Tottenham will be hoping to keep the pressure on league leaders Chelsea by beating London rivals West Ham in the first fixture of Round 36 in the EPL. Follow all the action, live scores and blog on The Roar from 5am (AEST).
Spurs can’t afford to slip up if they have any real hope of catching Chelsea, the gap currently stands at seven points with four games to play.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men have won their last five games in the EPL, including a 2-0 victory in the North London derby on Sunday.
West Ham’s season has been disappointing and disrupted with problems settling in to their new stadium and the constant speculation surrounding their manager.
The Hammers, who currently sit 15th on 39 points are almost certainly safe and unbeaten in their last four games. West ham is in decent form.
Mauricio Pochettino wants to put the pressure on Chelsea he said, “I think it’s important for us of course and for the Premier League to put pressure on, to keep interest until the end of the season.
“But of course, it’s a great opportunity for us on Friday, to try to reduce the gap and put a little bit of pressure on them”.
West Ham’s manager Slaven Bilić, has been impressed by Spurs recently, he said: “Spurs are in form, but they’ve been in form for two months. We are positive, four unbeaten and three clean sheets in four games.
He added: “Spurs are electric, with confidence and pace”
Team news
West Ham’s Andy Carroll is back in training after his recent injury and he may be named in the squad, if he regains his fitness in time, while the Hammers will be without Antonio, Obiang, Ogbonna and Sakho.
Tottenham will be without Harry Winks, who won’t play again this season and fullback, while Danny Rose has returned to training will probably miss out as he is still short of match fitness.
Prediction
The pressure is all on Spurs in this game, West Ham will be hoping to end their disappointing season with a big win against one of the best sides in the EPL.
However, I can’t look past Spurs for this one, Mauricio Pochettino will have this players focused and I predict them to continue their excellent form.
West Ham 0 – 2 Tottenham Hotspur
Follow all the action, live scores and blog on The Roar from 5am (AEST).
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
West Ham 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur West Ham have dealt a killer blow to Spurs's title challenge as the Hammers beat tottenham 1-0 . A Manuel Lanzini strike on 65 minutes was enough to see off Spurs in the London derby. The result ends Spurs’s excellent run , which has seen them win the last nine games in the EPL. The biggest winners on the night will be Chelsea, who can clinch the title before Tottenham play their next game. The Gap currently stands at four points , but Chelsea can extend their lead back to seven points with a win against Middlesbrough on Monday. West ham started brightly, but couldn't convert their early chances. Lanzini was instrumental all game and had a chance after 20 minutes . When Mark Noble played in Lazini for a one on one with the goalkeeper , but Lloris came out of is goal to close down the angle and made the save. Spurs responded 2 minutes later , when Harry Kane’s long range shot was saved by Adrián then somehow the ball came back to Kane, but he couldn’t convert the rebound. Spurs dominated the ball , but couldn’t create any real clear cut chances in the latter stages of the first half. Early in the second half West Ham broke down the wing with Sam Byram , who cut the ball back to Ayew. But he fired his shot over the bar from just outside the box.Then on the 56th minute Eriksen had a chance to play Kane through on goal but an excellent interception by Jose Contended Spurs attack. 10 minutes later West Ham managed to get the crucial goal. Byram once again delivered an excellent ball in to Spurs’s box. The Spurs defence didn't clear the ball and it fell to Lanzini unmarked on the 6 yard box,he spun and blasted the ball past Lloris. On the 75th minute ,great play between Alli and Jansen who played a one two. Then Alli rolled the ball across the face of the goal , but no Spurs player was there to blast the ball in to an empty net. West Ham had a chance to double their lead late in the match. When Calleri tackled Toby Alderweireld inside the Spurs box , but Lloris pulled off a fantastic save to keep Spurs in this match. But it didn’t matter as West Ham’s defence was brilliant and they managed to stop Spurs from scoring
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Game over , title race over As forever blowing bubbles rings around the London stadium
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Full Time !! West Ham 1-0 Spurs
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
90+4 Feekick West Ham in Spurs's half , it looks all over
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
90+2 Spurs look short of idea's , and West Ham look comfortable and good for the 3 points at the moment
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
5 minutes off added on time here , Spurs title chances are slowly slipping away
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Eriksen fires wide 88th minute Eriksen's decides to take a shot just outside West Ham's box. Its whistles past the post.
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Spurs are camped in West Ham's half at the moment But West Ham have defended brilliantly today , and are dealing with everything Spurs are throwing at them 84th minute
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Walker off - Tripper on 10 minutes to play
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Huge chance missed by West Ham Calleri tackles Alderweireld inside the Spurs box , but Lloris pulls off a fantastic save to keep Spurs in this match and the title race 78th minute
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Real chance for Spurs Great play by Alli and Jansen who play a one two.Alli rolls the ball across the face of the goal . but no one is here to blast the ball in to am empty net 75th minute
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Here comes Victor Jansen The Dutch striker is getting ready to come on , big chance for Jansen to make himself a hero after a poor season. 72th min
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Lanzini fires just over - 20 minutes left to play Spurs react to going one nil down by bringing on Dembele for Vertonghen
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Goaaaaaaal ! Lanzini 64th minute Byram's cross is not dealt with by the Spurs defence and the ball falls to the feet of Lanzini unmarked and 6 yards out. He spins and blasts the ball past Lloris. Spurs in real trouble here
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
1-0 West Ham
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Big chance for Spurs missed Walker picks out Son on the wing , who cuts the ball back to an unmarked Eriksen inside the Hammers box , but his tame shot trickles in to the arms of a grateful Adrián, 60 Min
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
It's end to end here first Ayew fires his shot over the bar , from just outside the box. Then Eriksen at the other end has a chance to play in Kane , who is unmarked in the box , but Fonte does well to cut out the pass 54th minute
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
Tidy move by Spurs Wanyama receives the ball on the edge of the box, and crossers the ball towards Kane , Its well cleared by Byram , who puts it out for a corner. The corner is clear out to Calleri , who tries to counter Spurs , put falls to find Ayew with the pass 50 min
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
The second half is underway Spurs need to win this game if they want to keep their title dreams alive
Elliot Howey
Roar Guru
H/T West Ham will be very pleased with their first half display, Lanzini has been lively and has caused the Spurs defence problems. The Hammers have created a couple of good chances which have been wasted. Spurs have been lively in spells , they have kept the ball well but a lot of passes going side wides and back. They will be looking for Alli and Eriksen to be make more of an impacted on the game in the second half. Spurs were drawing 0-0 in the last two games at half time against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, and managed to win both of them.