Tottenham pegged back by West Ham as Kurt Zouma nets equaliser
Tottenham lost more ground in the battle for a top-four finish after they were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham.
Ange Postecoglou’s side could have leapfrogged fourth-placed Aston Villa with a win and made the perfect start when Brennan Johnson tapped home early on for his fifth goal of the season.
West Ham, who let a 3-1 lead slip to lose 4-3 at Newcastle last weekend, were able to respond in the 19th minute when Kurt Zouma scored from Jarrod Bowen’s corner and they could have claimed all three points.
While Spurs dominated possession throughout in east London, David Moyes watched Michail Antonio race through on the hour mark but fire straight at Guglielmo Vicario as the capital rivals could not be separated.
A light show followed by a firework display greeted the players onto a soaked London Stadium pitch and Moyes should have seen his team start with a bang.
Only four minutes were on the clock when Mohammed Kudus crossed in for Bowen, but the Hammers’ leading marksman fluffed his lines from a matter of yards.
It would prove costly as Spurs went ahead with their first attack of the match. A neat move ended with Timo Werner bursting past Vladimir Coufal before he squared for the recalled Johnson to tap home in the fifth minute.
It continued Johnson’s purple patch, after his brace of assists against Luton, but also ended a run of six first halves without a goal for Tottenham.
The visitors went close again when a Pedro Porro effort whistled past the post before Son Heung-min curled straight at Lukasz Fabianski, in for the injured Alphonse Areola.
West Ham remained a threat at set-pieces though, after Kudus had an early shot deflected over, and levelled after 19 minutes.
Bowen’s inswinging corner was diverted beyond Vicario by the back of home captain Zouma, who was inexplicably unmarked in the six-yard area.
It got the West Ham fans up on their feet and they almost had another goal to celebrate eight minutes before half-time, but James Ward-Prowse’s 25-yard free-kick was parried away by Vicario.
Spurs had responded well to the hosts’ equaliser. However, they had to survive a set-piece barrage to ensure they came in level at the break.
A sloppy pass by Rodrigo Bentancur gifted West Ham a chance at the start of the second half, but Vicario saved Antonio’s shot before the Italian made an even better stop to keep out Konstantinos Mavropanos’ header.
Antonio’s blushes were spared after he air-kicked the loose ball when the offside flag was raised.
Lucas Paqueta was next to go close for the home side when he spun away from Bentancur and curled wide from 20 yards.
Tottenham did regroup but should have gone 2-1 down on the hour mark.
Maddison wanted a free-kick after he tangled with Paqueta. Referee John Brooks waved play on and Ward-Prowse played through to Antonio, who benefited from a slip by Micky van de Ven but fired straight at Vicario.
It was a gilt-edged chance and Postecoglou reacted by bringing on Pape Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski, which gave the visitors a second wind.
Werner had an effort deflected over before both teams threatened to produce stoppage-time breakaway goals, but Destiny Udogie fired straight at Fabianski and Bowen lobbed off target as the points were shared.
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West Ham 1-1 Tottenham: Player ratings as Zouma cancels out Spurs opener
Points were shared between West Ham & Tottenham at London Stadium
Brennan Johnson broke the deadlock for Spurs in the first half
Kurt Zouma ensured the resilient Hammers wouldn't be beaten
By Jamie Spencer
Apr 2, 2024
West Ham were deserving of a point against Spurs
West Ham were deserving of a point against Spurs / Julian Finney/GettyImages
West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur played out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Tuesday night, in a game that promised plenty without ever really catching fire.
Brennan Johnson’s early goal was a dream start for Ange Postecoglou and Spurs, but Kurt Zouma’s headed equaliser levelled the score-line before the break and that was how it ultimately stayed.
How the game unfolded
The first big chance of the contest fell to West Ham just four minutes, with Mohammed Kudus winning possession and creating the opportunity for Jarrod Bowen. His effort from the middle of the penalty area missed the target, with the real kicker for the Hammers that Johnson then put Spurs into the lead instead only a moment later.
Timo Werner made it with pace to beat his marker on the left flank, cutting the ball back across the box and giving Johnson a chance that he could hardly miss.
As Spurs pressure continued, Pedro Porro’s long-range shot was only just wide, before Son Heung-min arguably should have done more with a chance just inside the box that was easily saved. Then it was the visitors’ turn to feel sick at not taking an opportunity, falling level as Zouma headed Bowen’s in-swinging corner from the left past the helpless Guglielmo Vicario from close-range.
The two sides proceeded to trade blows for the remainder of the first half without creating anything more in the way of clear-cut chances.
The energy was ramped back up as the second half began and the in-form Vicario was responsible for the Hammers not taking the lead for the first time. The Italian goalkeeper parried from Michail Antonio, before a stunning reaction save from Konstantinos Mavropanos – although an offside flag would have ruled a goal out for Antonio’s interference.
Vicario was at it again at the hour mark when Antonio chased a long punt over the Spurs defence. It was a top save but, one on one, West Ham’s No.9 was also guilty of a tame finish.
That intensity didn’t last. The tempo dropped and, despite a number of Spurs changes, there was no bringing it back. The visitors enjoyed more of the ball throughout the second half without ever being able to really test West Ham’s resistance. One final chance to win it at the death did come for Tottenham, with Destiny Udogie firing straight at Fabianski.
West Ham player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Michail Antonio
Michail Antonio should have scored / Richard Pelham/GettyImages
GK: Lukasz Fabianski - 6/10 - Would have expected to be busier given the split in possession heavily favouring Spurs.
RB: Vladimir Coufal - 6/10 - Didn't look particularly comfortable against Werner's pace early on but probably wasn't tested enough in the end.
CB: Konstantinos Mavropanos - 7/10 - Looked well up for this one as a former Arsenal player.
CB: Kurt Zouma (c) - 7/10 - Took his headed goal well and led his team by example.
LB: Emerson - 6/10 - Had his work cut with the dual threat on Spurs' right flank.
CM: Lucas Paqueta - 7/10 - Missed the target with a couple of shots from distance early in the second half but largely occupied himself with defensive work.
CM: Tomas Soucek - 6/10 - Role was largely that of screening. Surprisingly weak in the air.
RM: Jarrod Bowen - 7/10 - Missed an early chance but made up for it with the corner that made the equaliser. Pace and movement always had the potential to threatnen.
AM: James Ward-Prowse - 5/10 - Largely handed the set-piece baton to Bowen for this one. Didn't see loads of the ball.
LM: Mohammed Kudus - 7/10 - Began well and also seemed there or thereabouts even if he ultimately didn't make a lot of attacking impact. Top work ethic though.
ST: Michail Antonio - 6/10 - Played well with his back to goal and occupied the Spurs centre-backs, although his finishing left plenty to be desired.
Substitutes
Subs not used: Joseph Anang (GK), Ben Johnson, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Kalvin Phillips, George Earthy, Maxwel Cornet, Divin Mubama, Danny Ings
Manager
David Moyes - 8/10 - Trusted his starters and opted not to use the bench. Tactics worked a treat.
Tottenham player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Guglielmo Vicario had a decent night
Guglielmo Vicario had a decent night / Vince Mignott/MB Media/GettyImages
GK: Guglielmo Vicario - 8/10 - Kept his team in the game in the early stages of the second half. That might have been key to actually getting a point instead of none.
RB: Pedro Porro - 6/10 - Occupied a really high position when Spurs were on the ball in an attempt to create attacking overloads. Final ball lacking.
CB: Cristian Romero - 6/10 - Strong in the air.
CB: Micky van de Ven - 6/10 - Got away with one when he looked to have caught up with Antonio racing through and allowed the West Ham striker a second chance to shoot.
LB: Destiny Udogie - 7/10 - Played a similar role to Porro. Also deserves credit for his defensive work making it difficult for Bowen to operate in open play.
CM: Yves Bissouma - 6/10 - Impressive on the ball but didn't win enough of his tackles or duels.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur - 7/10 - Shielded the back four well and help limit West Ham to predominantly counter attacks.
RM: Brennan Johnson - 7/10 - Exceptional delivery from the right made Spurs a threat on that side, notwithstanding his breakthrough goal.
AM: James Maddison - 6/10 - Saw plenty of the ball without having the incisive impact hoped. Didn't shy away from the physical battle of a derby.
LM: Timo Werner - 6/10 - Set up the opening goal marvellously well, but there were occasions when he lacked predatory instinct to get into the box. Faded oveall.
ST: Son Heung-min (c) - 5/10 - Not massively involved and lacked an edge when a chance came.
Substitutes
SUB: Dejan Kulusevski (70' for Maddison) - 7/10
SUB: Pape Sarr (70' for Bentancur) - 6/10
SUB: Richarlison (82' for Werner) - N/A
SUB: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (82' for Bissouma) - N/A
SUB: Giovani Lo Celso (90' for Johnson) - N/A
Subs not used: Brandon Austin (GK), Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Emerson Royal.
Manager
Ange Postecoglou - 6/10 - Looked a good setup from the start but the parts weren't quite clicking. Made numerous changes to try and inject quality and it didn't happen.
Player of the match - Kurt Zouma (West Ham)
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