West Ham United 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs got back to winning ways in impressive style today with a 2-3 win over struggling West Ham at the London Stadium.
Of course, the build-up to this Premier League matchup was all about the arrival of Jose Mourinho, and it was a pretty special start for one of the most decorated head coaches in football.
The Premier League 2019 betting odds here at SBOBET pointed to a happy return to Premier League management for the Special One, and it was an exciting clash as the Lilywhites raced to a three-goal lead minutes after half-time.
The Hammers pulled one back late in the game and scored a second in the 96th minute, but they never really looked like stopping Spurs’ charge up the table from 14th to sixth. That will change over the weekend, but for now, it’s the perfect start for the new manager.
The pre-match Premier League 2019 news was dominated by Jose, but this defeat leaves West Ham in 16th place. And now, Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini looks to be in a whole heap of trouble. Not even his team’s spirited effort in the last 20 minutes may have saved him.
Highlights of the game
After a seven-match winless streak, the nerves around the London Stadium were clear to see. West Ham were almost shredded when Harry Kane fired Dele Alli’s perfect pass into the roof of the net on four minutes, only for the linesman’s flag to go up. The England skipper was inches offside.
Hammers striker Sebastien Haller had gone four games without scoring, and he had the hosts’ first attempt on goal. He met a cross from Ryan Fredericks, but his header was easily collected by Spurs keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Heung-Min Son had a curling effort saved, but he was the man to score the first goal in the Jose Mourinho era on 36 minutes. Dele Alli passed to Son on the left and the Korean blasted the ball past West Ham goalkeeper Roberto.
The keeper made a howler in the Hammers’ 3-0 defeat to Burnley last time out, and he looked a bag of nerves today. Son’s effort went close to the stopper, and maybe he should have made the save.
A couple of minutes later, Alli fired a low shot narrowly wide. And just before half-time, it was 0-2 at the end of a great Spurs move. Alli did well to keep the ball in play and when he released Son, the goalscorer turned provider to pick out Lucas Moura at the far post to slide the ball home.
It was hard to see a way back for West Ham from two goals down, and four minutes after the break it was game over. Serge Aurier swung a beautiful cross over and Harry Kane did what Harry Kane does, beating his marker and powering a header home.
Michail Antonio gave the home fans in the 59,000 crowd something to cheer on 73 minutes. He took a pass from Mark Noble and fired past Gazzaniga to give the Hammers a tiny glimmer of hope.
Another West Ham effort was ruled offside before Angelo Ogbonna scored a last-gasp consolation. But it was all just a little too late as the Hammers sunk to their fifth defeat in their last six league games.
Key statistics
Spurs’ last game under Mauricio Pochettino was a home match against Sheffield United. That ended in frustration, but it’s all smiles at Tottenham now after their new coach guided them to a first away win in 13 Premier League games, the last coming back in January.
The Hammers have now gone eight games without a win and their upcoming fixture list looks daunting.
Jose likes playing against West Ham; he has won 12 of his 17 games against the Eastenders as a coach, and Spurs have won four of their last six games away to the Hammers.
What’s next?
Now Mourinho can turn his attention to the Champions League as Spurs face Olympiakos at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday. A win against the bottom team in Group B would see Spurs in a very strong position to take a round of 16 place.
Spurs haven’t won a trophy since 2008, but have had two golden chances. One in the 2016 Premier League title run-in when they bottled it, letting 5000-to-1 shots Leicester make history. And then last season they mystifyingly failed to turn up in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Jose likes the Champions League. He has won Europe’s premier tournament as head coach of both Porto and Inter Milan.
The pressure on Manuel Pellegrini is increasing and his team now has two very difficult away fixtures against Chelsea and Wolves up next.
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