Tottenham Hotspur cruised to a 3-0 victory over West Ham United, fueled by Pape Matar Sarr’s opener, Tomas Soucek’s red card, and goals from Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven. Xavi Simons impressed on his debut, while West Ham’s struggles under Potter deepened, leaving them in the relegation zone.
Tottenham Hotspur delivered a commanding performance against West Ham United at the London Stadium, securing a decisive 3-0 victory in their Premier League encounter. The match, initially balanced, swung dramatically in Spurs' favor during the second half, showcasing their clinical execution and tactical superiority.
The breakthrough came swiftly after the restart when Pape Matar Sarr headed in from a corner, unsettling West Ham's defense. Shortly after, Tomas Soucek's red card further compounded the Hammers' woes, leaving them a man down for a significant portion of the match. Spurs capitalized on this advantage, with Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven adding to the scoreline, sealing a comprehensive win.
West Ham's lineup saw Graham Earthy sidelined, while manager Graham Potter opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Mads Hermansen guarded the goal, supported by a defensive pairing of Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman. Former Spurs player Kyle Walker-Peters and Malick Diouf patrolled the flanks. James Ward-Prowse partnered Soucek in midfield, with Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes, and Crysencio Summerville supporting Lucas Paqueta upfront. This tactical choice by Potter, positioning Paqueta as the primary striker, raised eyebrows, considering the availability of Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson on the bench.
Tottenham, under the guidance of Thomas Frank, faced their own squad challenges. Key players like Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Radu Dragusin were absent due to cruciate ligament injuries. Dominic Solanke, Yves Bissouma, and Kota Takai were also unavailable. Guglielmo Vicario started in goal, with Djed Spence and Pedro Porro as fullbacks, while Cristian Romero and Van de Ven formed the central defensive partnership. Joao Palhinha anchored the midfield, flanked by Sarr and Bergvall. The attacking trio comprised Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, and former West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus.
The first half saw West Ham start with purpose, with Paqueta and Bowen leading their offensive efforts. However, Tottenham gradually asserted their dominance in possession, creating opportunities through set-pieces and crosses. Romero even had a goal disallowed due to a foul in the buildup. West Ham's attacks were limited to occasional flashes from Summerville, Diouf and Bowen, failing to truly test the Spurs' defense.
The game turned decisively in the second half. Sarr's unmarked header from a corner early in the half exposed West Ham's vulnerability at set-pieces. The situation worsened when Soucek's reckless challenge on Joao Palhinha resulted in a straight red card. This dismissal disrupted West Ham's shape and handed Tottenham complete control of the midfield and the match.
Capitalizing on their numerical advantage, Tottenham extended their lead. Bergvall scored his first Premier League goal, heading in from a long ball, further demoralizing the home side. Van de Ven then added a third, sweeping a shot past Hermansen after a build-up involving Bergvall.
With a comfortable lead, Tottenham controlled the remainder of the match, denying West Ham any chance of a comeback. The visitors introduced fresh legs to maintain their grip on the game and ensure a clean sheet. The final scoreline accurately reflected Tottenham's dominance and clinical execution, particularly in the second half.
Xavi Simons, making his debut for Spurs following a €60 million move from RB Leipzig, played a crucial role, providing the assist for the opening goal. Despite some missed chances, his overall performance was promising, showcasing his creativity and willingness to take initiative. With 50 touches, 84.4% pass accuracy, 1 dribble, 1 tackle, 7 crosses attempted, and 1 header won, it marks the beginning of a potential star in the making under Frank's leadership.
West Ham's struggles under Potter continue, with their league position and points tally raising concerns. Potter's tactical adjustments, including a switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation, have yielded limited success. The absence of a disciplined defensive midfielder like Edson Alvarez, who was allowed to leave in the summer, was keenly felt. Questions also linger over Potter's decision to start Paqueta as the striker, leaving Fullkrug and Wilson on the bench until late in the game.
West Ham now find themselves in the relegation zone, sitting in 18th place. Potter acknowledged the fans' frustration and recognizes the mounting pressure to turn things around. Positive results against Crystal Palace and Everton are crucial to alleviate the pressure. Things are looking up for Spurs as they are in second place with nine points, Frank will begin their Champions League campaign next week as the Europa League winners against La Liga side Villarreal on Tuesday evening. After that, Spurs travel to face Brighton at the Amex.