Premier League - Russian sub sinks Hammers

Eurosport - Sat, 11 Apr 18:44:00 2009

Tottenham Hotspur moved into the top half of the Premier League table with a 1-0 win over local rivals West Ham United at White Hart Lane.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Premier League Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko celebrates his goal against West Ham with Luka Modric - 0

A second-half strike from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko was enough to seal the win that sends Spurs up to eighth, just three points behind the Hammers.

The Russian striker replaced Darren Bent 10 minutes after the break, and soon after he received Luka Modric's pass inside the West Ham area with his back to goal and hit a low shot on the turn that beat goalkeeper Robert Green and nestled in the far corner.

The North Londoners had the better of the match against their East End rivals, although until Pavlyuchenko struck it looked as though they were headed for a frustrating draw.

Tottenham captain Robbie Keane twice had appeals for a penalty turned down midway through the first half. First his miscued volley at the far post bounced up and hit the hand of James Tomkins then minutes later the Irishman went to ground inside the West Ham area.

On both occasions referee Martin Atkinson correctly ignored the appeals.

The Irishman also had a snap-shot saved at the near post by Green moments before Bent glanced a header wide of the target.

West Ham were unable to convert the few chances they created, with striker David di Michele having the best of his side's opportunities.

The Italian had to put in extra effort to compensate for the lacklustre performance of strike partner Diego Tristan, who was never fully engaged in the match. Di Michele had one far-post effort saved by Brazilian keeper Heurelho Gomes, and in the second half he took advantage of Jonathan Woodgate's inability to head a long ball clear, but could only fire his shot at the feet of Gomes.

With a number of injuries to key personnel, West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was forced to field full-back Lucas Neill in the centre of the pitch. Although the Australian filled the role adequately enough, the home side bossed the midfield for most of the match, even though Jermaine Jenas had to be replaced by Didier Zokora at half-time after picking up a hamstring strain.

Ivory Coast midfielder Zokora had the chance to register his first goal for Tottenham after coming on, but could only send his drilled effort from distance wide of the target.

England winger Aaron Lennon looked lively at times, and he forced a good saved from Green when his curling shot bound for the far top corner was tipped over the bar to prevent Tottenham doubling their lead with 10 minutes remaining.

In the end one goal was enough for Harry Redknapp's Spurs side.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 12 - 31 of 31

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  1. FROM LEE? AND U, ALSO SHOULD READ, WHAT U WRITE, BEFORE­ U POST IT. CHEERS. JOE.

    From joe, on Wed 15 Apr 3:21AM

  2. The Realist - The perhaps our foreign friend should­ speak his own language here instead? I know it's­ Easter but who the F do you think you are anyway?­
    It's great that there is support for the Spurs­ across the globe. I'm not knocking him for that -­ BUT like most people here (native speaking or not)­ should learn to spell.

    From lee, on Mon 13 Apr 12:38PM

  3. harry redknapp is a f.....g legend... come on u­ spurs... europe all the way!!!!

    From snugent13, on Sun 12 Apr 3:04PM

  4. well done HR and the lads perhaps try pav more often im­ sure there r more goals in this boy coys u recovered­ well

    From garylocker, on Sun 12 Apr 12:39PM

  5. yid army harry you are the man 2 take our wonderful­ club bk 2 the top of the table maybe not this season or­ next but defo in the nxt 3-4 years. YID­ ARRRRRMMMMMYYYYY!!!!!

    From R, on Sun 12 Apr 11:38AM

  6. I agree, leave laurenfreddie alone. He is obviously­ foreign - which I don't hold against him - and he­ is happy to support "Harry's Hotspurs".­ He has the courage to express his views about Spurs as­ a true and wonderful supporter - despite English not­ being his first language - thus his spelling and­ grammar mistakes. I challenge those who are critical of­ him to speak and write his home language without making­ mistakes.

    From The Realist, on Sun 12 Apr 8:44AM

  7. Harry is super. To come from the bottom of the­ premiership to reach the top half is magic. Harry well­ done. Keep up the good work

    From oyetade, on Sun 12 Apr 7:55AM

  8. Great -well done! Just need a better striker for next­ season and we'll be up and away.

    From joeblogs, on Sun 12 Apr 3:58AM

  9. Very satisfying doing do the double over the spammers­ this season. Super Pav has done the job yet again. Uefa­ football next season not beyond the realms of­ possibility. Keep up the good work Harry and the lads.­

    COYS...

    From simon, on Sun 12 Apr 12:28AM

  10. cheer to rednapped , spurs will win the league next­ season

    From whitebeko, on Sat 11 Apr 11:02PM

  11. lee..lay off laurenfreddie..and look at your own ­ spelling before you go critising anybody else..think­ the only embarrassment on here is you embarrasing­ yourself.

    From tony, on Sat 11 Apr 8:13PM

  12. well done spurs ..and well done harry ..you are the man­ to take us forward..where are all the­ spammers???????????..COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From tony, on Sat 11 Apr 8:07PM

  13. well I must say we are in the top half, for Harry to­ pull that off you have to applaud him he is defiantly­ winning the fans and taming the players C.O.Y.S

    From Shaun, on Sat 11 Apr 7:37PM

  14. Ahh well, got that game out of the way ! Done the­ double, blah, blah - was expected really. Onwards and­ upwards, well done The Pav, Modric was everywhere,­ Lennon worked so hard, Ledders and Woody rock solid at­ the back with Gomes keeping YET ANOTHER clean sheet ...

    From ispurs, on Sat 11 Apr 5:15PM

  15. The boys did well and let their playing show them how.

    From a.bice, on Sat 11 Apr 5:11PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    We all know Tottenham are a mickey mouse club, all the­ fans give it large 'we are the best london­ club'
    RUBBISH.... Like your club
    Up the Irons

    From MARK, on Sat 11 Apr 1:06PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    COME ON U IRONS....2-1 WEST HAM...........

    From Dan, on Sat 11 Apr 11:28AM

  18. laurenfreddie - I"m a spurs fan but you. you­ shouldn't be allowed to say anything here, lean to­ write you idiot! FFS what an embarrasement.

    COYS.

    From lee, on Sat 11 Apr 11:10AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hammers r goin 2 hammer spurs

    From Richard, on Sat 11 Apr 12:00AM

  20. Spurs will win 4 0 come on you spurs.

    From roberts, on Fri 10 Apr 11:16PM
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