West Ham 2-3 Tottenham: Jose Mourinho wins first game as Spurs boss
Jose Mourinho's return to football management got off to a dream start as his first game in charge of Tottenham saw them win 3-2 at West Ham.
Mourinho's 11-month absence from the game ended this week when he replaced Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday and he needed only three days to lift Spurs' misfiring stars.
GOAL HIGHLIGHTS
First-half goals from Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura - both incisive attacks - were added to by Harry Kane's header after the break as Tottenham won away in the Premier League for the first time in 308 days, even though late goals from Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna skewed the scoreline.
It extended the 56-year-old's incredible record of not losing a first game in charge of a club since his first job as Benfica's manager way back in 2000.
Mourinho had stuck to his pledge of not changing too much from how Pochettino had set them up, but they played with confidence and intent, something that was missing in the latter part of the Argentinian's spell in north London.
There will be far bigger challenges ahead than this for Mourinho, but the way the front four linked up will give great promise that Spurs can climb up the table and challenge for a top-four spot.
Dele Alli, someone who Mourinho had told to start playing like himself, was back to his best, Son was electrifying, Moura played with purpose and Kane led the line superbly.
West Ham had been a mere footnote in the build-up to the game as the focus had unsurprisingly all been on the Portuguese's return, but Manuel Pellegrini's position at the London Stadium will come into focus after a dismal display, despite the late goals.
This was their sixth defeat in eight games in all competitions, with no wins since September, and with the home fans jeering their side and manager, Pellegrini must fear for his job.
The Hammers were not helped by their social media team posting a video - that was eventually deleted - goading Mourinho about previous poor results against the London club.
There was never any danger of this being another Red Letter Day as Spurs, with Mourinho prowling the touchline, controlled the game from the first whistle.
Kane thought he had given them a perfect start inside the opening 10 minutes but he was offside after being played in by Alli.
After Son and Moura had gone close Spurs took a deserved lead in the 36th minute after a spell of pressure.
Alli played in Son down the left and the South Korean continued his penchant for scoring big goals by firing through the hands of Roberto, though the West Ham goalkeeper should have done better.
Spurs had Mourinho producing a knee-slide nine minutes later as they doubled their lead with an impressive goal.
Alli did well to keep the ball in, setting Son free at the same time, and the latter's cross was rammed home at close range by Moura.
It was a big afternoon for Moura, who was named in the starting line-up after Mourinho had revealed he tried to sign him when he was in charge of Real Madrid, and he delivered an important goal.
Moura had already missed a great chance to add his second by the time Kane made it 3-0 in the 49th minute as the England captain notched his 21st goal of the season for club and country.
He was picked out superbly by Serge Aurier's cross and planted a header in the back of the net to leave Mourinho chuckling on the sidelines.
For a period of time it looked like it could have been as big a win as Spurs wanted, but West Ham at least restored some pride in the 73rd minute.
Antonio - a half-time substitute - got on the scoresheet with a rifled effort into the bottom corner from Mark Noble's pass.
The hosts, who had been dreadful for so much of the game, looked like setting up a grandstand finish when Declan Rice swept home Sebastian Haller's header, but VAR ruled that he was offside.
Ogbonna did get one back for West Ham with the very last action, scoring from a corner, to skew the scoreline, but this was Spurs' day.
This was Mourinho's day.
OPTA Stats
- Having lost his first ever competitive game as manager, with Benfica in September 2000, José Mourinho has gone unbeaten in his first game in charge at each of his eight clubs since, including two different spells with Chelsea (W5 D3).
- Jose Mourinho won as many points today vs West Ham, as Mauricio Pochettino mustered in his final 12 away Premier League games with Tottenham (W0 D3 L9).
- West Ham United have picked up just two points from their last 21 available in the Premier League (W0 D2 L5).
- Tottenham have won three consecutive away league games versus West Ham for the first time in their history.
- All four of Michail Antonio's Premier League goals for West Ham against Spurs have come at different venues - Upton Park, White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and London Stadium.
- West Ham’s Michail Antonio is one of four players to score at four different venues for a single club against a single opponent in the Premier League, alongside Steed Malbranque (Fulham v Man City), Dele Alli (Tottenham v Watford), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham v Everton).
- Tottenham’s Harry Kane has scored eight goals in his last nine Premier League games versus West Ham. Indeed, Kane has scored 29 goals in 46 Premier League London derbies – only Thierry Henry (43), Teddy Sheringham (32) and Frank Lampard (32) have netted more goals in such games.
- Harry Kane has now scored 175 goals in 269 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham - only Jimmy Greaves (266) and Bobby Smith (208) have netted more for the club.
- Son Heung-min (19) is Tottenham's leading goalscorer in all competitions in 2019, netting one more than Harry Kane (18) so far this calendar year.
How it happened...
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Full time: West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Jose Mourinho wins his first game in charge of Tottenham, but will be annoyed that Spurs got lazy at the end and their defence looked poor for the two goals they let in late.
That's Tottenham's first away win since January in the league and Spurs go to sixth in the table on 17 points, above Arsenal on goal diffeence
For West Ham it is now eight games without a victory in all comps, and four defeats out of five in the league. They are five points off the relegation zone, although one point better off than this time last season.
95: West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Ogbonna
Just as I spoke, West Ham do get another back. From a corner Ogbonna heads in
94: Two to go
Two minutes left and Spurs have done well to slow West Ham down again now. Apart from the offside goal, West Ham have failed to create another clear chance in injury time
92: Another corner to West Ham
All Hammers now and Snodgrass, who has done well today, wins a corner. Comes to nothing
90: Six minutes added on
Could you imagine if that goal had counted and we had six minutes of injury time with one goal in it.
Tottenham are lucky boys
89: Disallowed - West Ham 1-3 Tottenham
VAR rules it out correctly.
Corner from the right, headed down to the far post and Rice taps in from a foot out. But he is offside. Not clear if ball was going in anyway, but looks like it would have just gone wide if Rice hasn't touched it
Huge let off for Spurs.
89: GOAL: West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
West Ham have another back. But could be offside - VAR
88: West Ham pushing
Tottenham have been poor and lazy since going 3-0 up. West Ham now pushing for the second goal to make a granddtand finish. They have a corner
85: Fight
Well, as much of a fight as you can get on a football pitch, so it isn't actually a fight, just a bit if hugging.
Kane goes in slightly late on Snodgrass. He reacts by bear hugging the England captain from behind and Kane jumps up in the air in theoretical style, which was not needed and looked silly.
Yellow for both
82: Tottenham sub
Moura's day is done, having scored today, with Sissoko on. Moura is the latest player to get a big hug from Jose
80: Kane free kick
Kane hits one from 35 yards. He knows what he is doing here, just making sure he hits the target knowing he is firing at a poor keeper. So he is hoping for a mistake or spill.
Credit to Roberto as he holds the bouncing ball for once, but so could of his gran
78: Tottenham sub
Eriksen, who scored a few while on international duty is off and Alli is on.
Alli was superb in the first half, but quiet in the second. He gets a big high five and pat on the back from his new gaffer as he goes to the bench
76: Who scores next?
West Ham, who like to score late goals, are 7/2 to score the next goal
Spurs are 7/4 to get the next one.
No more goals is 5/6
74: GOAL: West Ham 1-3 Tottenham
ANTONIO
He has deserved that as West Ham's only player to show any effort in this second period.
Spurs have got a bit slower and lazy in defence and they fail to fully clear a cross. When the ball comes back Noble drives to the edge of the box, flicks to Antonio, who dummies the return pass to free up space. As he falls to ground he fires it forward and into the net. Fantastic powerful finish giving the keeper no hope.
70: Ouch
West Ham free kick 20 yards out and Harry Kane jumps highest in the wall to take the ball right in the face. It is brave and keen and clearly hurt. He's down for a little bit, a bit shaken, and will be okay to play on
69: Yellow card
Antonio has been West Ham's best player since coming on at half time and his drive forward forces Ben Davies to commit the foul and is booked for his effort
64: West Ham sub
Diop, on a yellow card, is subbed off and replaced by Sanchez, who gets a mixed reception from the home fans.
Diop, by the way, is suspended for the next game due to this latest yellow card.
This is West Ham's final sub and it sees a defensive midfielder come on, and Rice go to centre-back - what's going on???
62: Kane races in...
At the other end Kane beats the offside trap and races in on the left of the box. He goes to fire home from eight yards out Diop comes from nowhere and makes an excellent slide tackle to stop goal four.
Kane made to pay for taking time to switch feet to hit with his right rather than left
61: Gazzaniga has something to do
Gazzaniga's day as a spectator is finally over and be becomes a goalkeeper again, having to catch a mid paced shot at his near post. Easy save from Antonio's effort
59: Game slowing down
At 3-0 Tottenham picked up the energy and pushed for four.
But in recent moments have slowed the pace and been happy to keep possession around halfway
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Kane gets in on the act to make it 3-0
56: Kane to stay on
Kane was injured in scoring his goal and has been getting a few kicks recently. So you wonder if he will be taken off to protect him with the game won. So might not be worth going for him to score again.
If he does see out the majority of the game he probably will score again, as is looking dangerous.
55: West Ham sub
Yarmolenko is off and looks a deflated man, Fornals comes on
54: Tottenham to hit six?
Over 5.5 goals is 7/2 and over 4.5 is 11/10.
West Ham look totally shot here, they have no fight or desire in them and that is showing in their defence, with no one marking tightly or fighting to get to the ball first
49: West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
KANE
And there is the third. Tottenham, having almost scored a moment again, do now strike. Cross from Aurier on the right is pinpoint, right onto the head of Kane six yards out and it is in. Again Roberto maybe could have saved it.
The England captain is injured in the process, but eventually gets up and is okay.
He was 4/5 to score any time and and 7/2 to score the third goal.
48: Oh, what a bad miss
Moura - what have you done???
West Ham hit a terrible free kick into the Spurs box, which is easily cleared. Moura picks up and gets to Son on halfway.
He drives forward and plays Moura back in, one-on-one he gets caught in two minds whether to shot or square, he does a mix of both and it goes wide of the far post when it should have easily been 3-0.
Great counter attack though, a third is already coming
45: West Ham Sub
West Ham go to 4-4-2, with Snodgrass moved out to the wing.
Anderson is off and Antonio is on as Pellegrini desperately tries to get back into this game and potentially to save his job
45: Second half underway
Spurs have a habit of throwing away leads this season, but West Ham have been so poor so far. So how will this second period pan out
Sky Bet Price Boost
At half time Sky Bet have Price Boosted
- Son Heung-min to score a brace to 7/2
- Lucas Moura to score a brace to 9/2
- Harry Kane to score the 3rd goal to 7/2
- Correct Score - Tottenham 4-0 to 7/1
Half time stats
- Attacks: West Ham 53 v 77 Spurs
- Dangerous attacks: West Ham 23 v 47 Spurs
- Shots on Target: West Ham 0-3 Spurs
- Shots off Target: West Ham 2 v 4 Spurs
- Possession: West Ham 38% v 62% Spurs
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
How Tottenham went 2-0 up at West Ham. Alli, what a piece of skill
Half time: West Ham 0-2 Tottenham
What a start for Jose Mourinho and in reality it has been too easy for Spurs. They've taken their time to get going, slowly getting up to speed, ensuring they get the basics right before going up the creative gears.
When they have they've been devastating. Their two goals have come from rapid attacks, quick passing and excellent finishing.
West Ham have been poor and failed to muster any notable chances.
46: Sanchez header
From a corner Sanchez heads at goal and Roberto tips over the bar. The next corner comes to nothing
But Spurs have got something on every corner today, beating their markers to every ball
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
The first goal of Jose Mourinho's tenure, with Son striking
43: West Ham 0-2 Tottenham
MOURA
A fantastic goal from Spurs with another rapid attack.
It all comes from a moment of brilliance from Alli. He receives the ball on the left wing, back to goal, and as he turns away he falls over while doing it. While on his back he somehow back heels the ball - keeping it in ball by 1mm - it is incredible skill and awareness
The ball is picked up by Son, who races down the left, crosses to the back post across the six yard box and Moura makes up five yards on the defender to beat him to the tap in
41: Roberto on walkabout again
From the resulting free kick Roberto races to the edge of the box and makes a poor punch clearance. Well off his line a Spurs player tries a chip over him but doesn't get hold of it and Roberto gets back to push it wide of his goal
39: Yellow Card
Poor ball from Noble allows Son to pick up the loose ball, Fredericks panics and slides into Son. It is a nasty challenge, with his studs hitting the ankles of Son. He gets a yellow carded for it. But VAR is looking at it too....but decides a yellow is enough
Son is clearly in real pain, but eventually gets up after treatment
38: Son loves it
That's nine goals this season from 16 appearances for the South Korean and the first of the Jose Mourinho era.
36: West Ham 0-1 Tottenham
SON
Quick decisive play from Tottenham rips West Ham apart. Great first touch pass from Alli releases the on rushing Son into the box.
He still has so much to do, but a great step over fools his marker and gives him space from a tight angle on the left to shoot across goal.
Roberto should do better and push it away, but he seems to misjudge the flight of the ball and in it goes
32: Roberto punches away
Two corners in a row for Spurs, the second of which is curled right under the crossbar and under huge pressure from a number of bodies Roberto does well to punch clear to the edge of the box. Rebound shot is easily blocked and cleared
28: Noble & Rice getting into it
West Ham are getting into this one now and dominating last few minutes. That has been inspired by Noble and Rice getting into the contest and starting to dominate in midfield.
So lovely passes and powerful, purposeful driving runs from both in recent moments to start building some energy into this West Ham side
25: Hammers wasteful
Fantastic ball from Noble with the outside of his boot to release Anderson down the left, beating the offside trap.
He drives in on goal, but his square ball across the box is behind Haller. He can't control it while having to spin backwards and Tottenham clear it up.
Had that pass been in front of Haller he'd have had a clear sight on goal from 18 out
23: West Ham trying the crosses
West Ham are trying to get down both wings, but only finding success down their right so far. They've got two crosses into the box from that side and both have made Tottenham's defenders look worried and less than convincing.
21: Son shots
Son gets himself free on the left edge of the area. He curls into the top far corner, but Roberto always knew where he was aiming and dives across to punch away.
20: History repeating itself?
Mauricio Pochettino's first game in charge of Spurs was against West Ham and ended in a 1-0 win. He went on to have an excellent five-and-a-half years. Will the same happen for Mourinho
19: Doing the simple things well
Both sides are keeping it simple, trying to get the short passes complete and keep possession. Clearly both teams are short of confidence and thus avoiding the flair plays so far.
14: Yellow Card
Diop goes into the book for West Ham. Seems harsh, as he seemed to be fouled first by Kane.
12: Roberto flaps again
Free kick from the left wing curled in by Winks to the back post. Roberto comes out and should catch easily, but he spills it and pushes the ball into the body of Sanchez, it hits the onrushing big man but deflects wide of the open net.
Offside flag goes up anyway, but so poor from the keeper
10: In-play tip
Can the Special One inspire Dele Alli to regain his star dust.
So far the answer is yes. He's set up Kane's disallowed goal. Then played another great ball through to Kane, who goes in on goal again, but again offside.
08: West Ham chance
West Ham break down the right, cross comes in with a deflection that loops to the back post and Haller jumps high from six out to head towards goal, however he gets it wrong, heads it sideways, but it hits a Spurs defender and goes towards goal, but only straight to a grateful Gazzaniga in goal
05: All Spurs
All Spurs so far, passing it around nicely around halfway, but then becoming wasteful and slow with the ball once in the final third.
But they will be pleased with the space their creative players are getting in the final third.
West Ham hardly touched it so far
03: Disallowed Goal
Harry Kane fires the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box - but was a foot offside, no need for VAR
Great ball from Winks, to Alli, to Kane and excellent finish. Worrying space being left by West Ham's markers
00: Kick Off
This intriguing London derby kicks off with the focus on the two big men in the dug out
Michael Oliver is the ref, with Andre Marriner on VAR.
Teams
West Ham: Roberto, Cresswell, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Haller.
Subs: Martin, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Sanchez, Fornals, Ajeti, Antonio.
Spurs: Gazzaniga, Davies, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Dier, Winks, Alli, Moura, Son, Kane.
Subs: Austin, Rose, Walker-Peters, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Foyth, Eriksen.
Teams out
The teams step out at the London Stadium, really interesting to see Jose stand in the tunnel and hug and shake hands with every Spurs players as they walked out.
Kane to score?
Tottenham's Harry Kane has scored 28 goals in 45 Premier League London derbies.
Only Thierry Henry (43), Teddy Sheringham (32) and Frank Lampard (32) have netted more goals in such games.
Kane averages a goal every 132 minutes in these fixtures, second only to Thierry Henry (one every 114 minutes, minimum 10 goals).
Mark Noble says...
West Ham captain Mark Noble has written into today's programme...
“Well, I thought nothing could shock me in football after all these years, but this week’s events in north London have done just that!
"I was surprised Mauricio Pochettino was replaced, just a few months after leading Spurs to the UEFA Champions League final, and I was surprised again when Jose Mourinho was appointed as his replacement.
“I do think it’s a good appointment though. I love Jose Mourinho as a manager and the bottom line for me is his CV and the titles teams have won under his management.
"I’ve enjoyed my battles with his sides down the years and we’ve got the better of them a couple of times, including our win over Manchester United here last season, and I’m obviously hoping we can ruin his debut as Spurs manager this afternoon, too.”
Sporting Life ACCA
Our ACC came in at 12/1 last week - so like buses, we are hoping that two come along at once.
Head here to back Stoke, Rotherham, Peterborough and Forest Green all to win - at 18/1
Podcast
Our team discuss the future of Tottenham under Mourinho
On the bench
Match stats
- West Ham are looking to secure consecutive league wins over Spurs for the first time since beating them in both matches in the 2013-14 campaign.
- Tottenham have won three of their last five away league games against West Ham (L2), including the last two in a row. They've won never won three consecutive top-flight away games against the Hammers.
- In all competitions, the away side has won five of the last six meetings between West Ham and Tottenham (two wins for West Ham, three for Spurs), with the other ending 1-1.
Mourinho stats
- Of all Premier League managers to have taken charge of 50+ games in the competition, Jose Mourinho has the fifth best points per game ratio (2.10). This is better than the manager he’s replaced; Mauricio Pochettino (1.79).
- His first opponents as Tottenham Hotspur boss will be West Ham United on Saturday 23rd November. He’s defeated them 11 times in all competitions and he’s only defeated Liverpool (12) and Spurs (13) more often as a manager.
- In the Premier League alone, he’s defeated West Ham United nine times as a manager – only against Everton (10 wins) has he won more often in the competition as a boss.
Mourinho's defence
For a lot of Tottenham fans they hold a concern that their football will become negative, defensive and boring. But the fact is they need to tight up at the back.
Mourinho's form in this area is excellent, as the stats show...
Goals conceded per game
- Chelsea first spell - 0.79 before Mourinho; 0.39 Mourinho first season
- Chelsea second spell - 1.03 before Mourinho; 0.71 Mourinho first season
- Manchester United - 0.92 before Mourinho; 0.76 Mourinho first season
Jose says....
Pre-match tip
Our football experts have been mulling over this one and are tipping...
Tottenham to win and over 1.5 total goals at 21/20
With their poor performances of late, it remains to be seen whether Manuel Pellegrini's side will score, but the odds-against price available on the visitors to win with two or more total goals in the game looks too good to turn down, hopefully setting us up to cover the rest of the day's fancies.
Read all our day's Premier League tips, covering every match, here
West Ham team news
In a big game you need your captain and Mark Noble has been passed fit to start this one
West Ham: Roberto, Cresswell, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Haller.
Subs: Martin, Balbuena, Zabaleta, Sanchez, Fornals, Ajeti, Antonio.
Angelo Ogbonna replaces Fabian Balbuena and Andriy Yarmolenko returns to the side in place of Pablo Fornals, who drops to the bench.
Spurs team news
Jose's first Tottenham team line up is......
Spurs: Gazzaniga, Davies, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Dier, Winks, Alli, Moura, Son, Kane.
Subs: Austin, Rose, Walker-Peters, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Foyth, Eriksen.
It sees Dier move from centre back to centre midfield, with Winks getting a start in there too
What about the Hammers?
The first game for Jose, will it be the last for Manuel Pellegrini?
West Ham have failed in win in seven in all competitions, losing four Premier League games in that period.
The last time the Hammers were on such a bad run they sacked Slaven Bilic and replaced him with David Moyes.
Pellegrini is 5/1 to be the next manager to be sacked, still behind Emery, Hasenhuttl and Solskjear and you wonder why the Hammers board would not sack him during the international break, only to fire him this weekend if they fail to win this one
Jose Mourinho odds
Mourinho is always a story and no doubt they will be magic, controversial and confrontal moments in equal measure along his Spurs journey.
It feels it will either be a great success or complete disaster. How do you feel it will finish?
Let's start with the postive.....
- Tottenham to finish in the top four this season is 10/3 with Sky Bet
- To win a trophy this season is 5/1
- Tottenham to remain unbeaten until Christmas Day in the Premier League is 4/1
- To beat Manchester United twice in the league is 5/1
- To win the Premier League next season is 16/1; and to win any trophy is 2/1
Onto the negative....
- Mourinho not to be Tottenham manager for the last game of the season is 5/1
- To have left the club by November 20, 2020 is 11/4
The Special One
The Special One, The Humble One, and now The Spurs One, Jose Mourinho is back in football after an 11 month break.
Tottenham are his third English club, as he looks to add more silverware to his already bulging trophy cabinet, and more important end his new club's 11 year wait for a trophy.
He will have to win both players and fans over who were so smitten with Mauricio Pochettino, especially with many expecting 'less than exciting' football. But if he gets them up the league, into the top four and even a trophy this season or next then Mourinho will remain the world why he deserves the special one's tag
WELCOME
Hello everyone on another wet and miserable day - but the Premier League is back after that boring international break, so that can cheer us up!
What a week we've had to make this round of top flight matches even more intriguing. Yes, Jose is back and he is the centre of attention - just as he likes it - for this lunch time kick-off, as his new Tottenham side head to another struggler in West Ham.
We have the whole game covered in the first of our three live blogs this afternoon, which concludes with Manchester City v Chelsea at 17.30 GMT.
*Odds via Sky Bet and correct at time of publication
Man City v Chelsea: Big match guide
The headline fixture in the Premier League this weekend comes from the Etihad, as Man City host Chelsea in Saturday's evening kick-off.
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