1. Footymad
  2. Spurs Mad
  3. Latest
  4. Reports

Tottenham 3 West Ham 2

Last updated : 15 September 2002 By SpursMAD

There was an air of expectation as Robbie Keane lined up in a Spurs shirt for the first time and it took the Irish international just seven minutes to show the home fans what he can do with a flash of inspiration which nearly brought the opening goal.

The former Leeds striker initially mis-controlled a high ball into the area but readjusted superbly to send a volley just over the bar.

That was the closest Spurs came in the first half as West Ham started to show how dangerous they can be on the break. Joe Cole should have broken the deadlock in the 10th minute when he picked up Gardner's poor clearance on the edge of the area, but he blasted over the bar.

It took 40 minutes for either side to register a shot on target but when Spurs did manage it the finishing was poor as Teddy Sheringham's header from Christian Ziege's bouncing cross was easily gathered by David James.

Anthony Gardner is congratulated at the final whistle after scoring the last minute winning goal against West Ham
The game exploded into life just after the hour mark when Spurs took the lead. Keane played Matthew Etherington in down the left and the winger's low cross was squeezed under James at the near post by Simon Davies.

West Ham hit back straight away when Paolo Di Canio's cross was headed back across goal by Christian Dailly giving Freddie Kanoute the easiest of chances at the far post.

Four minutes later Tottenham were in the lead again thanks to a magical piece of skill from Keane who flicked the ball past Ian Pearce forcing the defender to take him down in the area.

Referee Uriah Rennie had no option but to send Pearce off and Sheringham made no mistake from the penalty spot.

But just as they had done against Fulham on Wednesday, Spurs threw the lead away again when the defence was caught sleeping by Di Canio's flighted free-kick which Trevor Sinclair stabbed past the stranded Kasey Keller.

It could have been worse for Spurs when Cole burst clear from the halfway line only to shoot into the sidenetting, but they claimed all three points in the 89th minute when Gardner brought the ball forward and unleashed a vicious shot with deflected off Gary Breen and past a helpless James.

Tottenham: Keller, Taricco (Thatcher 45), Ziege, Gardner, Perry (Doherty 32), Davies, Redknapp, Bunjevcevic, Etherington (Iversen 85), Sheringham, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Acimovic.

Booked: Bunjevcevic, Redknapp.

West Ham: James, Repka (Winterburn 10), Dailly, Breen, Pearce, Lomas, Sinclair, Cisse, Cole, Di Canio (Carrick 79), Kanoute (Defoe 85).
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Camara.

Sent Off: Pearce (70).

Booked: Sinclair, Kanoute.

Attendance: 36,005.

Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).