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by Paul Donovan at the London Stadium
WEST HAM talisman Michail Antonio secured all three points for his side in a tight-fought derby against Spurs at the London Stadium yesterday.
Antonio popped up in the 72nd minute to force the ball home from a well-taken Aaron Cresswell corner.
It was Antonio’s sixth goal in the Premier League and his seventh in what is proving a vintage season for the striker.
The home side had the better of the first half possession, with Pablo Fornals testing Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris early with a well struck volley from a Jarrod Bowen cross.
Tomas Soucek then skied one from the centre of the penalty area after being set up nicely by Antonio.
Soucek then saw a thumping header from a Fornals cross go just wide of the post.
It was Spurs, though, who had the best chance of the half, when England captain Harry Kane met a cross from Sergio Reguilon, but saw his point blank header at the back post tipped over by Lukasz Fabianski.
The game continued to flow from end to end in the second half, with Spurs probably having the better of the possession.
It was West Ham though, who took the decisive lead when Antonio stepped up to convert the corner.
West Ham manager David Moyes was pleased with what marked his side’s third win in a week, following a Premier League win over Everton last weekend and Europa League success over Genk on Thursday.
“I just think the players have done a great job, not just the players today but the squad of players have done a great job because I needed them in midweek,” said Moyes, who was pleased with the resilience his side showed.
“I didn’t think we were fatigued today, we were up against a strong Tottenham team which had big threats and we found a way of winning in a different way than last week.”
Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo felt his team needed to move the ball more quickly and use the wide areas more, with West Ham getting so many men behind the ball.