After a fortnight spent stewing over one of those classic Tottenham collapses there came this perfect remedy for Ange Postecoglou.
Four goals to inspire his first victory over any of his team’s biggest London rivals, an emphatic response to questions about character raised by the manner of that defeat at Brighton and a second-half transformation sparked by a bold substitution.
The Spurs boss hooked crowd favourite James Maddison with the scores level at half time and sent on the underrated Pape Matar Sarr, which added bite to his midfield, restored a happier balance and delivered an instant impact.
‘We went up a gear second half ,’ said Postecoglou. ‘We needed more running power in midfield, and Pape has lots of that. Bags of energy and running. He really helped us to get control and that gave us a good platform to go forward.’
The contest was effectively settled by three Spurs goals in eight minutes scored by Yves Bissouma and Heung-min Son either side of an own goal. Son, back after injury, sparkled on the break and Dejan Kulusevski who scored Tottenham’s first, excelled in midfield.
Tottenham thrashed West Ham to return to winning ways at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
After a fortnight spent stewing over the meltdown at Brighton this was the perfect remedy for Ange Postecoglou
The hosts had fallen behind to Mohammed Kudus’ close range finish after 18 minutes
Dejan Kulusevski beat Alphonso Areola with a low drive which fizzed off the inside of both uprights before spinning into the net
It will be a potential concern for Maddison if Sarr’s energy and selfless mileage is vital to the blend and Kulusevski continues to eclipse him in creative areas, but the greatest problems of the day all belonged to West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
After the tonic of a four-goal victory against Ipswich this was back to earth with a crash. The Hammers fell apart with big money defender Jean-Clair Todibo looking lost at the back and Mohammed Kudus sent off for violent conduct.
Kudus was dismissed in the 86th minute after a VAR intervention for pushing Micky van de Ven in the face but could face more than the automatic three-match ban which will rule him out until after the next international break.
When the FA’s disciplinary chiefs go through the details, they will see Kudus also pushed Sarr in the face during the skirmish sparked with initial his foul on Van de Ven.
Lopetegui put it down to frustration but promised to speak to Kudus. ‘We are going to talk,’ said the West Ham boss. ‘Not today, it is not the day to talk but he will be aware he can improve his actions in these moments because it is not good for him or the team.’
Kudus had been West Ham’s outstanding player until that point and fired them ahead in the 18th minute, arriving unmarked at the back post to sweep in a low cross from Jarrod Bowen, who got the better of Destiny Udogie a little too easily for Postecoglou’s liking.
There was early encouragement for the visitors with Bowen and Kudus causing trouble for the Spurs full-backs, prompting flashbacks to Brighton’s fightback from two-down to win 3-2 inspired by wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh.
Postecoglou sent on Pape Matar Sarr for James Maddison when the scores were level at 1-1
Yves Bissouma arrived in penalty box to guide a cut-back from Udogie through a crowd of legs
Areola struck out a boot to block the shot but it ricocheted off Todibo and into the net
This time, Postecoglou saw his team respond. Brennan Johnson, who had scored in his previous seven games for club and country, did not find the net but twice went close in the first half and Alphonse Areola denied Porro before Kulusevski’s equaliser.
Maddison launched the move, breaking on the turnover in midfield and picked out the Swede, who jinked inside from the right onto his left foot and beat Areola with a low drive which fizzed off the inside of two posts before spinning into the net.
‘When we play good, we are unbelievable,’ said Kulusevski. ‘But we have to defend much better. The balance was not good enough. We have to improve that for the next game. When everything is clicking, we can score four goals.’
Spurs eased clear in the second half. This was the balance of their midfield for most of last season. One deep tempo-setter, one advanced playmaker and Sarr toiling through so much unsung graft.
Son claimed Tottenham’s fourth on the break, isolating Todibo, sidestepping him with ease and beating Areola at his near post
This season, in search of more attacking flair, it has usually been Maddison and Kulusevski with one deeper, on this occasion Bissouma who started ahead of Rodrigo Bentancur and scored the second, guided through a crowd of legs from a cut-back by Udogie.
‘The second goal is an action we can avoid,’ grumbled Loptegui. ‘We should be able to defend this and we didn’t but the worst thing is not being able to keep the mentality. There was a lot of time still ahead of us if we don’t lose the focus and concentration.’
The third came with a slice of fortune. Son started a slick move in midfield, traded passes with Kulusevski, collected the return and went for goal. Areola struck out a boot to block the shot but it ricocheted off Todibo and the goalkeeper and into the net.
Kudus pushed Van de Ven in the face and was sent off after an on field review
Son claimed Tottenham’s fourth on the break, isolating Todibo, sidestepping him with ease and beating Areola at his near post. West Ham were all at sea. Lopetegui made three changes but his side almost conceded a fifth when Son thumped a shot against the foot of a post.
From here, Spurs coasted in. There was chances at both ends and Kudus was twice denied before spoiling a fine personal performance when the red mist descended.
