Antonio scores as West Ham sink Tottenham in feisty London derby
Football
By
Reuters
| Oct 24, 2021
West Ham United handed Tottenham Hotspur their fourth defeat in a Premier League London derby this season as Michail Antonio scored a second-half goal to earn his side a 1-0 win on Sunday.
West Ham moved provisionally up to fourth with 17 points while Spurs -- who also lost to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal -- fell to sixth as Nuno Espirito Santo's side failed to test the home side's goal in the second half.
Antonio had been troubling Spurs' defence throughout the game and he was rewarded for his hard work when he scored from a corner in the 72nd minute after getting the better of his marker Harry Kane.
As Aaron Cresswell's pinpoint cross floated into the six-yard box, Antonio shrugged off Kane and stuck his foot out to score his sixth league goal of the season.
"The ball came my way and obviously being the poacher I am, I stick my foot out. I was surprised it went in because I kind of got my foot there to get in front of him," Antonio told Sky Sports after his sixth goal against Spurs.
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"(Whether) it's this stadium or their stadium, I just like scoring against them... I have the number nine shirt and that's what I need to do."
Both teams had plenty of chances in the first half, with West Ham dominating but failing to convert their opportunities.
Spurs' best shots on goal were hit straight at goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who tipped a bullet header from Kane over the bar.
Tempers flared in the second half and the players had to be separated following a heavy challenge from Cristian Romero on Pablo Fornals, with the Argentine defender going in the book for sparking a melee when he confronted the Spaniard on the floor.
Spurs failed to create opportunities of note in the second half and Nuno said defeat was tough to take, although he thought Tottenham were the better team.
"We're disappointed like everyone, like our fans. It's always tough to lose a match like this," Nuno said.