-0 in the 64th minute.
Members of the Lewis family were in attendance for the first game since Levy’s removal as chair and were perhaps mulling over an interesting lineup from Frank, who started Simons on the left flank, rested Richarlison after his exertions for Brazil during the international break and deployed Mathys Tel up front despite leaving the Frenchman out of his squad for the Champions League.
Perhaps it would have played out differently if Lucas Paquetá had taken an early chance to give West Ham the lead. In truth, though, Spurs were by far the better team once they recovered from a slow start. They were fitter, faster and smarter in every area, particularly with Mohammed Kudus making it his mission to show West Ham what they lost in the creative department when he left for £54.5m last summer.
The barracking of Kudus from the home fans was no surprise but he did not hide. He constantly tested West Ham from the right and thought he had an assist when his corner was headed in by Cristian Romero in the 19th minute, only for the goal to be disallowed for a push by Van de Ven on Kyle Walker-Peters.
Spurs took a while to find their flow. Tel was on the fringes and set pieces looked the likeliest route to goal. Spurs repeatedly crowded the six-yard box, testing West Ham’s resolve. The pressure grew. Mads Hermansen saved well after Kudus fashioned an opening for Van de Ven.
Spurs had started to dominate the middle, Bergvall impressive in an advanced role, stifling West Ham’s ponderous central midfield of Soucek and James Ward-Prowse. Cracks appeared. The defending when Spurs went ahead in the 47th minute was mystifying. It came from a corner from the left. There were a posse of Spurs players at the far post when Simons delivered but no West Ham player reacted. They merely gawped as Sarr, who did not even have to jump, sent the freest of headers past Hermansen.
after newsletter promotion
Four of West Ham’s 11 concessions in their first four games have come from corners. What a feeble team. It was over as a contest when Soucek, trying to recover from a heavy touch, was sent off for a challenge on João Palhinha so bad it ripped the midfielder’s sock in two.
That was close as West Ham got to putting up a fight. Soon it was 2-0, Romero lifting a gorgeous diagonal ball over the top, Bergvall making a late run from midfield and looping an audacious header over Hermansen.
Another humiliation beckoned. Spurs ran riot, pouring forward, the third goal arriving when Bergvall pushed up again and teed up Van de Ven to slam home.
