38 Hitzlsperger’s free-kick is cleared and Van der Vaart breaks but Bale’s right-footed shot is not powerful enough to challenge Green.
37 Gary O’Neil wins a free-kick in the Spurs half after a nice turn of pace.
35 Defoe is given offside and Spurs are left frustrated despite playing some sublime football in the centre of the pitch.
34 The West Ham strikeforce play their part in the West Ham defence, with Ba tracking back to interrupt Spurs possession and Cole hounding William Gallas in the Tottenham half.
32 Modric plays a smart ball into Defoe before winning it back on the edge of the area before shooting inches away from the goal.
31 West Ham are smartly putting two men on Bale now anytime the Wales winger wins the ball.
29 Corluka mis-places a bass to Lennon and West Ham break with Ba’s 30-yard effort flying high and wide.
28 West Ham clear their lines but Spurs win possession back and Defoe earns a free-kick after being tackled from behind by Matthew Upson.
27 Spurs regain possession and amazingly Parker runs the ball past the goal-line only to be ignored by the linesman before a corner is finally given.
26 Really good play from Mark Noble earns him a free-kick after a foul from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
24 Vedran Corluka’s cross into the box is met by Defoe who can only tamely poke the ball into Robert Green’s hands. Fantastic, open game at White Hart Lane.
22 Hitzlsperger’s free-kick into the box looks dangerous but Dawson clears and earns a foul from Da Costa.
22 Noble blocks off Van der Vaart but nothing is given by the referee to the shock of the Spurs fans.
20 Amazing chance for West Ham. Ba plays through Cole who one-on-one with Gomes shoots the ball into the keeper’s hands.
19 Again Spurs play it across the 18 yard box to Van der Vaart and again the play is missed by West Ham. Luckily for the Hammers the Dutchmans’s shot goes wide.
18 Spurs break forward again and look menacing any time Bale or Lennon are played through. Defoe picks up the ball and his shot deflects for a corner.
16 Modric has a shot from 25 yards after being given plenty of space by West Ham but his effort is wide.
15 West Ham seem to have settled down now. Scott Parker is playing everywhere it seems to keep the Hammers moving foreward.
13 Parker tackles Modric and West Ham create their best chance at Thomas Hitzlsperger crosses to Cole who cannot keep his volley on target.
11 Demba Ba holds the ball up brilliantly for West Ham as the Hammers look to maintain a spell of posession. The ball falls to Carlton Cole but his shot is saved comfortably by Gomes.
10 Manuel Da Costa nearly lets Defoe in but recovers well. West Ham are looking very nervy early on at White Hart Lane.
9 The Spurs corner comes in but Lennon cannot keep his shot down and the ball flies into the crowd.
8 Lennon’s pace is mesmeric as he runs past Bridge and crosses in for West Ham to frantically clear for a corner.
7 Bale’s driven cross is met by Jermain Defoe in the penalty area but the striker narrowly nods the ball wide.
5 The pace of Spurs is overwhelming on the flanks. Aaron Lennon is giving Wayne Bridge a taste of a tough afternoon as he weaves around the England defender.
4 Great chance for Tottenham. Rafael van der Vaart plays in Luka Modric whose pass to Michael Dawson results in a 25-yard drive from the England defender with the ball hitting the crossbar. Fantastic start from Spurs.
3 Gareth Bale latches on to a long through ball and looks lively as two West Ham defenders are needed to clear their lines.
2 Scott Parker plays his first long ball of the game but Mark Noble loses possession under Spurs pressure.
1 Spurs kick off in the sunshine at White Hart Lane kicking from right to left.
Samuel Newman from Switzerland writes: “Spurs have got a strong team in but considering that West Ham have been playing very well latly beating Liverpool and such Tottenham have got a difficult game ahead of them. Spurs to win 2-0 with VDV and Bale scoring.”
Mark Cox says: “I think today’s result will all be down to which West Ham team turn up. Spurs very sharp at home and it will either be close or a White wash.”
Jack Drury of Yateley writes: “Coming from a Blues fan, if Spurs lose we can have chances of qualifying that we didn’t have 2 months ago. The cl draw may have excited spurs, and I feel the very happy hammers will win 2-1 bale on his return cancelled out by a double by the ever improving Demba Ba.”
Mike Hill from South Africa says: “London Derbies are often difficult to predict, but based on West Ham’s recent form, I fancy them getting a point today (1-1). Perhaps Harry will be forgiven for a trip down memory lane when he was once in charge of West Ham. As a Birmingham fan, I wish West Ham luck but will be looking for Birmingham to match or better their exploits later this afternoon.”
Gareth Bale makes his first start in two months as Tottenham look to get their pursuit of a top-four place back on track with a win against West Ham in today’s London derby at White Hart Lane. Spurs striker Jermain Defoe starts up front against his former club at the expense of Peter Crouch, and William Gallas is deemed fit enough to start alongside Michael Dawson in central defence. West Ham’s in-form striker Demba Ba starts up front alongside Carlton Cole while Lars Jacobsen is preferred to James Tomkins at right-back.
Sky Bet make Tottenham 7/4 to win at White Hart Lane, putting West Ham at 9/2 while the draw is avaliable for 3/1 between the two London sides.
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Sandro, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Defoe Subs: Pletikosa, Hutton, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch, Bassong, Kranjcar.
West Ham: Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Upson, Bridge, O’Neil, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Noble, Cole, Ba Subs: Boffin, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Boa Morte, Sears, Hines, Obinna Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Welcome to live coverage of the Barclays Premier League clash between Tottenham and West Ham. After being drawn with Real Madrid in the Quarter-finals of the Champions League, Spurs will have to turn their attentions back to a West Ham side that have found their stride in the league recently, winning their last two league games. Send all your e-mails to jackwoodfield@hotmail.com
Continued here:
Tottenham v West Ham live!