Chapter 1: What were the implications of West Ham's 1-0 victory over Tottenham?
In what was the Olympic Stadium, Tottenham's race may well be run. Defeat by West Ham and the dream is dying. Antonio Conte's dinner will taste oh so good this evening. Chelsea can clinch the title before Tottenham kick another ball in the Premier League. Win these two and the crown will be theirs. You can see both live on Sky Sports 1 and in Ultra HD.
Chelsea against Borough is Monday Night Football and we are back next Friday with West Brom against Chelsea. Let's get some reaction from the disappointed Spurs camp. Here's Eric Dier with Geoff Shreves. Eric, it's the end of the winning run. Does it feel like the end of the title, Chase?
Yeah, it was already going to be hard before, so now it's even harder. That's all I can say, really.
It must feel desperately disappointing. Of course, it's not done mathematically, but that is a real massive blow, isn't it?
Yeah, of course. We know it. It's disappointing, really, because... We won a fantastic run and the feeling wasn't like we were going to stop today, but they made it very hard for us. They played very deep and we didn't create enough chances.
Just how disappointed will it be if you don't end up in the top prize this season, as it looks likely?
Yeah, I don't know what more I can say. It's very disappointing. We knew it was going to be tough a long time ago, and we managed to bring it back to four points. After today, it's nearly impossible now, but we'll give everything for these last three games now, no matter what. Eric, we appreciate you stopping and talking to us. Cheers, thank you.
So, there's the table as it stands. Still 77 points for Tottenham, and as Geoff said, Chelsea could clinch the title before Tottenham even kick a ball, with 86 the maximum points tally that Tottenham can now reach. It's deja vu for Spurs, isn't it? A proper bottle job. We know, especially you, Alan, if you're Conte, you're dancing around your living room right now, aren't you? What went wrong?
Well, I mean, what went wrong? It's hard to say that because what they come up against tonight was a West Ham team that was up for a derby on a Friday night in front of 38,000. And circumstance and timing has gone against Spurs tonight because that's about as best as West Ham could have played with those 11 individuals. So the West Ham players and the manager, you know, hats off to them.
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Chapter 2: How did Eric Dier react to the end of Tottenham's winning run?
You do. And listen, I can see the headlines today. Have Spurs bottled it? Have they run out of steam? The truth is they've been on the back of winning nine games on the spin. They've been in incredible runner form. They just didn't play tonight. It's as simple as that. Sometimes you have those games. I think you really have to credit West Ham because they, to a certain extent, outspur Spurs.
They closed them. They stopped them playing. They had a game plan. Lanzini was always immense in the game. But I just think it would be really cruel to just sit here and say, well, Spurs have blown it. They've thrown it away. They haven't. You know, the away forms cost them all season. They've only won seven games away from home. Chelsea have won 12. That's been the difference, really.
And I think when you look back at the end of the season, yes, people were pointed at this like they did Chelsea last year. I just think they weren't good enough tonight, and that's what's cost them.
And we'll talk more about Spurs in a moment or two. But tonight is West Ham's night. There's no question about that. Alan Pardew predicted there was going to be a fabulous atmosphere and suggested that there might be a small upset on the cards. Well, there's been a big upset on the cards, and Mark Noble has been a... Great part of that, and I'm delighted to say he joins us now.
Mark, congratulations. Where did that come from?
Thank you. Hard work. Hard work and team spirit, I'd say. Hard work and team spirit. It was a tough game. We know Spurs are a top, top team, and to be able to compete with them, we had to play 100%, and that's what we've done today.
Did you find that bit extra, Mark, because it was Spurs?
Of course. You don't need a team talk for Spurs. You don't need to know what the game's about. The fans know what it's about. And we all know that beating Spurs is a massive occasion. And tonight, I thought we deserved it.
Mark, just this, Alan Pardew, just looking at the game from where I was sitting, your three centre-backs tonight, you know, we talked about some characters in the dressing room and they were immense, weren't they?
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Chapter 3: What factors contributed to Tottenham's disappointing performance?
Cresswell makes a good run. And I'm going to pose it here. And I'm going to ask you to follow this man. So he already made a little run. I'm going to bring it back. He's thinking there and then, hang on a minute, I can get that ball. He didn't get it. He's making another run. I can get that ball. He didn't get it. I can get that ball. He didn't get it. Now he got it. He followed every single ball.
He followed the ball all the way.
Could I just look at something from Spurs' point of view, because I do agree with what Lanzini does, but I just want to highlight this man here, Eric Dier. Just keep your eye on him. Now, if he's got his wits about him and he stays alive, instead of complaining that there might have been a handball, there might have been...
an action where he maybe could have got back or gotten to Lanzini or even stopped Ayew. But instead, he appeals. Once he puts his hand up, he turns his back on the ball. That might have been the difference between him getting to Lanzini or even to Ayew and making that block. And I think it's something you do as a player. But keep your eye on him. Look, he puts his hand up.
Rather than doing his job... And that split second, the small details make all the difference. Next thing, Lanzini lashes it in, and he's still complaining there. I agree what you say about Lanzini, but I think from Spurs' point of view, I think he could have done better there.
Also, Jamie, how you could have scored. Yep. So there is one thing that we always... I mean, we've been taught since we're young, play until the rave blow the whistle. Yep. Then if you want to argue after, argue your points.
I think we want to look at... I mentioned there... just after the game, what West Ham did. They out-spurred Spurs. The amount of times today they were aggressive. You know, men around the ball. Look at the players around there. Stopping them. Mark Noble, we were talking to earlier on. Pressure on the ball. It was like a cup final for them. They knew they owed the fans something.
And when you see teams at the moment play with a back three, we see it so often. Again, this is Lanzini, one of your luxury players. You've got your full-back Cresswell going to press the ball, helping each other, doubling up on players all the time. They never left any space all game, Thierry, did they? They never did.
They never let the quality players have time on the ball to make sure they can pick a pass. And that's one of the things that a lot of teams didn't do against Tottenham recently. Look at them. They're forcing them to play back. And what I like, I'm going to go back here and I want you to stay on Collins here. And... They were saying, Dier was saying that they played deep. I'm sorry.
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Chapter 4: How did West Ham's strategy impact their victory?
Yeah, that could have been a foul. But you can see here, the midfield. He come out. Koyate wins it. And they were hungry all game. The amount of times they put Spurs midfield under Trevea pressure. I love this clip. Look at Jose Font. He comes in. Picked up Dele Alli. Can I win it? Yes. And then that sets the tempo. It gets the fans going. And that was the difference tonight.
Chapter 5: What did Mark Noble attribute the win to?
I think the fans had something to go on because the amount of times they won challenges, put Spurs players under pressure. Again, James Collins going to win that ball. And they were fantastic today, West Ham. They really were. And they absolutely deserved it.
Thanks very much indeed, boys. The thing is, I'm part of you. Tottenham, 71 goals this year. They'd never scored more than that in the Premier League. Count their chances on one hand tonight.
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's one of those nights where they couldn't get Dele Alli in the game. They couldn't get Harry Kane in the game. They kind of blocked that middle of the pitch up. This was their best chance. And really, whenever you play the big teams, no matter how well you play, you still need breaks. And that hits Adrian on the outside of his foot and goes over the bar.
So you still need your moments to go your way. This was a great ball on the inside of the fullback. An uncharacteristic kind of touch from Eriksen, wasn't it? In a really good area. And that sort of summed them up. That was the outstanding save by Adrian, actually, that a nil-nil was crucial. But, you know, I think they've done a great job, West Ham, tonight.
Well, Spurs came from behind to beat West Ham back at the lane earlier in the season, but they couldn't manage it tonight. Disappointing evening for Mauricio Pochettino, who's now with Jeff Shreves.
Riccio, do you feel the title has gone now? Sorry? Do you feel that the title has gone now?
Still fighting, disappointed with the result. And now it's wait, the Chelsea result, and then three games ahead to play.
How much more difficult does that make it tonight, though?
I think you all know that now it's more difficult to try to catch Chelsea. But we need to try, always, to the end, always.
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