Tottenham v West Ham - Live

11 April 2009 13:54
90 + 4 Spurs win a corner, but it's all over. The final whistle blows and West Ham's unbeaten run comes to an end. Thanks for joining me today, and we'll see you again next week. 90 + 4 Collins has been booked, although I can't see what for. 90 + 3 Stanislas is on hand to stop Lennon playing in Modric. The better option was to Keane, but he ignored that. 90 + 2 Woodgate was the man who blocked that last effort from Di Michele. Two minutes to go. 90 + 1 Di Michele turns once, twice, thrice and then sees his shot blocked. He tried to do too mcuh in the end to get the perfect shot. 90 Spurs broke with a three-on-two advantage, but Zokora gives the ball away when he overruns it. Huddlestone goes down under a challenge as he frees Zokora and there will be four minutes of injury time. Noble is booked for the challenge. 88 Into the final few minutes and West Ham have a free kick from an offside. Green will pump it in to the Spurs half. 87 Collins clears the ball off the line from Keane as Green races off his line to dive at the feet of Lennon after he was played in by Pavlyuchenko. 87 Modric tries to flick the ball round the corner to Lennon, but West Ham come away with it. Sears slips over for the second time in as many minutes as he chases a backpass to Gomes. 86 Di Michele looks for Sears, but Gomes is out quickly to smother the ball. 85 About five minutes to play here. Can West Ham grab a point. They are now almost 4-2-4 as they try to get back into it. 84 West Ham make their final substitute as Tristan is replaced by Freddie Sears. 82 Spurs are happy to knock the ball from side to side and front to back to stop West Ham regaining posession. 81 The wall does its job and Huddlestone's free kick is knocked behind by Dyer for a corner. 81 Gomes kicks the ball long out of his hands towards Pavlyuchenko who is bundled over by Upson. Free kick to Spurs, four men in the wall... 80 Record signing Savio comes on to replace Tomkins for the final 10 minutes. 79 Green is at full stretch to deny Lennon. It is a poor cross from the left wing, but Green has to get a left hand to tip it over the bar or else it would have crept in. 77 Corluka brings the ball down the Spurs right, but Stanislas and Dyer clear the danger. Dyer picks out Neill who wins a throw 18 yards from the Spurs goal. Noble's cross is knocked away by King. 76 Just about 15 minutes left here. Huddlestone launches a volley clear and Upson does well to clear it before it bounces. He could have been in all kinds of trouble if he didn't hit that clear. 75 Pavlyuchenko strays offside but the flag stays down and Spurs play on. Tristan flicks the ball on to Dyer, but he drags his shot badly past the right post of Gomes. 73 Modric's corner is past Woodgate and Assou-Ekotto and it will go all the way out for a throw-in on the other side. 72 Keane holds off Upson and finds Zokoro. Modric and Assou-Ekotto link up on the left wing and Lennon tries an elaborate backheel, but Modric is offside. 70 Kieron Dyer replaces Luis Boa Morte. 69 Spurs move the ball from the right wing to their left. Lennon, Modric and Huddlestone come back the other way, but Neill finally breaks posession up. 67 West Ham win a throw-in on the far side as Kieron Dyer warms up. 66 Zakora comes close to getting his first goal for Spurs. He takes the ball on and drives it wide of Green's right post. OK, 'close' may be a slight fabrication, but it is probably as close as he is going to get today. He hasn't scored in six years. 64 GOAL PAVLYUCHENKO. Roman Pavlyuchenko fires Spurs into a 1-0 lead. Modric lays the ball into the substitute's path who has his back to goal six yards out. He turns around his left shoulder and fires low past Green. Smart finish and 1-0 to the hosts. 62 Lennon and Keane move the ball right to left along the edge of the West Ham box and Huddlestone tests Green again. The 'keeper parries it away. 61 Di Michele is next to go into Martin Atkinson's book. 60 Just past the hour mark here. I'm sure this game does have a goal in it, but Modric can not keep the ball in play. Goal kick to West Ham. 59 Pavlyuchenko can't get enough on his header to trouble Gomes. Di Michele gets clean through on Green after spinning away from Woodgate, but his shot is weak. A fantastic chance goes begging for Spurs. 57 Roman Pavlyuchenko replaces Darren Bent. Is this the change in ideas I just mentioned? 56 Neill is now booked for a foul on Modric. It probably is a foul, but certainly harsh to be booked for it. Spurs free kick. 55 Zokora is booked for a late tackle on Neill as Boa Morte underhits his pass. 54 Coming up to 10 minutes in to the second half and still 0-0. The game needs inspiration from somewhere and it has hit a temporary stalemate. 52 Di Michele's cross is headed away by Woodgate. Good pressure here from West Ham as Spurs look uneasy at the back. 51 Huddlestone puts an early ball into the box from the Spurs left wing from a throw-in, but it is off Upton for a corner. The corner comes to nothing and Green claims. 50 Corluka finds himself in time and space, but his final ball is lacking. On the next attack, Collins has to be at full stretch to divert an attempted pass behind for a corner. he's had a good game. 49 Assou-Ekotto skips clear of Boa Morte with a turn of pace. he thinks he is fouled, but it is waved away on the edge of the box. 47 Excellent work from Aaron Lennon to carry the ball into danger. Huddlestone's cross along the ground is cut out and cleared by Noble. 46 West Ham come out passing the ball crisply but Di Michele's pass goes out for a throw-in. 45 Yes, Jenas has picked up a hamstring problem and Didier Zokora will come on in his place. It's an enforced change. The two sides are coming back onto the pitch. Let's hope this half has some goals in it. I can't see Jenas on the pitch, so I'll see if there are any changes at the break. What did you think of the first half? Email me here at ashley.marshall@bskyb.com with your views, opinions and comments. Tottenham are 5/6 to win the match now with Sky Bet. West Ham are 9/2 and a draw is 13/8. 45 + 2 The first half of few opportunities comes to a close. 45 + 1 Boa Morte is booked after another clumsy challenge here in stoppage time. Modric will take the Spurs free-kick from the left wing, 20 yards from goal, but West Ham defend deep and clear their lines. 45 There will be two minutes of stoppage time. 45 Stanislas dinks the ball over Woodgate and King towards Di Michele, but once again it skips off the pitch quickly and through to Gomes. 44 Upson and Ilunga get the ball out of their own penalty box after lennon had carried the ball from his own half and found Assou-Ekotto in acres of space on this near touchline. 43 I'm not too sure what Jenas was trying there. Keane played the ball into his feet 20 yards from goal on the right hand side and he bent a cross-cum-shot well wide. No white shirts were in sight and that was a bit of a waste with so many Spurs players forward. 42 Stanislas does well to force a cross from their left wing but it deceives everyone, including his own team mate Tristan who can not reach it. 41 Huddlestone takes a first time pass in between two defenders and tries to shoot first time on the half volley. It was always asking a lot and it sails over the bar. 40 Tomkins crosses the ball towards Stanislas at the back post, but Gomez is out to snag it out of the air. West Ham are getting back into the game. 39 Lennon switches from right to left but fails to latch on the second part of a one-two with Modric. 38 Keane finds Lennon who takes the ball down well. He receives the return ball but gives it away and West Ham attack. Di Michele chooses to shoot rather than lay it off to Stanislas and the Hammers have a corner. 37 Corluka heads the free-kick upwards and it falls to Di Michele who hits another sweet left-footed volley. Gomez parries and King just about does enough to bundle it clear. 35 Di Michele gets away from King and skips inside. Jenas takes him down and it is a free-kick to West ham, apart 35 yards from goal. 34 Modric picks out Assou-Ekotto and he flicks the ball to the back post towards Bent. Bent rises well and glances it inches wide. If it was on target, I don't think Green was saving it. 32 Huddlestone and Keane both force good saves out of Green in the West Ham goal. Keane's was the better of the efforts and Green had to react quickly to turn the deflected shot behind for a corner. 31 Huddlestone has his ankles clipped by Boa Morte. Foul number five and still no booking. The referee points out the offences to Boa Morte and gives him a final warning. 29 Boa Morte is back on his feet and the game restarts. West Ham have worked hard so far and their forwards have tracked back well. Approaching the 30-minute mark, still 0-0. 28 Boa Morte is receiving treatment for the challenge with Gomez. It looked like he may have landed on his shoulder. I'll keep you updated. 27 Di Michele takes the ball off off Corluka's foot in the West Ham area. At the other end Gomez reads the danger of Boa Morte steaming into the box and he comes out bravely to punch clear. 26 Tristan is judged to have jumped into Assou-Ekotto and Spurs have a free kick. 25 Keane gets the ball of the edge of the 18-yard box. He takes a touch, moves it onto his right foot and curls a shot wide of Green's left-hand post. 25 minutes played here and Spurs have nothing to show for their posession. I've just seen the second penalty shout on the replay and it's shoulder-to-shoulder contact as Keane skipped between Boa Morte and Tomkins. Decent decision. 24 Boa Morte tackles Keane to help out Tomkins and Keane appeals for a second penalty. Same result though as it is waved off. West Ham break. 23 Another corner to Spurs from the far side but again it is a West Ham player to react first. 21 Penalty shout for Spurs. Keane heads the corner downwards and it bounces up and into Tomkin's' arm. No intent and the ref not interested. 20 Corluka uses kick feet to get the ball to Lennon and Ilunga blocks the cross for a corner. 19 Hammers' keeper Green kicks the ball into touch from a goal kick. His kicking has not started off too promising. Spurs throw. 18 Boa Morte fouls Jenas again and the referee has another word with him. Meanwhile Ilunga clears the danger created by Modric's chipped cross from the left. Boa morte walking the tightrope early on. One more and he could find himself in the book. 16 Huddlestone's cross is poor, but he wins a corner off of Tomkins. Modric's corner is headed clear to Huddlestone, but he bows to the fans' shouts to shoot and he slices it well wide. 15 Assou-Ekotto's cross from the left wing is header clear by Collins, but only as far as a white shirt. Spurs switch the play to the right, but give it away to Ilunga. 14 Green's goal kick goes over the head of his target Stanislas and out for a Spurs throw-in level with their own penalty area. 13 Ilunga handles the ball as it cannons back off Woodgate about 25 yards from goal. 13 Noble chips the ball into Boa Morte's path but Woodgate is strong and he holds him off to win the free kick. 12 Boa Morte beats Corluka and puts in a ball from the West Ham left wing. Stanislas gambles near post as the ball drifts past the back. 11 Stanislas whips an inviting ball from the right wing and Di Michele takes it on the volley on his left foot from a tight angle. It was never troubling Gomes, but a decent effort. 9 Modric's free kick lacks direction and Green collects it on the edge of his six-yard box. 9 Modric is fouled by Bob Morte after riding the first challenge from Tomkins on this left hand wing, half way inside the West Ham half. 8 Stanislas twists and turns his way into the Spurs area, but Huddlestone is on hand to win the ball back for the hosts. Better from the Hammers. 7 Lucas Neill wins the ball cleanly from Modric as King and Ekotto worked the ball down the line, playing it out from the back. 6 Modric tries to send Assou-Ekotto on his way down the left flank, but it is slightly overhit and Tomkins ushers it behind for a goal kick. 5 Noble sends a through-ball down the middle from midfield and Gomes has to rush off his line to kick it into the stands. 4 The opening moments are all Spurs. West Ham have not really had the ball out of their own half and Tottenham are controlling the pace nicely. 3 Lennon lets the ball run across his body, but his strike does not match the build-up as he fires high and wide. 2 Modric is keen to get involved again down the left wing and he finds Lennon on the right flank. Spurs play the ball backwards and nothing is on. 1 Modric tries to pick out Bent on the far side of the pitch with a cross-field pass behind Upson, but it skips off the slick surface for a goal kick. 1 West Ham get the game started, playing from left to right. The teams are out on the field and we are just about ready to get things underway. Spurs will play in white shirts and dark shorts, with West Ham in their traditional claret and blue. Daniel Seery added: "I think the Hammers should have enough about them to get a draw today. White Hart Lane is not happy hunting ground for us but hopefully today Zola can help change that. 1-1" Ron Robinson says: "The bookmakers have got this seriously wrong. How can Spurs, six points worse off with West Ham, be odds on to beat a team bang in form...the bet has to be 4/1 West Ham. A 2-1 win predicted. From a happy Liverpool fan, sitting outside in the sunshine at New Brighton, looking to win some money." What do you think? Email me here at ashley.marshall@bskyb.com Just over five minutes to kick off here at the Lane. Sanchit Gupta has emailed in to say: "I am a Spurs fan, and I think Harry Redknapp is fielding a strong side against the hammers, who always have been tough to play against. A classic 4-4-2 seems like a sound tactic. We need this win to stand any chance of a European Qualification." A couple of milestones today on either side. Jermaine Jenas is making his 250th Premier League appearance, while Matthew Upson is appearing in his 200th top flight league game and Mark Noble is making his 100th career start for West Ham. For those who would like a little bit more creativity with their bets, how about Darren Bent to score the only goal in a 1-0 home win (18/1) or David Di Michele to find the net in a 2-1 away win. Sky Bet are offering 80/1 on the latter. Tottenham are 8/11 to win with Sky Bet, while West Ham are 4/1 to snatch all three points. The odds of a draw are 5/2. West Ham come into today's game unbeaten in their last five, while Spurs saw their six-match unbeaten streak ended away at Blackburn last weekend. There are just 12 miles and six points between the two clubs and both sides have been playing well enough to consider the possibility of playing European football in 2010. What do you think of today's team selection? Will West Ham keep their impressive Premier League run going? Can Spurs put last week's defeat behind them? Email me at ashley.marshall@bskyb.com with your views and thoughts and I'll publish the best online here before kick off and at half time. West Ham midfielders Scott Parker (groin) and Radoslav Kovac (thigh) both failed late tests and strikers Carlton Cole (groin) and Dean Ashton (ankle) and midfielders Valon Behrami and Jack Collison (both knee) all remain unavailable. Jermain Defoe (foot) is out but near a return to training, Alan Hutton (foot) is back with the reserves after being sidelined and Aaron Lennon (groin) passed a late fitness test. Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire). West Ham: Green, Collins, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Stanislas, Neill, Noble, Boa Morte, Tristan, Di Michele. Subs: Lastuvka, Lopez, Dyer, Nsereko, Sears, Payne, N'Gala. Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Modric, Bent, Keane. Subs: Cudicini, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Dawson, Chimbonda. Here are the lineups in full: The team news is in, and the main change is Tom Huddlestone coming in for the suspended Wilson Palacios. Good afternoon and welcome to today's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Tottenham and West Ham from White Hart Lane.

Source: SKY_Sports