Spurs held at West Ham and miss chance to go fourth

Tottenham missed the chance to move into the Premier League top four after being held by West Ham at a rain-soaked London Stadium.

Spurs were left frustrated in a game where both sides showed endeavour but lacked a cutting edge.

It meant Ange Postecoglou’s side remain two points off Aston Villa in fourth.

West Ham, meanwhile, stay seventh as both Newcastle and Wolves failed to win and overhaul David Moyes’ side in the Europa Conference League qualification place.

Tottenham led when Johnson – brought in as one of three changes to the Spurs starting line-up from Saturday’s win over Luton – turned in from close range after Timo Werner was allowed space to get in behind the left side of West Ham’s defence to fire in a low cross.

But West Ham responded well, and their tactics of swinging in corners to put Spurs goalkeeper Gigi Vicario under pressure worked when Jarrod Bowen’s set-piece was nodded in from five yards by Zouma.

The hosts came closest to finding a winner after the break, but Michail Antonio shot straight at Vicario after the Jamaican international had overpowered Micky van de Ven to get one-on-one with the keeper.

Vicario impresses but set-piece struggles continue

With the promise of fourth place on offer, Spurs came out of the traps quicker than in recent games. Their fifth-minute opener came after their previous 12 league goals were all scored in the second halves of matches, a run dating back to 3 February.

But an old weakness reared its head again as they conceded from a corner dropped on top of Vicario, who had twice punched unconvincingly at earlier set-pieces.

The Italian has largely impressed following his move from Empoli last summer and made more crucial saves here – flying to his left for a two-handed stop from a James Ward-Prowse first-half free-kick and then denying Antonio twice after the break.

But corners remain a weakness which he and Spurs must address.

At the other end, the visitors struggled to put together many coherent attacks after conceding, with only three shots on target following Johnson’s strike.

Destiny Udogie spurned the clearest chance in second-half stoppage time, volleying straight at Lukasz Fabianski.

Spurs never looked likely to achieve the two-goal margin of victory they needed to overhaul Villa, who face Manchester City on Wednesday at Etihad Stadium.

Bowen shines but defensive frailties hurt Hammers

Moyes will have wanted a response from West Ham after the galling 4-3 defeat at Newcastle, having been two goals ahead with 15 minutes remaining. Despite the early goal conceded, his team delivered.

Things had looked positive when Mohammed Kudus pressed high to win the ball back near the Spurs area, before crossing from the left for Bowen to fire wide from a good position.

Seconds later the Hammers switched off in defence and Spurs led, another example of the frailties which have frustrated fans in this campaign.

Moyes’ men have now conceded 55 league goals this season, the same number as the whole of 2022-23, and are without a clean sheet in 11 matches.

But there is clearly some fire in this West Ham side, sparked by the inspirational Bowen who raised a taunting fist in defiance at the away fans after delivering the dead-ball routine for Zouma’s equaliser.

The hosts went on to create the better chances, but could not find the winner.