Relentless Spurs punish 10-man West Ham as set-piece woes return in 3-0 derby

Tottenham cruised to a commanding 3-0 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium, a win forged at set-pieces and sealed once the hosts were reduced to 10 men. Pape Matar Sarr headed the breakthrough just after half-time, Tomas Soucek was sent off soon after for a studs-up lunge that ripped João Palhinha’s sock, and Lucas Bergvall and Micky van de Ven completed the scoring as the visitors took full control.

It was a sobering evening for Graham Potter and West Ham, who are winless in seven Premier League home matches and sit 18th. For Thomas Frank’s Tottenham, this professional, composed display arrived in the club’s first game of the post‑Daniel Levy era and lifted them to second in the table, level on points with the leaders.

Set-pieces and small margins swing a tight derby

Before the interval there was little between the sides. Spurs thought they had struck from a corner when Cristian Romero powered in a header, only for referee Jarred Gillett to rule it out for a push by Van de Ven on Kyle Walker‑Peters. The incident foreshadowed what was to come: Tottenham’s superiority on dead balls, West Ham’s uncertainty in defending them.

Two minutes after the restart, Xavi Simons’ corner to the far post caused confusion and Sarr, left unmarked, nodded in without needing to leap. The Hammers’ set-piece frailties, a recurring theme this season, were exposed again; the far-post overload went untracked and Tottenham had the platform they wanted.

It was harsh on West Ham after a competitive opening in which Lucas Paquetá, used as a false nine, squandered a fine chance down the right. Had that gone in, the tone might have shifted. Instead, Spurs’ methodical pressure and sharper reactions at key moments told.

Soucek’s red card and a rapid one-two end the contest

The turning point arrived on 54 minutes. Soucek’s heavy touch drew him into a lunging tackle on Palhinha; the contact was high and forceful, tearing the winger’s sock. The red card followed, and with it West Ham’s grip on the game loosened for good.

From the very next passage, Romero lifted a precise ball over the top and Bergvall, timing his run from midfield, looped an audacious header beyond Mads Hermansen. The hosts barely had time to reset before Van de Ven, reacting first amid passive defending, drove in a third just after the hour. At one stage West Ham had eight players in their area to Spurs’ three, and still lost the critical duel; it summed up the gulf in conviction.

With the points secure, Spurs were able to coast. Former West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, booed throughout on his return following his summer move, relished the closing stages on the right as the visitors managed the game with assurance.

Frank’s focused Spurs thrive amid post‑Levy backdrop

This was the first match since Daniel Levy’s removal as chair, with members of the Lewis family and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham watching on. On the pitch, Frank rotated smartly after the international break: Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison were rested, Simons debuted on the left, and Mathys Tel led the line. The decisions underlined Spurs’ squad depth and clarity of roles.

Bergvall was outstanding after his recall, knitting attacks with crisp passing and stepping up decisively in the final third. He finished with a goal and the assist for Van de Ven’s strike, while completing the vast majority of his passes. Frank’s emphasis on defensive organisation is already evident, with another clean sheet reflecting the watertight structure Spurs have developed early in the campaign.

Potter under pressure as home run worsens

The mood around West Ham remains strained. They have not won a league game at home since 27 February and are now winless in seven at the London Stadium, their worst such run since 2003. After shipping five to Chelsea in their previous home fixture, another three here deepened the gloom and kept them 18th.

Potter acknowledged a solid first half but admitted the second “went away from us quickly.” He urged patience for a new group, yet the defensive lapses at set-pieces and the costly red card left little room for mitigation. Protests from the stands are planned in upcoming home matches, reflecting the scale of frustration.

What’s next: West Ham host Crystal Palace on Saturday, 20 September (15:00 BST). Tottenham welcome Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, 16 September before travelling to Brighton on Saturday, 20 September (15:00 BST).